So, you had sex with a guy… he isn’t your boyfriend, and you really don’t want anything to do with him. You just can’t imagine being pregnant right now, but your period is late and you’re really not sure what is happening.
Almost instantly, you might feel the urge to panic. All kinds of thoughts are running through your mind…
“Should I have an abortion?”
“Could I even parent a kid right now?”
“Should I check into adoption?”
As hard as it might be to resist this urge… stay calm, relax and consider following these steps.
1. First, understand why your period is late to begin with. Sometimes women miss their periods when they start a new exercise program, start a new diet, or even experience an increased amount of stress. So, take a step back… are there things going on in your life that might have affected your period to be late or even missed? If none of the above fit you and your environment, give yourself a few extra days to see if the period is really late, or if it’s still coming… (maybe just a couple days late!)
Now, if you’re still not starting your period…
2. Confirm the pregnancy. Make an appointment with a professional. At-home pregnancy tests are popular… so you might have taken a couple and gotten positive results, but it’s important to know for sure. There are a lot of different pregnancy test options, some of which are less accurate than others. Our pregnancy tests are up to 99% accurate, and a positive pregnancy test result should be followed with an ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy. Our professional staff will confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound if the in-office pregnancy test is positive.
3. Get tested for STI/STDs. You might be wondering why this would matter and how a possible STI would affect your pregnancy. Well, if you’re pregnant with an active STI and it goes untreated, you will have an increased risk of some potentially serious health issues, especially if you want an abortion. Even if you’re unsure and don’t think there’s a chance that you’re infected, getting tested is free! Why not know the results for sure?
4. Know your options. If you’ve gone through the previous steps, and you’re definitely pregnant, and it is in fact a viable pregnancy… it’s important to understand all of the options going forward. An unplanned pregnancy typically results in one of the following options:
a. Abortion
b. Parenting
c. Adoption
All of these options are available to you. To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand your options and the specifics of each of those. We can help you understand exactly what’s available for you and how to navigate this unexpected bump in the road.
You are smart. You are kind. You are beautiful. You can manage and handle any situation that is thrown your way. Knowledge is power. If you have any questions and want to chat, we are here for you!