{"id":4819,"date":"2023-12-29T16:39:16","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T16:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4819"},"modified":"2024-01-10T09:57:41","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T09:57:41","slug":"pregnancy-scare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/pregnancy-scare\/","title":{"rendered":"How to navigate a pregnancy scare"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Realising your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-condoms\/\">contraception<\/a> has failed or noticing your period is late are moments that make your heart stop in its tracks. A pregnancy scare can leave you feeling stuck. But it\u2019s critical to know you have options and steps to take, even before you know whether you\u2019re pregnant or not.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#whatisapregnancyscare?\">What is a pregnancy scare?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#stepstotake\">Steps to take during a pregnancy scare <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#whattodowhenyourperiodislate?\">What to do when your period is late?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#whentotakeapregnancytest\">When should you take a pregnancy test?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#thetakeaway\">The takeaway<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In this guide, you\u2019ll find out how to handle a pregnancy scare, what to do if your period is late, and when to take a pregnancy test. We want to stress that there are no right or wrong pathways in the situation, and knowing your options is critical.<\/p>\n<p><em>Scroll down to learn more. <\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"whatisapregnancyscare?\"><strong>What is a pregnancy scare?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A pregnancy scare is when someone suspects they\u2019re pregnant but doesn\u2019t want to be.<\/p>\n<p>This can be an extremely intense experience. It\u2019s important to know that you\u2019re not alone and everything will be okay. The key to navigating a pregnancy scare is to put your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sexuality-and-mental-health\/\">mental health<\/a> first. Staying calm might seem difficult now, but navigating the situation is essential.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, whatever happens, you aren\u2019t stuck. Keep reading to learn what to do if you\u2019ve had unprotected sex, if your contraception has failed, or if you suspect you might be pregnant.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4823\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1.png\" alt=\"a pregnant woman holding her belly while looking into a tablet on her bed\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-1-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"\u201dstepstotake&quot;\"><strong>Steps to take during a pregnancy scare<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s everything you need to know about dealing with a pregnancy scare.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Step one:<\/strong> take a deep breath.<\/p>\n<p>A pregnancy scare comes with lots of emotions and stress. Before you do anything else, breathe in and out a few times to help<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-relax-when-meeting-an-escort-for-the-first-time\/\"> you calm down.<\/a> This way, you can process the next few steps with a clear mind.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider emergency contraception<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Step two:<\/strong> Consider emergency contraception.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types of emergency contraception: the copper IUD (or copper coil) and the morning-after pill. The copper IUD is more effective than the hormonal morning-after pill, but it has to be inserted by a professional. Sometimes, the morning-after pill is easier to access, and these are still up to 95% effective when used in the correct time frame.<\/p>\n<p>If you choose the morning-after pill, make sure you read the guidelines for your specific medication. Most pills are effective within a five-day window, but some must be used within three days of unprotected sex.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examine your menstrual cycle<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Step three: <\/strong>Examine your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/menstruation-and-mental-health\/\">menstrual cycle<\/a> and determine how likely a pregnancy is.<\/p>\n<p>You can only get pregnant when you\u2019re ovulating. This is when an egg is released, and there\u2019s only a small five to six-day window for pregnancy to happen. Eggs only live 24 hours, but sperm can survive for five days.<\/p>\n<p>On the average 28-day cycle, ovulation happens on approximately day 14. If you track your cycle, look at where you are. This can help you gauge how likely a pregnancy is &#8211; but remember that it\u2019s difficult to be certain, even if you track your periods.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confide in someone you trust<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Step four: <\/strong>If it\u2019s safe, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-talk-about-sex\/\">speak to someone<\/a> you trust.<\/p>\n<p>The saying \u201c<em>A problem shared is a problem halved\u201d<\/em> has some truth to it. Discussing your worries with someone else will help you process your feelings, and you could even ask them to join you when taking emergency contraception or when buying a pregnancy test.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be kind to yourself<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to be harsh to yourself, especially if you forgot contraception or didn\u2019t realise the contraception was broken. But this isn\u2019t fair or productive. You\u2019re not the first one to experience a pregnancy scare, and you won\u2019t be the last.<\/p>\n<p>This happens more than you\u2019d expect, so give yourself some grace before being harsh to yourself. In a high-stress situation, this is the last thing you need.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Act quickly<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While you must be kind to yourself and not make any rash decisions, you also need to note that you must act quickly to prevent a pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the type of emergency contraception you use, you\u2019ll have a few days to act. Similarly, if your period is late, you\u2019ll also need to contact your healthcare provider. Anxiety and stress might make you want to bury your head in the sand, but it\u2019s not the time to procrastinate. Put yourself first and take the action that feels right for you.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"whattodowhenyourperiodislate?\"><strong>What to do when your period is late?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A missed period is usually one of the first signs of pregnancy. So, you\u2019ll need to take an at-home pregnancy test (more on this below) to rule this possibility out.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s important to stay calm and remember that there are other reasons that your period might be late. Period cycles range from 21 to 40 days; slight variation is normal. <strong><em>These are some reasons why your period might also be late:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stress<\/li>\n<li>Low or high body weight<\/li>\n<li>PCOS<\/li>\n<li>Birth control<\/li>\n<li>Chronic diseases<\/li>\n<li>Thyroid issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Natural variations in your cycle will happen from time to time. But these factors shouldn\u2019t cause a period to be over six weeks late.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4821\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2.png\" alt=\"An anxious woman holding a home pregnancy test, coping with a pregnancy scare\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pregnancy-scare-2-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"whentotakeapregnancytest\"><strong>When should you take a pregnancy test?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve had unprotected sex, a pregnancy test on the same day won\u2019t show if you\u2019re pregnant or not. You\u2019ll need to wait until your next <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/period-sex-tips\/\">menstrual cycle<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While some might be tempted to test on the first day of a missed period, it\u2019s not advised. At this point in a pregnancy, you don\u2019t have enough pregnancy hormone (hCG) built up in your urine. If you test one week after your missed period, you&#8217;ll get a more accurate week.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s best to take a pregnancy test with your first-morning urine. This is because the urine has not been diluted by drinking fluids.<\/p>\n<p>Taking a pregnancy test after a pregnancy scare is scary. If you\u2019re reading this, you might be looking for other answers. However, it\u2019s paramount that you take a test and get it out of the way. PMS and early pregnancy signs are similar, and there\u2019s only so much someone\u2019s Reddit post can tell you. Whatever happens, you\u2019ll be okay. But don\u2019t put the test off!<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if you get a positive pregnancy test?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A positive pregnancy test might seem like the end of the world, but it\u2019s not. You have several options, and there\u2019s no right or wrong path. These include terminating the pregnancy via abortion, carrying the pregnancy, giving the baby up for adoption, and keeping the baby.<\/p>\n<p>The choice is yours, but you should rely on your healthcare provider\/GP as a resource. They can help you access the services you need and refer you to a support system.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"thetakeaway\"><strong>The takeaway<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Pregnancy scares are a difficult time, and there\u2019s no right way to feel. However, it\u2019s important to look after yourself through the process and take steps to prevent future scares afterwards. Your feelings are valid, and so is whatever route you choose.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/sex-and-relationships\/\">Jump to more sex and relationship content here<\/a>. <em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Realising your contraception has failed or noticing your period is late are moments that make your heart stop in its tracks. A pregnancy scare can leave you feeling stuck. But it\u2019s critical to know you have options and steps to take, even before you know whether you\u2019re pregnant or not. What is a pregnancy scare? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"CBBTypography":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-4819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-and-relationships"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4819"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=4819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}