Pregnancy
How does pregnancy happen?
Pregnancy (conception) occurs when a sperm fertilises an egg by
joining with it during, or shortly after, sexual intercourse. If a
woman does not want to become pregnant when she has sex she and/or
her partner can use contraception.
Women can get pregnant at any point in their menstrual cycle,
but this is most likely to happen around ovulation (when the egg is
released from a woman's ovaries). This happens around day 14
of the cycle (day 1 is the first day of your period), but it
is very difficult to know exactly which are the fertile days of the
cycle.
Once the egg has been fertilised it moves into the womb where it
can start to grow into a baby. The woman will then miss her
period or have a lighter or shorter period than normal.
If the egg starts to grow but does not develop properly the
pregnancy can end in the early stages and this is called a
miscarriage. The woman may experience period pain and
bleeding.
If you do not wish to become pregnant you can use
Emergency Contraception up to 5 days after
having unprotected sex.
Can I become pregnant as a result of oral sex?
No, a woman cannot become pregnant as a result of oral sex.
Pregnancy can only occur if sperm is introduced into the
vagina.
How do I know if I am pregnant?
Any woman who has unprotected sex (without contraception) can
become pregnant – even if it is the first time. For more
information on contraception please click here.
If you are pregnant, you might not feel any different from
normal. Often, the first and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a
missed period, or for a few women, a shorter or lighter period than
usual.
Symptoms:
Some women do get symptoms, but not usually until a few weeks
after conception (when the egg and sperm first meet). These may
include:
- Swelling or tenderness of the breasts
- Feeling sick (often called morning sickness, although
not always occurring in the morning)
- Frequent need to wee
- Feeling tired
- Changes in appetite or going off certain foods
There is only one way to know for
sure and that is by taking a pregnancy test
When should I take a pregnancy test?
Most pregnancy tests work as soon as a period is late (so if
your period was due Monday the 24th you could take the
test from the Tuesday 25th). But, while most women do
not continue to have periods when pregnant, a few may experience
some light bleeding. And for women who do not have a regular cycle
it can be difficult to know when a period is due. So, the best time
to take the test is three weeks after having unprotected sex - this
is roughly how long it will take for markers of pregnancy to show
up on the test.
What should I do if the pregnancy test is negative?
If the test is negative, this probably means you are not
pregnant, but if your period still hasn't arrived a week later,
another test should be taken. Periods can be late for many reasons
including stress, change of diet, or other health conditions. If
you are concerned, then make an appointment to see your GP.
If you are not planning to become pregnant this might be a good
time to think about finding a method of contraception that suits
you best. If you have questions about contraception you should make
an appointment with your GP, nurse or health advisor.
What should I do if the pregnancy test is positive?
If the test is positive this means you are pregnant.
Finding out that you are pregnant may give rise to very
different feelings for different people. Some people may feel
excited and happy; others may feel scared and confused. All of
these feelings are normal.
If you are planning to continue the pregnancy you need to see
your GP to discuss the care that you will need during the pregnancy
and birth.
If you are unsure about whether to continue you should seek
medical help as soon as possible – from your GP, a family planning
clinic or a sexual health service so that you can discuss your
options. The staff will be used to helping people in this
situation and will be able to give you the information that you
need to make your decision.
I think I might be pregnant and am getting some pain and
bleeding
Sometimes in early pregnancy it is not clear whether the
pregnancy is developing normally. The signs of this are
bleeding and abdominal pain. If you experience this you need
to be referred to an Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit for tests
(usually a scan and/or blood tests). You can be referred by
your GP, sexual health clinic or a hospital casualty
department.
Sometimes these tests will show that the pregnancy is not able
to develop (a miscarriage) or has developed in the tube instead of
the womb (ectopic pregnancy) and you will be given treatment and
advice. An ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous so if
you do get these symptoms it is very important to see a doctor as
soon as possible.
My girlfriend is pregnant, what should I do?
Discovering that your girlfriend is pregnant can often come as a
shock. You'll probably have lots of questions and want to know what
your options are. It's a good idea to talk about your thoughts and
feelings with your girlfriend, friends or family, or you can get
some advice from a health professional.
If you're under 18, the Sexwise confidential helpline is
available from 7am until midnight, 7 days a week. Calls from a
landline are free, and they won't show up on a telephone bill. The
number is 0800 28 29 30.
What choices do I have if I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant there are three choices available to
you:
The decision about what to do can be a very difficult one,
especially if the pregnancy was unplanned. You may need to consider
your age, relationship with the father, family, financial
situation, housing, and cultural factors amongst others. You
can get advice and support with decision making from sexual
health clinics or your GP, as well as friends and family.