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Pregnancy
How can you find out if a pregnancy has occurred?
Confidentiality and young people
What to do?
Emergency Contraception, The Morning After Pill / Interuterine Contraceptive Device.
Continuing with a pregnancy
Useful links to other sites
Pregnancy
Pregnancy results from sexual intercourse without a reliable means of contraception. It can't result from other sexual activity (such as masturbation or oral sex).
Please note this page gives some suggestions and information on a particular health topic and is by no means concise. It is important to see your doctor or other health care professional for information specific to your own health concerns.
Emergency contraception
It is important to note that if you have had sex recently, and there is a possibility of becoming pregnant, and that any pregnancy will be unwanted, that you contact your doctor or local family planning clinic quickly. The emergency contraception pill (morning after pill) is available to prevent pregnancy but must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected, or unplanned sex. (see more detail on morning after pill on this page).
The copper interuterine device (IUCD) can also be used as a form of emergency contraception and can
be effective up to 5 days after unprotected or unplanned sex. (see more detail on IUCD on this page).
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Pregnancy can be wonderful news, especially if the pregnancy was planned. To others, especially the young, an unplanned pregnancy can come as a shock. An unplanned pregnancy can give rise to a multitude of mixed feelings and emotional upset such as despair, fear, anger, shame and lead onto such questions as what to do next, who to tell, where do I get help or advice, what will I tell my parents? Some may even deny the pregnancy is real and do nothing about it thereby denying themselves the medical care and advice that they need. It is a time when a young person needs help and advice in order to make choices and not to be alone in making them.
How can you find out if a pregnancy has occurred?
The first sign of pregnancy is usually a missed, very short or light period. Some may feel a need to pass urine more often, or an unusual sensation in the breasts, or feel sick for no obvious reason. These alone should not be relied upon to indicate pregnancy. This is best done by way of a pregnancy test. A pregnancy test can be done as soon as a period is missed. Some tests claim to be able to detect pregnancy on the first day of a missed period, others may state that they can detect pregnancy up to a week or so after intercourse. Pregnancy testing kits can be bought from a pharmacist/chemists or a test can be performed for free by your doctors surgery, local family planning clinic or local Sexual Health/GU medicine department.
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Confidentiality and young people
Many teenagers risk pregnancy rather than seek contraceptive advice.
Many teenagers mistakenly fear that their GP cannot respect their confidentiality.
The duty of confidentiality owed to a young person, even under 16 years of age, is as great as that owed to any other person.
Any young person, regardless of age, can independently seek medical advice and give valid consent to medical treatment.
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What to do?
If a pregnancy has come as a shock, what to do next can be a difficult decision and the choices involved uncertain. Getting accurate information is the best way of making a decision that is right for you. Those around you such as family or friends, may mean well with their own advice, which is often influenced by their own values and beliefs. You may feel pressured into a decision that is not right for you in order to please those giving the advice, you know what is right for you.
You can get accurate information from your local family planning clinic. Other organizations such as the Brook Advisory Centres or Marie Stopes International offer counselling and advice. They also offer other services such as being with you when you decide to tell your parents, or if you are experiencing problems finding a sympathetic doctor, they may be able to help you find one in your area.
See the links at the foot of this page to connect to the above organizations.
The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (morning after pill) / IUCD.
This form of birth control can be prescribed by a doctor or family planning clinic. The prescribing doctor does not have to be your usual or family doctor. Other doctors can be approached without your usual doctor being involved. Doctors in other clinics such as sexual health/genito urinary medicine may also be able to provide you with this form of birth control. The aim of the pill is to prevent pregnancy occurring. It is of no use if pregnancy has already occurred so the sooner it is taken after sex the better.
It is most effective if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse and is available from your doctor, Family Planning Clinic and in some departments of Sexual Health/Genito Urinary Medicine.
It may also be obtained from casualty departments as well as NHS walk in centres.
Some health authority areas make emergency contraception available without the need for a prescription direct from the chemist shop, where for a fee, it may be purchased over the counter.
Contraceptive pills do not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections.
IUCD:
Copper intrauterine devices can also be used as a form of emergency contraception and can be effective up to five days after unprotected or unplanned sexual intercourse. In some instances they may help to prevent pregnancy later than five days after unplanned sex, but is dependant upon the women's cycle or period. This would need to be carefully discussed with an appropriate health care professional such as those at your local family planning clinic. An advantage of these devices is that once inserted they continue to be a method of contraception.
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Continuing with a pregnancy
If you decide to continue with your pregnancy it is important to get good ante natal care from the start, which will benefit you and your baby. Your doctor can arrange for this care and arrange for you to be seen by a midwife at ante natal clinics and in your own home. Health care workers involved in your care at this time can give you lots of advice with regard to what you can expect as your pregnancy progresses, and the choices involved in your care such as the method of delivery/birth you'd prefer. They can provide advice on all aspects to do with you and your baby's health, and give specialist support and advice for young women who are pregnant or have recently delivered.
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Links
Marie Stopes Helpline: 0845 3008090 (8am to 10pm daily)
- Brook online:
Get advice on sex and contraception, see website for more information on services provided and details of your local Brook Centre. www.brook.org.uk/index2.htm
Brook Helpline: Freephone 0800 0185023 (9am to 5pm Mon, Tue, Thu. 9am to 4pm Wed and Fri)
- Family Planning Association:
Get information on sexual health matters such as contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. www.fpa.org.uk
- Contraception Education Service:
Part of the family planning association offering advice, support and information on a number of sexual health issues. Helpline: 020 78374044 (9am to 7pm Mon to Fri)
- Mayo Health:
Get information on sexual health matters such as contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. www.mayohealth.org
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