An unplanned pregnancy can be terrifying and life-altering, whether or not you choose to continue with the pregnancy or keep the baby. There are many decisions that need to be made and sharing this time with a trusted friend or family member or even your doctor will help carry you through the gamut of decision making.
An unplanned pregnancy can be the result of a failed contraceptive, lack of contraceptive use, or rape. In the case of forced sexual intercourse, or rape, you should immediately report to the hospital where they will perform a rape kit on you. The kit collects evidence from your body from the rapist and it can be used in a trial. There is a stigma in society that negatively affects our concept of rape, making many women embarrassed or afraid to report it. This allows the rapist to get away with the crime and leaves the woman with no help or support to get through the trauma of rape. Irrespective of how it may have happened, no one is ever “asking for it” or “deserved it”. You always have the right to say “no”, even if the initial sexual contact initiated was consensual.
Failed contraception can happen with all of the different types of contraceptive methods. If the contraceptive is used irregularly or not according to instructions, the chance of pregnancy is higher. Yet even if you used the contraceptive method exactly as instructed and on a regular basis, there is still the possibility of pregnancy. Condoms have a 3% failure rate, birth control pills are 1% or less, hormonal injections, vaginal rings, and patches are 1% or less, and spermicides have a 15% failure rate. If contraceptive is not used at all, then there is an 85% chance of pregnancy.
The first thing to do if you suspect you are pregnant is to either use a home pregnancy test kit or visit your doctor. The test kits can be purchased at any pharmacy and they test for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hcG) in your urine. Your doctor will test your blood for this hormone and it is a more accurate measurement than the urine test.
There are many different options with an unplanned pregnancy. You may choose continue with the pregnancy, with or without a partner, and have the option of keeping the baby or putting the baby up for adoption. If you choose to terminate the pregnancy, and it’s still 120 hours or less since intercourse, then you can take an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP). ECPs are also called “the morning after pill” and they work to prevent both ovulation and fertilization. They are different from abortive methods in that they work to prevent the pregnancy, not abort the fetus. A final choice is abortion. This is a highly contentious issue and it may be against the law in some countries or states. If it is allowable by the law, then you should immediately consult with a certified doctor about terminating your pregnancy. Even if you choose not to keep the baby, it is an emotional roller-coaster and professional counselling will help support you through the process.
Unplanned pregnancy does not have to stop your life. It will change it but you have so many options available and you don’t have to go through it alone.
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