Most women want to have children. But they want to have them when they are ready. Adult and teenage women need to make difficult decisions when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
“What if I’m pregnant?” Women may ask this question at many times in their lives — especially when their periods are late. If you think you’re pregnant, you may be asking yourself lots of other questions, too.
- Is having a baby the best choice for me?
- Is raising a child by myself the best choice for me?
- Is raising a child with a partner the best choice for me?
- Is placing the baby for adoption the best choice for me?
- Is having an abortion the best choice for me?
You want to choose what’s right for you. But first, be sure you are pregnant.
How can I be sure I’m pregnant?
You can have a pregnancy test done at a clinic or at home. Home pregnancy tests are available at pharmacies. They usually cost about $8-$15. They can detect pregnancy after a missed period — some can even detect it a few days before a missed period. Be sure to follow the directions on the package exactly to get an accurate test result.
Women who take home pregnancy tests often go to clinics to have the results confirmed by a health care provider.
If your test is “positive,” you will need a pelvic exam. The clinician will feel the size of your uterus to estimate how long you have been pregnant. Then you will need to decide what you want to do.
