Unplanned pregnancy

None of the above methods of contraception is 100% effective. Anyway, anything can happen. No woman can remain indifferent to an unplanned pregnancy. Her reaction can express either indescribable ecstasy and surprise, or turn into a shock. Depending on the circumstances, such a pregnancy can be an important, significant and joyful event in her life or to plunge her into deep sorrow. Be that as it may, a woman should make sure that this really happened. If the fact is confirmed, then a decision is made.

The first sign of pregnancy is usually the absence of menstruation, even if they are irregular. While it turns out, it will take at least a few weeks. Other signs of pregnancy can be:

• chest pain;

• seal in the abdomen and waist;

• fast fatigue;

• unexplained thirst or hostility towards food;

• nausea or "morning sickness".Usually, such attacks are felt in the morning, but can happen at other times of the day.

All these symptoms may be absent. Therefore, it is best to do a pregnancy test( usually a urine test) to make sure that you are really pregnant. Most clinics conduct such tests for free. Some private doctors also provide such a service. In addition, you can purchase a special kit at the pharmacy for testing and do the analysis yourself. The necessary tests can be used already the day after the period of the onset of menstruation has passed. The test results should be confirmed in the clinic. If your home test gives a negative result, then in a few days you should repeat the test and make sure that the result is still negative. If the home test is positive at the first and second testing, then you should immediately consult a doctor or family planning clinic so that the result is confirmed again. If, in fact, it turns out that you are pregnant, you will have to think about how to proceed:

• give birth and support a child;

• give birth to a child and give it up for adoption;

• interrupt pregnancy( or, using the correct expression, have an abortion).

It's always difficult to make such a decision, because, perhaps, it will be one of the most important decisions in your life. In addition, it is necessary to make a decision quickly enough, because its delay can complicate matters. You will need the help and advice of others. But no one can force you to make a concrete decision to please the desires of other people. The choice is always yours. It is best to seek help from unbiased people, but able to give such advice that will be optimal for you and will not hurt you. Of course, if you have a good relationship with the father of your unborn baby, then you should make this decision together, because both of you are responsible for this pregnancy. However, you have to bear the child and give birth to it. Therefore, the last word is always yours. Your family doctor, medical staff of the clinic or

consultations will always be able to provide the necessary support regardless of whether your partner takes part in it or not. Your relatives and friends can be delighted that you are pregnant. But do not flatter yourself. No one except yourself can decide, and no one knows your current circumstances and prospects for the future better than you.

If you decide to have a baby, then you need to consult your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will help you with advice, provide the necessary help, support and cares for you throughout your pregnancy( see Chapter 17).If you decide to have a baby, but you can not keep it, then you still need to consult a doctor for the reasons we mentioned earlier. If you ask, the doctor can contact various social institutions to find out what are the chances of your unborn child for adoption.

If you have chosen an abortion( abortion), you should be aware of the importance of this decision. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy that destroys an embryo before it becomes viable, that is, before it can be outside the uterus. Sometimes it happens that abortion occurs spontaneously. Such abortions are called miscarriages. Here it is necessary to mention that an abortion is an artificial termination of pregnancy. In the UK( with the exception of Northern Ireland), abortion is considered legal only if two doctors agree that the continuation of pregnancy carries a risk to the health( physical or mental) of the woman or her unborn child,when it can harm those children or a child that she already has.

In the United Kingdom and the United States, abortion is considered legal only if it is about aborting a pregnancy for a period not exceeding 24 weeks, which are counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. After this period has passed, abortion becomes impossible, unless it is a question of some exceptional circumstances. In any case, almost all abortions are performed on a period not exceeding 20 weeks. Therefore, as soon as you decided to have an abortion, then you should not pull it. The sooner

you do it, the better. Most abortions are performed in inpatient hospitals.

There are several types of abortion. Abortion, which is carried out for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, can be carried out chemically. For this, a special mefigen tablet( RU246) is used, which is anti-progestogen. However, the most commonly used method is vacuum aspiration. It consists in removing the contents of the uterus with a vacuum aspirator( siphoner) or syringe. Such operations usually do not require stationary conditions and a large amount of time. If abortion is carried out at a time longer than 12 weeks, then in this case other chemical and surgical methods are used that are conducted in a hospital. The less time will be on which you make an abortion, the less likely the various complications that it may entail. Of course, the use of modern technology reduces the physical risk to a woman's health. However, any abortion carries a risk, no matter how small its probability. Although, of course, the percentage of women who can not have children in the future as a result of abortions is extremely small. I want to repeat again that the less time that abortion is done, the better.

After an abortion, a woman can feel weak, tired and in a depressed mood. At this moment it is extremely important for her to get the support of relatives( both physical and moral), friends or acquaintances. Physical recovery after abortion occurs very quickly, but emotional stress is much stronger, and it can continue for a long time. During this period, the woman experiences a variety of feelings. Basically this is a mixture of regret and sadness. Of course, in all this can take place in different ways. Some women are overwhelmed by grief, comparable to a great loss;others can not cope with their sadness, while others fall into a deep depression. Therefore, a woman in such a situation simply needs the participation and assistance of friends or relatives. In case of severe depression, it is better to seek medical advice. And for the future, a woman needs to think carefully about what contraceptive means she is going to use.

Contraceptives

for short-term action

Long-acting contraceptives