Predicting pregnancy
Question
I was wondering if there's anyway for me to find out if I'm pregnant without taking a test. I've heard that not everyone gets morning sickness so could you tell me if there are any other signs? I'm worried because I've put on too much weight, despite not eating much and it's all going on my stomach. I have had unprotected sex with my boyfriend quite a few times, the last time was a week ago, so I just really want to know what the warning signs are.
Answer
If you've had unprotected sex you have put yourself at risk of pregnancy. But you haven't mentioned if you've missed a period or not.
Most women don't continue to get periods when pregnant and it's worth remembering that a shorter or lighter bleed can also be a sign of pregnancy and should be checked out. There are various signs of being pregnant but these vary from woman to woman and not all women experience all the symptoms. The only way to find out for sure is to do a pregnancy test.
At four weeks after your last period, you may find that:
- Your period does not start - although you may get some mild cramps, your breasts may feel heavy and full, and your nipples may be tingly or sensitive
- You go off things like coffee or alcohol
- There's an odd metallic taste in your mouth
- You may find you produce more saliva
- You start to feel sick
At seven weeks since your last period:
- You are even more likely to be feeling sick
- You may feel very tired
- You may also find that you need to go to the toilet more often because your uterus is getting bigger and is pressing against your bladder
- Some women experience constipation
If you think you might be pregnant, you can get a urine test done to find out for sure. Most pregnancy tests state that they work as soon as a period is late (i.e. one day after your period is due). If you don't have a regular cycle it can be difficult to know when a period is due. So it is best to take the test three weeks after having unprotected sex (as this is roughly how long it will take for the hormone levels to show up on the test).
You can get a free test at your nearest Brook Centre, a local family planning clinic and at some doctor's (GPs) surgeries. You will also be able to talk through how you feel and what your options are at a Brook or Family Planning clinic. You can do this in confidence and no one will be told about your visit unless you want them to be.
You can also pay for a pregnancy test at a chemist or your local pharmacy. They can do a test or sell you a home pregnancy testing kit.
If you are pregnant, it is important to get advice as soon as possible to decide what you want to do next. And if you're not pregnant, it is important you get advice about contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancy in the future.
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Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
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