Unplanned Pregnancy
If you have a and have sex with no condom or other and miss a period, you may be pregnant. Sometimes periods stop for other reasons so it is good to talk to your doctor about it.
If you are pregnant see your doctor as soon as possible to talk about your choices.
If you are pregnant your choices are:
have and keep the baby
have the baby and then let someone adopt it
stop the pregnancy by having a termination.
A termination is medication or an operation that stops your pregnancy. It is also called an abortion.
Terminations are legal in Australia but the laws are different in each state and territory. The law in your state or territory will tell you the number of weeks into a pregnancy you can have a termination. The law will also tell you what needs to happen for you to have a termination.
Having a termination can be a big decision. Seeing a counsellor can help you decide if you would like to have a termination or not. If you decide to have a termination, you will need to talk to a doctor about this. They can help you learn about your choices and any risks.
Not all doctors and hospitals perform terminations so you will need to find out where you can go to have one.
If you are under 18 years of age there are different laws about getting a termination.
If you do not want your parent or guardian to know you want a termination, you can ask your doctor about your options.
Termination may be a hard decision.
Here are some things to think about when making this choice.
Will having a child put your health at risk?
Do you have a place to bring up a child?
Do you have enough money to bring up a child?
Do you have
enough support
to bring up a child?
A counsellor can help you make your own decision.
Your doctor
A counsellor
Your hospital or community health centre
Someone you trust.
Other sections in Sexual Health
