Unplanned Pregnancy! What do I do now?

If you think you may be pregnant! You need to confirm it first.

You can start by taking a home pregnancy test (HPT).  HPTs are inexpensive, private, easy to use, and mostly accurate.  However, the only way to confirm a pregnancy is through a physician’s diagnosis.  You will need to schedule an appointment with your family doctor or obstetrician/gynecologist. You can also find the local maternity services of your area.

Knowing that you are pregnant, then…

When you find out or confirmed that you are pregnant, you may feel joyful and energized, or may be stunned, puzzled and may be upset. It depends on your conditions because everybody is different, and having different type of conditions at this stage. No need to worry if you are not feeling as happy as you have expected. Even if you have been trying to get pregnant, your feelings may take you by surprise.

What do I do now?

Your pregnancy will be treated confidentially, even if you are under the age of 16. Your GP or midwife will tell you about your choices for antenatal (pregnancy) care in your local area. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current illness or condition you may have or go on to develop. The common problems in pregnancy, includes morning sickness, headaches, bleeding, etc.

If you don’t have one or don’t feel comfortable going to your doctor, then there are centers which offer FREE pregnancy testing and are completely confidential.  Many of the centers also perform ultrasounds at no cost.  You will need to have an ultrasound to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy.

If you're pregnant and not sure you want to be, YourOptions explains the choices you have. You can also talk to a GP.

What is “the morning-after pill”?

The “morning-after pill” is marketed as a type of “emergency contraception,” used after you have had unprotected sex or contraceptive failure such as a condom breaking. It contains the hormone Levonorgestrel, a Progestin, or Ulipristal acetate, a progesterone agonist-antagonist.

Because “the morning-after pill” does not necessarily prevent fertilization but may prevent the new life from settling or implanting into the womb and continuing to grow there, many consider it an early abortion drug. It must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex and should not be taken if you are already pregnant as it may cause harm.

Emergency Contraception isn’t appropriate for everyone. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking contraceptives to learn more about the risk factors. You can also contact a Pregnancy Center to discuss your situation.

How does “emergency contraception” work?

Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, the morning-after pill can work in one of 3 ways:
1.    Prevent or delay ovulation
2.    Thicken the cervical mucus, decreasing the chance of the sperm reaching and fertilizing the egg
3.    Change the lining of the uterus, preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. (Also considered an early abortion.)

Side effects may include:
•    Nausea or vomiting
•    Dizziness
•    Fatigue
•    Headaches
•    Breast tenderness
•    Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding
•    Lower abdominal pain or cramps
•    Diarrhea

Side effects typically last only a few days.

Using the morning-after pill may delay your period by up to one week. If your period is more than one week late, take a pregnancy test. If you have bleeding or spotting that lasts longer than a week or develop severe lower abdominal pain three to five weeks after taking the pill, contact your health care provider. These may be signs or symptoms of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy - when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.

An estimated 1 to 2 out of 100 women who have unprotected sex one time and correctly use the pill will get pregnant. Emergency contraception doesn’t offer protection from sexually transmitted infections.