If you are in a relationship your partner could feel happy, have mixed feelings or be unhappy about the pregnancy, and may find it hard to talk about it. Talking about worries or concerns can be helpful. Talking to family or close friends or a health professional about the pregnancy may also be helpful, although the final decision is always your own.
If you find out you are pregnant, you may want to tell your family and friends immediately, or wait a while until you have sorted out how you feel. Many women wait until they have had their first ultrasound scan, when they're around 12 weeks pregnant, before they tell people.
If you experience nausea or ‘morning sickness’ in the first 12 weeks, you may choose to tell a close family member or friend to help you through the days when you feel very sick.
Some people can tell that they’re pregnant because they feel different. For example, they might feel sick, experience mood swings, tender breasts, or they miss a period. But not everyone experiences symptoms of pregnancy.
The only way to know if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
Pregnancy tests usually involve peeing on a small plastic stick, or into a clean cup and dipping in a test stick. The result will usually appear within a few minutes. Always read the instructions first.
There are lots of places where you can get a pregnancy test for free and receive support - a sexual health clinic, your GP or a family planning clinic.
This might also be a good time to talk to someone about contraception options, if you weren't trying to get pregnant.
If you're under 16, healthcare professionals won't tell your parents. They'll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won’t force you to.
You can buy pregnancy tests from a chemist or supermarket, for £3-£10. If you are doing the test yourself make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
If you find out you're pregnant, you may feel happy and excited, or shocked, worried and upset.
Talk to your GP, midwife or talk to a healthcare professional if you feel anxious. They can help you to understand what is happening to your body, or can give you advice if you don't want to continue with your pregnancy.
It takes 3 weeks from the time that you became pregnant to the time that the pregnancy test is positive. A negative test may mean that it is too early in the pregnancy for the test to be positive.
No, emergency contraception is not effective at this stage.
Yes. Hormonal methods of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, implants and injections, contain the hormones oestrogen and progestogen. They work by changing a woman's hormone balance. However, these hormones will not affect the result of a pregnancy test.
No, pregnancy tests are now so accurate that you can do them on urine from any time of the day.
You will have to pay for pregnancy tests at pharmacies (they may cost between £3-£10), but you do not need to give any personal details.
A physical sign is an increase in vaginal discharge, which changes from white, creamy or non-existent to clear, stretchy and slippery when you ovulate. Some people can feel pain during ovulation, ask your GP if you are concerned about this.
You may also notice other signs, such as:
Notice of Building Work – Sexual Health Dorset @Bournemouth
We are currently undertaking building work in the pharmacy space next to the waiting room in Sexual Health Dorset @Bournemouth, 66-68 Palmerston Road. This work will not affect your appointment with the clinician but you may encounter some noise in the waiting room which we apologise for.