Pregnant?
Signs of early pregnancy include:
- late period
- tender / tingling breasts
- feeling sick
- constipation
- tiredness
- stomach pains
- needing to wee more often
- increase in vaginal discharge
- going off certain foods (such as fatty foods)
- going off certain drinks (such as coffee)
- going off certain smells (such as cigarette smoke)
The quickest and most reliable way to check whether you are pregnant is by doing a Pregnancy Test. These can be bought over the counter at chemists, in a supermarket, or on the internet, and are very easy to use. Some GPs, family planning clinics, and young people's services (e.g. Brook Centres) offer free Pregnancy Tests.
Pregnancy Tests usually consist of a plastic stick with a small window on it, and works by detecting a particular hormone in your urine. You wee on the plastic stick and, depending on the type of test, watch for a change of colour or a coloured line appearing in the small window.
You can use a Pregnancy Test on the first day that your missing period was due. If used correctly, the Tests are very accurate.
What should I do if the test is negative?
It is sometimes possible for a Pregnancy Test to show a "false negative" result. If the Pregnancy Test shows that you are not pregnant, but your period still doesn't arrive, do another Pregnancy Test (some Pregnancy Tests include two Tests in the box), or go to see your doctor.
What should I do if the test is positive?
A positive result is almost certainly correct.
If your pregnancy was not planned, and you are unhappy about the positive result, you will need to make some decisions about how you want to proceed. Visit the Making a Choice section for more information about your options.
Contacts
The contacts database contains details of organisations that may be able to offer information or assistance on this issue.
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