You may want to talk to someone close to you, such as:
- your partner
- someone in your family
- a close friend
I’m pregnant: how do I get help?
There are several organisations that can offer help, advice and support. For example:
- You can get confidential advice from the Sexwise helpline on 0800 28 29 30 .
- If you’re under 25, you can visit a Brook centre for free confidential advice. Brook is the young people’s sexual health charity. Visit the Ask Brook site if you need advice urgently.
- Contact the FPA (Family Planning Association), which provides information about pregnancy choices.
You can seek advice confidentially, even if you’re under 16 (the age of consent), from healthcare professionals such as:
- your GP or practice nurse
- a contraception and sexual health clinic
- NHS Direct on 0845 46 47
What to do first
The first thing you need to do is make sure you’re definitely pregnant.
If you think you may be pregnant and your period is late, you should take a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
You can get a free pregnancy test from your family planning clinic, young people’s contraceptive service and some GPs. You can also buy a pregnancy test from any pharmacist or supermarket.
If it’s confirmed that you’re pregnant, you need to think carefully about what’s best for you.
You’re not alone
Finding out you’re pregnant when you’re a teenager can be very daunting, particularly if the pregnancy wasn’t planned. You may experience a lot of different emotions, thoughts and anxieties, for example:
- You may be excited about having a child.
- You could be worried about telling your parents.
- You may not want to go ahead with the pregnancy.
- You may not be sure if you want to go ahead with the pregnancy.
These mixed emotions are common for women of any age. Remember that you’re not alone: plenty of support is available to help you.
Find out what options are available to you. You need accurate information so you can talk through your options and think carefully before you make any decisions.
Deciding what you want to do
If you’re not sure what to do, remember it’s your choice, but don’t delay your decision. If you find out you’re pregnant, don’t ignore the situation and hope it will simply go away, because it won’t.
It’s important to make the decision that’s right for you, Everybody is different, so try not to let other people sway your decision too much. You need to think carefully, talk to people you trust, and seek help and advice from a professional.