When you’re not expecting or hoping to be pregnant, wondering if you are can be pretty scary. After all, a child is a major responsibility, and if you weren’t planning on having one, even the idea that you could can seem like a lot of weight on your shoulders.
However, you shouldn’t immediately jump to conclusions since there’s a good chance you aren’t pregnant. That doesn’t mean you should wait to find out. If you’ve had unprotected sex or you have a reason to think your birth control method failed, you should do what you can to find out right away.
Check the Calendar
One of the most important things to consider when deciding whether or not you may be pregnant is to check the calendar. While you may get pregnant any time of the month, knowing the approximate date of your last period can be very helpful in determining when you should expect it. Remember – you won’t get your period if you are pregnant.
However, simply checking the calendar isn’t a solution – it’s just a way to know how likely you are to have become pregnant. Most women are likely to ovulate during the middle of their cycle, which can vary from person to person.
If you’re in that window, the chance of pregnancy is considerably greater. Still, there is a good chance you may not be pregnant.
Get a Pregnancy Test
Getting a pregnancy test these days is relatively easy and you don’t always have to go the doctor to get one. While getting tested at the doctor’s office is very reliable, the over the counter pregnancy test you can get at any chemist shop are also quite accurate and can tell you if you are you pregnant or not.
Just make sure you check the information on the packaging of any pregnancy test before you buy it. Some are not able to tell you if you are pregnant if it has been less than a certain amount of time – often a week. This makes those over the counter pregnancy tests hard to use for many women who are trying to check for an unplanned pregnancy.
Contact Your Doctor
Even if you get a pregnancy test from the chemist, one of the best things you can do if you think that you might be pregnant is to talk to your doctor. They will ask you questions about your risk level and tell you how concerned you should be.
They will also tell you of any options you may have or tell you to schedule an appointment for an in-office pregnancy test. These tend to be the most accurate, so you’re often best visiting your doctor after getting a pregnancy test from a chemist.
