Some of the early symptoms of pregnancy are:

• missed periods
• periods with a lighter flow or shorter duration than usual
• breast tenderness
• nausea and/or vomiting
• frequent urination
• changes in appetite
• fatigue
• feeling bloated and/or crampy
• abdominal enlargement

If you have some or all of these symptoms, it does not mean you are definitely pregnant. You can also be pregnant and have none of these symptoms. The only way to be certain is to take a pregnancy test.

Home pregnancy tests are quick and generally accurate and can be purchased at a chemist or supermarket. Follow the instructions carefully so you do not affect the result. Always check the expiration date of a home pregnancy test before you use it.

Alternatively, a blood or urine test can be done by your doctor or at a family planning clinic. Even if you have used a home pregnancy test, it is best to have the pregnancy confirmed by a doctor.

I am pregnant

If you are pregnant you have a number of choices to consider. For some, this choice will be easy to make but others may not be sure which way to turn. These are three choices to consider:

• Abortion - terminating the pregnancy.
• Adoption - continuing with the pregnancy and adopting.
• Parenting - continuing with the pregnancy and becoming a parent.

There are no fast or hard rules on how to reach a decision regarding a pregnancy. However it is important for the individual affected to own the decision, whether it is to parent, have an abortion or to place the child for adoption. It is therefore important that the options are carefully considered before following through on the decision. Having correct and up-to-date information on all of these options contributes to making a well informed decision. This website provides information on abortion.

I am not pregnant

If this is the case and you do not want to be pregnant right now, this may be a good opportunity to look into the type of contraceptive method you are currently using. For more information on methods of contraception, visit the The Marie Stopes International website