Pregnancy
What are the symptoms of pregnancy? In order to get pregnant, a girl has to have had sexual intercourse or had a boy ejaculate near the opening to her vagina. If this has happened, she could be pregnant.
First signs of pregnancy
- A missed menstrual period or a period that is lighter or shorter than usual.
- Breasts may be tender and seem to be bigger.
- Frequent urination.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Feeling more tired than usual.
Not everyone who has these symptoms is pregnant. But if a girl has had sexual intercourse and has some of these symptoms, she should have a pregnancy test. At Links we do a urine test to determine whether a special hormone called HCG is present. In order for the test to be accurate, we do not recommend the test be done before a girl is a week to ten days late with her menstrual period. Then a pelvic exam will be done so the doctor can look at her cervix and feel her uterus to see if she is pregnant and how far along in the pregnancy she is. Remember, a pregnancy will not go away if it is ignored.
What happens when a girl is pregnant? If this is an unplanned pregnancy, a Links counselor will discuss all the options and help her to make a decision that is right for her. She has the right to choose to carry the baby to term, to parent the child or place it for adoption. If she chooses to not continue the pregnancy, Links will give her referrals to several clinics to terminate her pregnancy. Choosing whether to continue a pregnancy or to end it can be a difficult and emotional decision. We will support her no matter what her decision is. If someone decides to be sexually active, it is better to avoid becoming pregnant by using birth control.
