Pregnant?

Have you had unprotected sex?

If you have had unprotected intercourse very recently it might still be possible to protect yourself against pregnancy by using Emergency Contraception.

Despite what you might have heard:

• It is possible to get pregnant at any time of the month.
• You can get pregnant from having intercourse in any sexual position.
• You can get pregnant the first time you have sex.
• You can get pregnant as a result of rape.

Taking a pregnancy test

If you have had unprotected intercourse and/or your period is late you should do a pregnancy test as soon as possible.

Free pregnancy tests are available from:

• Brook Centres (for under 25s) 0800 018 5023
• Family planning clinics. fpa 0845 310 1334
• Your own GP
• Any other GP (you can register at reception for family planning services only)
• Some Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics

Pregnancy tests that you can buy from chemists and supermarkets are very accurate if used according to the instructions. They work by detecting the presence of hormone levels in the woman's urine.

Warning

Some organisations offer free pregnancy testing and pregnancy counselling, but may not give you accurate information or be sympathetic if you are considering abortion. See deciding about your pregnancy for more information about where to go for help and support.

When to get the test done

Most pregnancy tests state that they work as soon as a period is one day late. Most women do not continue to have normal periods when pregnant but some may experience lighter/shorter periods. For women who do not have a regular cycle it can be difficult to know when a period is due.

So it is best to take the test three weeks after having unprotected sex (as this is roughly how long it will take for the hormone levels to show up on the test).

If a test is negative (i.e. you are not pregnant) but your period still doesn't arrive a week later, another test should be taken. Periods can be late for other reasons including stress, change of diet, or other health conditions. You should seek medical advice if you are concerned.

It is important to find out as soon as possible. The earlier you find out you are pregnant, the more options you have. For more see Deciding about your pregnancy.

If the pregnancy test is positive

If you want to continue with the pregnancy, it is good for your health and the baby’s health to arrange ante-natal care with your doctor as soon as possible. For more see Considering parenthood and Considering adoption.

If on the other hand, you decide to have an abortion, it is also important to act quickly as it can be difficult to access an abortion as the pregnancy progresses. For more see Considering abortion.

Not pregnant and don’t want to be

If you are not pregnant and you don’t want to be pregnant, this is a good time to think about preventing future pregnancy. There are many different contraceptive methods available, so there should be one that suits your needs.