Pregnancy - unplanned

Unplanned pregnancies are common, and a large share of all pregnancies are unplanned. Not all unplanned pregnancies are unwanted, and unintended pregnancies happen for all sorts of reasons.

Whether to continue or end a pregnancy is your decision. It helps to confirm the pregnancy as soon as you can, so you have time to consider your options.

Signs of early pregnancy#

Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy vary, and may include:

• Missed periods.
• Nausea and vomiting (often called morning sickness).
• Breast changes.
• Tiredness.
• Needing to urinate more often.
• Changes in appetite, such as cravings or going off some foods.

If you know the date of your last period, you can use a gestation calculator to estimate how many weeks pregnant you are. If you are not sure, a doctor or nurse can help you work this out.

Confirming your pregnancy#

Pregnancy tests check your blood or urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced in pregnancy. Pregnancy is usually confirmed by:

• A urine test, which you can do at home or at a clinic.
• A blood test, requested by a doctor.

Ultrasound can also confirm a pregnancy, but this is usually done at a later stage.

The most common mistake is testing too soon after a missed period. A home pregnancy test is convenient and gives a result in a few minutes; you can buy one from a pharmacy or supermarket. You either urinate on a test stick or dip a test strip into a small sample of urine. It is best to do the test in the morning, around the time your period is due. If you test too early you may get an inaccurate result, and both false-positive and false-negative results can happen. Home pregnancy tests are up to 99% accurate if you follow the instructions on the packet carefully.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, or you do not feel comfortable doing a home test, see your doctor or a family planning clinic. The doctor or nurse may send you for a blood test to confirm the result, which usually takes a couple of days to come back. They can also discuss any concerns so you can weigh up your options.

Getting help to consider your options#

Once a pregnancy is confirmed, you can work out what information, support and medical care you need to make a decision. The sooner you decide, the more options you will have.

Talking with trusted people can help you reach a decision and give you support. This might be a partner, friend, family member, teacher, school counsellor or health professional. Deciding what to do is not always easy, but unplanned pregnancies are common and you do not have to decide on your own.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can seek support from a specially trained counsellor. Good pregnancy counselling is impartial and non-directive: a counsellor should give you accurate, comprehensive information about your options and help you consider them, without pushing you toward any particular decision. Pregnancy counselling is available in many settings, such as hospitals, family planning clinics, sexual and reproductive health services and community health services, and some services are free or low cost.

Your options#

There are generally three options to consider:

• Continuing the pregnancy and becoming a parent. If you choose this, you can find out what pregnancy care is recommended, what public or private services are available, and what birth options you have.
• Ending the pregnancy. This may be a medical abortion, which can be done early in pregnancy (up to around 9 weeks), or a surgical abortion. A doctor or sexual and reproductive health service can explain what is involved and how to access care.
• Continuing the pregnancy and choosing adoption or alternative care. Support services can give you information about adoption and other care arrangements.

If you have had unprotected sex and want to avoid pregnancy, emergency contraception can be used up to 5 days afterwards. You can choose emergency contraceptive pills or a non-hormonal copper IUD.

If the pregnancy resulted from sexual assault or abuse#

Some unplanned pregnancies result from sexual assault or family violence, which can include threats and physical violence, controlling or tampering with contraception, or forced sex or sexual contact. If this applies to you, specialised counselling and support services can help, including confidential services for people experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence. Youth-friendly and confidential support is also available for young people, sometimes through a school nurse, welfare coordinator, or an on-site adolescent health doctor.

Key points#

• Unplanned pregnancies are common.
• It is important to confirm your pregnancy as soon as you can, so you can start considering your options.
• The most common mistake is testing for pregnancy too soon after a missed period.
• You do not have to decide on your own.
• Getting care and support early is important for you and your baby’s health.

Where to get help#