Pregnancy Testing
Te whakamatautau i te haputanga
If you have had unprotected sex and you think you could be pregnant, you will need to have a pregnancy test. The tests are reliable and show results two to three weeks after the time the egg was fertilised. If you do the test before your period was due it may give you a false result.
If you've had unprotected sex in the last three to five days you still have time to use emergency contraception.
You can get a pregnancy test from:
Pregnancy testing kits are also available from the chemist shops. These can be very reliable, but only if you follow the instructions carefully.
Very rarely, pregnancy tests will show a negative result when you may be pregnant. Signs of pregnancy usually appear two to three weeks after conception. They vary from woman to woman but may include:
- missing a period;
- a short, lighter period;
- feeling tired;
- nausea or vomiting (known as morning sickness, but not always in the morning);
- feeling bloated or period-like cramps;
- appetite changes;
- mood changes.
If your pregnancy is not planned then it is important that you discuss your options with someone as soon as possible. For information on your options read the page - Unplanned Pregnancy. You can talk to a doctor or nurse at a Family Planning Clinic or Sexual Health Clinic or your own doctor.