I think I might be pregnant…
I am pregnant…
I am not pregnant…
I had unprotected sex last night…

I think I might be pregnant...

If you’ve had sex and have missed your period—especially if your breasts are tender/swollen, or you feel really tired or nauseous—you might be pregnant. First thing to do: find out for sure. This is a case in which ignorance is definitely not bliss. If you’re pregnant, the sooner you know, the better—regardless of what you decide to do next.

Home pregnancy tests (available in drugstores, supermarkets, or online for $10-$30) are pretty accurate if you follow the directions, and they can usually tell you if you’re pregnant within a week of having missed your period (if your period isn’t due yet or you’re only a day or two late, it’s hard for the test to tell if you’re pregnant and you might get a false negative.) Even if you take a home test, you’ll still need a test at a health clinic to confirm your results. Many Planned Parenthood and health department clinics provide pregnancy testing for free or at reduced cost. If you had unprotected sex less than 5 days ago, consider emergency contraception, which can prevent a pregnancy from happening (though it’s most effective if taken in first 24 hours after unprotected sex).

Important: if you have any of the following, call your doctor or a clinic or go to the ER at your hospital right away—they could be signs of a problem such as a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy (what’s that?) or a miscarriage. You need medical attention for either.

•    Sudden, intense pain, persistent pain or cramping in the lower abdomen, especially if it’s on one side

•    Irregular bleeding or spotting with abdominal pain, especially after a light or late period

•    Fainting or dizziness that lasts more than a few seconds

•    Sudden heavy bleeding with clots or clumps of tissue after a late period

•    Abdominal pain and a fever

I am pregnant …

There’s three ways to go here: have the baby and raise it; have the baby for an adoptive family; or have an abortion. It’s a major decision, so take your time and talk to your partner, your family and other trusted advisers about what’s right for you.

 If you’re not sure what to do next or want some more information, click here for more resources that can help.

I am NOT pregnant …

Great news. You can relax... until next time. Wait... you don’t want to go through this again? Then get the facts on how to not get pregnant, check out our what-works-what-doesn’t-work chart, and talk to your partner about protecting yourselves. We’ll sum up:

-What’s the best way to prevent pregnancy? Abstinence, which means not having sex (vaginal intercourse).

-Abstinence not for you? Then use contraception every time you have sex. If you don’t, you have an 85-90% chance of going through this whole am-I-pregnant thing again within a year.

-How can you protect yourself against STDs and pregnancy at the same time? Use a condom every time you have sex.

I had unprotected sex last night…

We know that you know how important it is to use protection every time you have sex, and to regularly get tested for STDs... right? And from this moment on, you’re totally going to do that, right? Right? OK.

In the meantime, if you have had had unprotected sex for whatever reason, there is something you can do to reduce the risk of pregnancy—but you need to act within 120 hours (5 days—ideally sooner).

Emergency contraceptive pills (or EC, sometimes called “morning after pills”) prevent or delays ovulation (when a woman’s ovary releases an egg), prevents fertilization (sperm reaching egg), or prevents an already-fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus (which it has to do in order for a pregnancy to proceed). It’s not an abortion pill. It doesn’t stop a pregnancy that’s already underway—it prevents a pregnancy from happening 75-89% of the time. That’s not nearly as effective as regular contraception (provided you use it correctly and consistently) but it’s definitely better than doing nothing and hoping for the best.

EC won’t prevent pregnancy if you take it before you have sex. It won’t protect you from pregnancy the next time you have sex. And it won’t protect you from STDs. It’s for an emergency. When your regular contraceptive fails for whatever reason. 

EC might make you nauseous, but you can ask your health care provider to prescribe anti-nausea meds. And if you do get sick to your stomach (we’ll just say it: if you puke), you have to tell your health care provider, because it could make the treatment less effective.

EC costs about $45; it may cost less or be free at family planning clinics and health centers. If you’re over 18 you can buy EC “over the counter” with no prescription—just ask the pharmacist for it. If you’re under 18, you need an EC prescription from a doctor or clinic. To find a clinic call the Emergency Contraception Hotline at 1-888-NOT2LATE or go to www.not-2-late.com.