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Do you think you are pregnant?
Maybe you’ve already taken a home pregnancy test. It’s important to be sure whether or not you’re pregnant. Come get a free pregnancy test at Human Life Services. We will also help you with your first ultra-sound if needed.
How does pregnancy begin?
After a woman's menstrual period, her body releases an egg. If she has sex around the time the egg is released, conception — also know as fertilization (of the egg) — may happen1. As soon as fertilization occurs, the baby’s features, including sex, hair, and eye color, have already been determined2. In fact, 21 days after conception, the baby’s heart begins to beat.3
You’re pregnant. Now what?
We’d love to help you with your pregnancy decision. Our trained staff is great to talk to and can help you learn about your options.
You’re not pregnant. Now what?
Remember, no amount of birth control can protect your heart. Thinking you might be pregnant unexpectedly can be stressful. How can you avoid this situation? Many women decide to prevent pregnancies by using contraceptives, but they continue to be sexually active. The problem with this is women can still get pregnant even when using the pill or other birth control methods. Continued sexual activity outside of marriage has serious risks besides pregnancy.
Refraining from sexual activity is the:
- only 100% guarantee you won't get pregnant.
- only way to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI's). Learn more about sexually transmitted diseases/infections.
- best way to spare yourself the heartache and pain of casual sex.
In reality, waiting for your lifelong marriage partner is the best way to go.
Depending on the survey, anywhere from 40 to 80% of women "hook up" (engage in casual, non-committal sex with multiple partners) during their college years.
According to Dr. Miriam Grossman [staff psychiatrist at UCLA Psychological Services], the consequences of "hooking up" are:
- Young unmarried women who are sexually active are three times more likely to suffer from depression and three times more likely to attempt suicide than girls who are not sexually active.
- Sexually active college-aged women are at a significantly greater risk for developing eating disorders, cutting themselves, and performing other acts of self-mutilation.
- 43% of sexually active women will contract HPV, a STD/STI that can lead to cervical cancer.
Many young women say they don't enjoy the sexual encounter but agree to it because they want to be "close and feel loved" or keep their boyfriend. They don't realize they deserve the best sex ever, and that happens inside of a relationship where a man has made a commitment in marriage.
To help you decide if you need to be tested for a STI, click here http://www.stdwizard.org/
REFERENCES
1. F. Gary Cunningham, et al., Williams Obstetrics, McGraw-Hill: 2001.
2. Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 18th Edition, 2007 Sauders, an Imprint of Elsevier, Chap 79 The Human Genome; http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/210084012-3/1026247872/1608/210.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50081-5_1721 (Accessed July 16, 2010)
3. Gabbe: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 5th ed. Chapter 2-Fetal Physiology. Copyright © 2007 Churchill Livingstone, An Imprint of Elsevier; http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/210350553-6/1026956027/1528/21.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06930-7..50004-9–cesec23_55 (Accessed July 18, 2010)
