Life happens. You got caught up in the moment and forgot to take your birth control. He didn’t have a condom with him when he came over. Maybe it’s a few weeks after you’ve had sex and your cycle didn’t come. While there may be a twinge of panic running down your spine, it’s not the end of the world. The important thing to do if you think you may be pregnant is to be proactive. Not sure what to do? Follow these steps below to help you figure it out.
1. Plan B
If it’s less than 48 hours after you’ve had sex, be sure to run out to the store and get Plan B. While not 100% effective, it does decrease your chances of getting pregnant. Keep in mind that time is of the essence in this case; the faster you take Plan B after you’ve had sex, the more effective it is.
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2. Take an At-Home Pregnancy Test
Take multiple pregnancy tests; while rare, it’s possible to get a false negative. It’s much better to be safe than sorry in this situation. Keep in mind, this is probably the one test in your life you actually want to fail.
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3. Stop All Substance Abuse
This advice applies more so to the people who may have missed a period or two and think they may have gotten pregnant several weeks ago. While not as damaging as taking drugs in the second or third trimester, stay away from drugs and alcohol if you think there’s a chance you might be pregnant. These substances can lead to physical and mental disabilities in a baby, and can even cause death.
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4. Call your OBGYN
Did you have sex and forget about protection? Hey, it happens. We get it. The important thing is to be watchful and take charge of the situation. While these symptoms can mean a myriad of things, a combination of several can point to a possible pregnancy. Have you missed your period? Have you been nauseous? Have you noticed that your pants are a little more snug than normal? If you think you might be pregnant, you should call your OBGYN and set up an appointment to determine whether or not you’re pregnant ASAP.
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5. Remain Calm
You can’t change the outcome of the pregnancy test, so just breathe. It’s important not to let yourself spiral into a panic during this time; it’s not healthy for you! Even if you are pregnant, pregnancy doesn’t always lead to motherhood. There are several options you have if you are pregnant, such as abortion or adoption. If you end up not being pregnant, you’ll likely remember to use birth control the next time you want to get intimate with someone.
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