Sexual health and pregnancy
Pregnancy
Finding out that you’re pregnant can be daunting, but it's important to know that there is help and support available. Firstly, if you think that you may be pregnant, you need to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible to find out.
Read more about:
- pregnancy tests
- continuing with the pregnancy
- if you're unsure about what to do
- Unexpected pregnancy
- being a teenage parent
Pregnancy tests
Pregnancy tests can be carried out from the first day of your missed period, or if you're unsure when your period would be from 21 days after having unprotected sex. Some sensitive tests can detect pregnancy a little earlier and this will usually be stated on the testing kit. Pregnancy tests can be bought from a pharmacy or supermarket and can be done at home. There will be instructions as to how to use it. Pregnancy tests usually require a specimen of urine which can be collected at any time of the day and does not need to be a morning urine sample.
The following services can also offer free pregnancy tests:
- your GP
- YorSexual Health – call the YorSexual Health phone line for more information and to book a test on telephone: 01904 721111, 9.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday
- the Healthy Child Service (School Nurses) can also support you to access pregnancy tests and can be contacted on telephone: 01904 555475 from 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday or telephone: 07873702869
A positive result will almost certainly be correct. A negative result may be less reliable and so if you have a negative result and still think that you're pregnant, you should repeat the test a few days later, or speak to your GP.
Continuing with the Pregnancy
If you're pregnant and wish to continue with the pregnancy, then you should make an appointment as soon as possible to see your GP or midwife to arrange antenatal care, (this is the care that you receive from a doctor or midwife during your pregnancy). This is very important as it checks on both your health and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy.
Find our more information about the NHS antenatal midwife care.
York's Healthy Child Service pages lets you know what to expect and what support is available to you during pregnancy and beyond.
Folic acid
It is important to take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day ideally before you're pregnant and until you're 12 weeks pregnant. This is to reduce the risk of problems in the baby’s development in the early weeks of pregnancy.
You can get folic acid tablets and vitamins to support your pregnancy from pharmacies and supermarkets, or a GP may be able to prescribe them for you. You may qualify for free vitamins under the NHS Healthy Start scheme.
NHS Healthy Start
NHS Healthy Start provides free vitamins and help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula during pregnancy and your baby’s first four years. If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help through the Healthy Start Scheme.
Anyone aged under 18 years who is pregnant is eligible for Healthy Start.
If you're eligible you will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some shops. The card will be topped up every 4 weeks. You can use your card to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins to support you during your pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamins for babies and young children under 4 to support their growth and development
You can find out about NHS Healthy Start and apply online. Your midwife will also be able to provide you with information on Healthy Start locally.
If you're unsure about what to do
If you're not sure about whether or not you wish to continue with the pregnancy, then it's important that you take some time to consider your options in order to make sure that you make the decision that is right for you.
Talking to people that you trust and getting information about your options may help you decide. You may wish to speak to your partner, family or friends. Alternatively, you may wish to speak to someone less close to you such as your GP or other healthcare professional.
Your options are:
- continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
- having a termination
- continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted
If you would like to talk to someone about your options the following organisations can help you:
- Reflect York offer free support for anyone facing a pregnancy choice. They provide free one to one support for individuals or couples. Telephone: 01904 676710, text telephone: 07517 624750 or email: [email protected]
- BPAS telephone:0345 730 4030
- Marie Stopes telephone: 0345 300 8090
If you're under 25, you can also find information about all options including termination from the Brook website.
Unexpected pregnancy
An unexpected pregnancy is one of the most life altering experiences a person can go through. Whilst it is ultimately the person who is pregnant’s decision whether they go ahead with a pregnancy or decide to have a termination (abortion), it can have far reaching consequences for the partner too. Abortion can be extremely traumatic for both. If your partner decides to go ahead with the pregnancy, then having a child is a major undertaking. If you don't stay together you will still by law have financial responsibility for the child - even if you have no contact with them.
Whichever way you look at it, unless you're both sure that being parents is what you want, the best option is to make sure to avoid pregnancy and this is the responsibility of both partners.
Being a teenage parent
Every parent struggles sometimes with the demands of raising a child, not just young parents. Having the right support is really important. This may come from family and friends, but there are other people who can help.
The Healthy Child Service will continue to support both you and your baby after the pregnancy.
York Family Information Service offers impartial information, advice and guidance to all parents and carers. You can find out more information about what help and support is available for parents in the families' section on this website.
