Pregnancy tests and options
Make an appointment to have a pregnancy test or to speak with an educator about your pregnancy options.
We offer confidential pregnancy testing and information about all pregnancy options, in Greater Victoria, BC. Make an appointment at any of our sexual health clinics.
When you suspect you might be pregnant, the first step is to get a pregnancy test.
Getting a pregnancy test
A pregnancy test is generally a urine test and takes only a few minutes to give you a result. It’s best to wait until you have missed a period for the most accurate results, but some tests will show results earlier.
You can get a pregnancy test:
- at Island Sexual Health Society (make an appointment)
- using a home test kit (available at drug stores)
- at your doctor’s office
If you do not want to be pregnant, you may not want to do a home test on your own.
If your pregnancy test is negative
If you do not wish to become pregnant, this is a good time to make sure you have good birth control in place. Make an appointment to get help choosing and using birth control.
A second pregnancy test may be necessary to be sure you are not pregnant, and we can let you know if this is the case.
Pregnancy options
If your pregnancy test is positive and you were not trying to get pregnant, then you may want to talk about your options. There are three basic choices:
- Continue the pregnancy and parent
- Continue the pregnancy and place your baby for adoption
- End the pregnancy by having an abortion
Get support
It’s important to get the support you need to help you with your decision. This support may come from:
- your partner, friends, and family
- a reputable counselling program (make an appointment to speak to an educator at Island Sexual Health Society). Be aware that some “crisis pregnancy” and “pregnancy options” centres have a pro-life (anti-abortion) bias. At ISHS we are pro-choice, which means we offer unbiased information about all your options.
Make sure you pick someone you trust and who cares about you, however, remember that in the end this decision is yours to make.
Consider your feelings and situation
There are many things to think about if you face an unplanned pregnancy. You may want to consider:
- Your feelings about being pregnant
- Your plans for the future
- Your thoughts, values or beliefs about each of your choices
Make sure you get all the information you need to make your decision. Take time to explore your feelings and consider your options.
Pregnancy options is a website with ideas and exercises to help you make a decision about your pregnancy.