You are probably nervous and scared as hell. This was not supposed to happen! Now what?

First of all, going into a panic and being upset is not going to help. Remember that you don't have to go through this alone. You may get into a spot of trouble, but no one is going to hate you for it. Find someone whom you can talk things over with. Choose someone who will give you the right advice, without making value judgments. Ideally, this should be at least one of your parents. If that makes you uncomfortable, turn to a relative, a friend's parent or even your favorite teacher. You probably have a best friend with whom you share your deepest secret, but in this situation you need an adult.

A word of caution, carefully consider when, and if you want to tell your sexual partner - he may be supportive, or, if he too gets scared, he may make the situation more complicated. Whatever you decide, make sure you don't try to get through this alone!

Here are a few tips to help you along...

The right test

Even though you may have done a home pregnancy test, go to a Family Health Center at a Government Hospital near you, or a reliable lab to get a pregnancy test. Trained clinicians do these tests, and they're more reliable.

The advantage of a Family Health Center is that if you are pregnant, you'll have a chance to talk to a doctor who can give you information, and guide you to take an informed decision.

Options
You have 3 options if you are pregnant. Understand each one and get all the information you can before deciding what to do.

Option 1: Abortion Abortion (also called a medical termination of pregnancy, or MTP) is safe and legal. While you can go though an abortion at any stage of the pregnancy, those performed earlier in pregnancy are safer. Ideally, an abortion should be done in the first three months of your pregnancy.

Option 2: Parenting You can continue your pregnancy and keep your child. This will make you a parent, which can be most rewarding, but is also a huge responsibility. Young parents usually find it very difficult to bring up a child, mainly because they have fewer resources - both financial and time. So, even if you are sure that you want to have a child, ask yourself whether this is the right time to start a family.

Option 3: Adoption You can also continue your pregnancy and give the child for adoption. This can be a good choice if you do not want to go through an abortion, but feel that you are not in a position to take on the responsibilities of bringing up a child. However, adoption procedures are a bit cumbersome, so make sure you have enough information. Your doctor should be able to help you with this.

Even though abortions are completely legal, many hospitals do not offer this facility for various ethical reasons. But, these hospitals are always willing to guide you in the right direction to the right places. Your best bet would be the Family Health Center. You could also ask your family doctor to refer you to a reliable clinic. Whatever else you do, stay away from the many quacks that abound - as there can be serious risks involved in going to such places, as well as later on in life.

Time to Choose
Whatever the option you choose, it will involve making a decision. It is important for you to think things clearly and use your head to arrive at the right choice. Some of the factors you should think about are your future plans, how much support you can reasonably expect from your family and partner, and your financial status.

No time to lose
Once you have taken a decision, don't dither. Take the next step as quickly as you can. Remember you have to deal with your pregnancy without delay. It is real and you can't wish it away. Any delay will just add to complications.

You are not alone
However difficult a time it may be, you always have friends and family who will not let you down. Whether it's for advice, or just for a shoulder to cry on, reach out to them. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It will give you the strength to make a choice that is right for you.

Teen pregnancy

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