Unintended pregnancy

Unintentionally pregnant? It happens to a lot more people than you think. So you're not alone. We have compiled a list of the options available to you and what you can do.

Unintended pregnancy

  1. You are not alone!
  2. Emotional rollercoaster ride
  3. Counseling helps
  4. Your options
  5. Your body, your decision
  6. How can you as a partner act in this situation?

1. you are not alone

An unwanted pregnancy can bring up many feelings. Even if you think you can't get out of the situation, you are not alone! Many people have been and will be like this. People become pregnant unintentionally for a variety of reasons. The most common, however, is that there is no contraception that is 100% safe and protects against an unwanted pregnancy. Contraceptive errors can happen and it is often not the users' fault.

Unfortunately, there are many rumors and myths circulating about unwanted pregnancies, so many people who become pregnant unintentionally find it difficult to talk about it because they are afraid of being blamed or rejected. Fortunately, there are great support services that not only advise you about your options, but also help you make a decision.

2. emotional rollercoaster ride

For many, an unwanted pregnancy is an unplanned turn in the course of life that takes them unprepared. The resulting emotional experience is complicated and can often be compared to a rapid rollercoaster ride of emotions.

The first moment can be characterized by shock and disbelief. This shock can lead to denial, a natural protective mechanism that helps us cope with sudden and often overwhelming information. Some hope that the pregnancy test was wrong or that it is just a temporary phase.

But after the initial shock (and a second positive pregnancy test), you have to come to terms with reality. Some people go through phases of fear, uncertainty, guilt or worries about the future.

Each of these reactions is understandable and initially OK. There is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to how you feel in a situation like this. However, as with any other emotional challenge in life, it is invaluable to seek support, be it from friends, family, partners or professional counselors.

Talking to someone who understands can help you sort through your feelings and find the best way forward for your situation. It also reminds you that you are not alone. There are numerous resources and communities that are ready to help and support no matter what decision is made.

That's why it's important to remember that it's okay to seek support. No one should have to go through the emotional rollercoaster of an unwanted pregnancy alone. There is help and hope, and every step along the way is a step towards clarity.

3. counseling helps

In the event of an unwanted pregnancy, it is already too late for the morning-after pill. It only works immediately (up to 3 or 5 days) after unprotected sex.

It is important that you seek support as soon as you find out about the pregnancy, because the timing of how far along the pregnancy is can be crucial for some decisions, such as abortion.

Only the pregnant person herself can decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy - it is forbidden to force anyone to do so!

If you have the feeling that you might be pregnant, you have the option of taking a pregnancy test. Most people go to the drugstore or pharmacy for this. You can take a pregnancy test around 14 days after unprotected sex, but you should pay attention to what is written on the packaging of the test, as there are differences. And a test carried out too early can give a false result.

Self-tests for home use are tested with urine, as this contains the hormone HCG if you are pregnant. You pee a few drops onto a test strip, preferably in the morning, and then wait to see what it shows.

Pregnancy can also be tested by taking blood samples from doctors and gynecologists, for example.

If your test at home is positive and you don't know what to do, it can help to go to a pregnancy advice center. The staff there are trained to deal with such sensitive situations and can advise you on your options. Make sure that the counseling center provides open-ended advice in your best interests. The counselor should support you in your decision-making process, but never persuade or pressure you into making a decision. You can always bring a companion with you to a counseling session.

4. your options

There are basically two or three options available to you. You can continue or terminate the pregnancy. If you continue, you can keep the child and raise it yourself, or you can give it up for adoption after the birth.

  1. Continuing the pregnancy: If you decide to keep the child, there are a number of support services available in Switzerland, such as mother-child facilities, financial support, parenting advice and much more. A pregnancy counseling center can help you find the best local services.
  2. Termination of pregnancy: In Switzerland, a termination of pregnancy is possible under certain conditions. The termination must take place in the first 12 weeks after fertilization. If you are under 16 years of age, a counselling session must be conducted in advance at a recognized counselling centre; from the age of 16, these sessions are voluntary. After the session, you can decide for yourself whether you want to go ahead with the termination. The costs are usually covered by the health insurance if you have statutory health insurance.

Adoption: If you decide to give birth to the child but not to raise it yourself, there is the option of adoption. There are specialized counseling centers that can inform and guide you through the adoption process.

5. your body, your decision

Only you can ultimately decide what is best for you and your life. No one should put pressure on you or force you to make a decision.

The right to physical self-determination is a very important aspect of freedom. Every person should have control and freedom of choice over their own body. This becomes particularly clear in situations such as an unwanted pregnancy. While the influence of society and culture can often exert conscious or unconscious pressure, it is very important to remember that the decision about one's own body always lies with the person concerned.

The right to control one's own body is a fundamental human right. Of course, it is valuable to have an open dialog with the person with whom the child was conceived and for that person to support you in this situation. However, it must be clear to everyone that the final decision regarding your own body and future always lies with you as the person concerned. Every decision has its own consequences, and at such significant moments it is very important that this decision is made in a self-determined and informed manner.

It always takes two people to get pregnant, and both face emotional challenges when it's an unwanted pregnancy. For the person who is not pregnant, this is a particularly complicated situation. Although they have contributed to the pregnancy and will bear the consequences for the rest of their lives, the decision as to whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy lies with the pregnant person.

6. what can you do as a partner in this situation?

The situation can lead to a feeling of helplessness and can be perceived as unfair, as you are only playing an advisory role in such an important decision (for your own life). However, it is important to understand and accept this position. You are allowed to share your feelings, fears and wishes, but you must accept that you cannot make the final decision. It is extremely important that you are supportive and understanding in this situation. This means informing yourself about the various options, taking part in discussions and decision-making processes and, above all, respecting and supporting the pregnant person's decision.

It is unfortunate that there is currently not a wide enough range of contraceptive options for people with sperm. While the condom is the most commonly used method, there are other methods that are still being researched or developed. It is essential that more research and development takes place in this area to broaden the range of contraceptive options.

Ultimately, contraception and pregnancy-related decisions are about partnership and cooperation. Everyone involved should be informed, communicate and find solutions together, whereby the autonomy and freedom of choice of the pregnant person should always be paramount.

Did you know?

Every year there are

121 million

unintended pregnancies

Test your knowledge about unwanted pregnancy now

Take the quiz and find out how much you already know about unintended pregnancy.

Quiz - ungewollte SSW
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1) What is the most common reason for an unwanted pregnancy?
2) How long is it possible to terminate a pregnancy after making your own decision?
3) What options are there in the event of an unwanted pregnancy?
4) Who decides whether or not to terminate the pregnancy?
5) Who can support you in this situation?
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Seximnet

@funk

Durch Verdrängung bemerkt Virgina erst im siebten Monat, dass sie schwanger ist. Wie sie ihre Schwangerschaft erlebt hat und wie sie mit der ungeplanten Mutterschaft zurechtkommt, seht ihr auf Youtube bei @TRUDOKU

♬ Originalton - funk
@tagesspiegel

Chefärztin Dr. Mandy Mangler erklärt die ersten Schritte bei einer ungewollten Schwangerschaft. #gyncast #podcast #doctor #tagesspiegel

♬ Originalton - Tagesspiegel
@trudoku

Patricias Schwangerschaftsabbruch funktionierte nicht! Patricias ganze Geschichte kannst du in der aktuellen TRU DOKU auf Youtube anschauen. Danke @PaRiedox, dass du deine Geschichte mit uns teilst 💛 #Abtreibung #Schwangerschaftsabbruch #Schwangerschaftskonflikt #schwangerschaft #ungewolltschwanger #doku #trudoku #funk #zdf

♬ Originalton - TRUDOKU

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