If you didn’t mean to become pregnant, deciding what to do can be very difficult. There is no right or wrong choice and only you can decide which is right for you. You have three choices:
There’s more information on our page “Help, I’m pregnant” to guide you through your options and the help and support available.
Not all pregnancy tests work the same – some can detect a pregnancy after a missed period and some can detect it before a missed period. Read the packaging of the pregnancy test you get.
Pregnancy doesn’t start from the day a couple has sex. It can take up to seven days for the sperm and egg to fertilise and up to another eight days or more for the fertilised egg to bury itself in the lining of a womb. This is when pregnancy begins.
If you have missed a period, or if your period is late, you can take a pregnancy test to find out if you are pregnant. You can buy home pregnancy tests in most pharmacies and supermarkets. These are usually done by peeing on them and you must follow the instructions carefully and correctly.
You can also visit your GP, sexual health or CASH clinic to have a free test and discuss your options. Depending on your situation, the medical professional may ask you for a urine test, blood test or both to get the most accurate result.
There are also some signs of pregnancy to look out for including:
Missing a period or being late doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. Stress or changes in your lifestyle can affect your period and monthly cycle too. Get tested to be sure, and continue to use contraception if you’re still having sex and don’t want to become pregnant.
No. When you have a period, you are shedding the lining of your womb so it is not possible to have a period and be pregnant. However, it is possible to be pregnant and have bleeding that may seem like a period. In this case, you should contact your GP immediately. Bleeding during pregnancy is not unusual but may signal a problem with the pregnancy and it needs to be checked as soon as possible.
A woman can get pregnant any time of the month, even during her period. It’s not the most likely time, but it can happen. For more information on fertility and times of the month, visit the natural family planning page.
No, you can’t. Swallowing semen is the same as eating something, it just ends up in your digestive system. It can’t make you pregnant because your mouth doesn’t connect with your reproductive system. You can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) through oral sex though, so you should use a condom or dental dam (a thin square of latex) during oral sex.
Yes, you can get pregnant the first time you have sex. Having sex for the first time is the same as having sex any other time. If you want to avoid becoming pregnant, you should use contraception every time you have sex.
You can’t get pregnant through oral sex, or through masturbation. However, there is a chance you could become pregnant if you have genital (penis or vagina) contact with your partner.
This risk is greater if the man has ejaculated (cum) even a little bit and there is fluid. If you want to make sure that you don’t become pregnant, make sure you use a condom, or avoid having contact with your partner’s genitals and fluids.