Pregnancy panic
Question
I think I might be pregnant but I don't know what to do. When's the best time to get a test? Do I have to wait a bit before it'll be accurate? And then what should I do? I don't want to keep it, I just can't, but I don't know how to get an abortion. Please help.
Answer
Firstly, you don't say when you had unprotected sex. If it was within the last five days, and you don't want to be pregnant, you should seek advice on emergency contraception as soon as possible.
It's also not clear what it is that's made you think you're pregnant, e.g. if your period is late, but you can have a urine test to find out for sure. Most pregnancy tests state that they work as soon as a period is late (i.e. one day). If you do not have a regular cycle it can be difficult to know when a period is due. So it's 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).
You can get a free test at you local Brook centre, a family planning clinic and at some local doctors (GPs). If you go to a Brook Centre or family planning clinic you will also be able to talk through how you feel and what your options are. You will be able to do this in confidence, which means no one will be told about your visit unless you want them to be.
You can also buy a pregnancy test at a chemist. They can do a test for you or sell you a home pregnancy testing kit.
If you're not pregnant you should get advice about contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancy in the future. If you are pregnant, it's important to get advice as soon as possible to decide what you want to do next. You can talk through your options at a Brook Centre or family planning clinic.
If you decide you want to have an abortion it can be done on the NHS (for free). To do this you will need to be referred by a doctor. This can be your own GP, any other GP, (once you have registered there for 'Contraceptive Services Only') or a doctor at a Brook Centre or family planning centre.
It is important to act quickly. The earlier a woman decides to have an abortion, the easier it is to get a free abortion on the NHS. Although the normal legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks, it is usually easiest to get an abortion on the NHS if a woman is under 12 weeks pregnant. There is an average of two to four weeks waiting time on the NHS, so it is easier if a woman is under eight weeks pregnant. The doctor will be able to give you more information about abortion services in your area.
At Brook and many other services you will be able to have counselling prior to having a termination. This will give you the chance to go through your options and to discuss anything you are not clear on. If you are not offered counselling and feel you need to talk, let the service know.
It is possible to have an abortion privately, but you would need to pay for the procedure. The price will depend on the stage of the pregnancy. Private abortions are available from Marie Stopes, you can contact them on 0845 300 8090, or British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), you can call them on 08457 30 40 30. These organisations are non-profit making.
Finally, remember to seek help as soon as you can.
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