Pregnancy testing

Talking to your partner

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.

How it works

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.

The test:

• Pregnancy tests detect the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) which starts to be produced around six days after fertilisation.
• You can do pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period, or three weeks after unprotected sex.
• You can do a pregnancy test on your urine collected at any time of the day.

The results:

• A positive test result is almost certainly correct. A negative result is less reliable and you may want to try again in a week’s time, or see your GP if you think there is a chance that you are pregnant.

More support

• BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) affordable private abortion, contraception and reproductive health services across the UK
• Marie Stopes private and NHS abortions as well as other sexual healthcare services
• Education For Choice (EFC) a Brook project, supporting young people’s right to informed choice on abortion
• Abortion Support Network assistance to women in Ireland and Northern Ireland wanting to access abortion services in England
• Family Lives a free helpline, open 24 hours a day on 0808 800 2222 It also provides support through online chat, email and discussion forums
• Gingerbread information on benefits, money, housing and childcare to single parents or young women who are pregnant and living with a parent
• National Childbirth Trust (NCT) information and support in pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.

Where to go

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.

What to do next

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.

If you are pregnant you have options. You can:

• Continue with the pregnancy;
• Continue with the pregnancy, and arrange for the baby to be adopted;
• Have an abortion to medically terminate your pregnancy.