Pregnancy

First things first

There is a risk of pregnancy if sperm comes into contact with the vagina in any way.

This could be from sperm on fingers that touch the woman's genital area. It is important to remember that the penis leaks a few drops of semen (liquid containing sperm) as soon as it is hard, so there is a risk of pregnancy if the sperm enters the vagina, even if the man doesn't ejaculate. For this reason, the 'withdrawal method' is NOT a reliable form of contraception.

For women who want to avoid pregnancy, it is never safe to have sexual contact without using a reliable method of contraception.

Pregnancy tests

If a woman thinks she may be pregnant, for example because her period is late, she should do a pregnancy test as soon as possible to find out for sure. Pregnancy tests are available from:

• Brook Centres (for under 25s) - tests are free with immediate results
  
  
• family planning clinics
  
  
• the woman's own GP
  
  
• any other GP registering for family planning services only
  
  
• some Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics
  
  
• chemists - they can do a test or sell a home pregnancy testing kit

Home pregnancy testing kits come with instructions. They work by detecting the presence of hormone levels in the woman's urine.

When to get the test done

Most pregnancy tests state that they work as soon as a period is late (i.e. one day). Most women do not continue to have normal periods when pregnant but some may experience lighter/shorter periods. And 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. the woman is not pregnant) but the woman's 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. Women should seek medical advice if they are concerned.

It is important to find out as soon as possible. The earlier a woman finds out she is pregnant, the more options she has. If she decides to keep the baby, it is better to arrange ante-natal care with her doctor early on for the health of the baby and the woman (e.g. so that she can be given folic acid). If on the other hand, she decides to have an abortion, it is also important to act quickly.

Facing an unplanned pregnancy

It is common to feel shocked, scared, panicked, confused, embarrassed, isolated or lonely when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Professionals are there to provide information and support on the options available but only the woman herself can make the decision as to whether or not to continue with the pregnancy.

It can be a difficult and complicated decision but help and advice are available. It's important to talk to someone as soon as possible. Brook Centres (for under 25s) have counsellors for young people to talk to in confidence. For those who don't live near a Brook Centre, or are over 25, it is possible to get advice from other young people's services or family planning clinics. Our 'Ask Brook' service gives information on local services.

Under 16s

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is difficult at any age but can be even more distressing for a woman who is under 16 and doesn't know where to turn. Brook Centres are used to seeing young people under 16 and can provide confidential help.