Thanks.
—Worried for a friend

Dear Worried for a friend,

If your friend is concerned that she may be pregnant the only sure way to find out is to get a pregnancy test. However, a woman can sometimes tell she might be pregnant in the first few weeks just by monitoring her symptoms. Symptoms that might begin during the first weeks of pregnancy include:

• Sore breasts
• Fatigue
• Spotting (menstrual blood between periods)
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Food cravings
• Slight fever

Keep in mind that many of these symptoms can be associated with other things like having a cold, or stomach virus and that symptoms vary by individual. The only way to know for sure is to get a pregnancy test. Some pregnancy tests can be used as soon as a few days before your friend's next expected period. These tests are even more effective if used once your friend has missed a period. You can buy a home pregnancy test at a drug store or pharmacy (be sure to follow the directions exactly) or make an appointment with a health care provider for a test.

If your friend is pregnant, she has some options, and some decisions to make. You may find you can be most helpful to her by helping her understand her options and listening to her feelings. First of all, she can either continue the pregnancy or terminate (that is, have an abortion). If she decides to continue the pregnancy, then she can either keep the baby or opt for adoption. For more information about continuing a pregnancy and adoption, check out the Pregnancy Options category in the Go Ask Alice! archives.

If your friend is pregnant, and decides to have an abortion, there are a number of methods that may be available to her, and these depend primarily on how far along she is (how many weeks). Abortions performed earlier in the pregnancy can often be less medically invasive and less expensive then those performed later. Over 90 percent of abortions are performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The different types of abortions include:

• Medical abortion (taking a combination of prescription pills to induce miscarriage). May be done within 49 days of the beginning of pregnancy. 
• Surgical abortion; either vacuum aspiration or dialation and evacuation (done by a health care provider using a medical instruments and suction to remove contents of the uterus). Most surgical abortions are performed within the first trimester, however they may also be performed within the second trimester. After 24 weeks of pregnancy an abortion is generally not available unless the woman is facing serious health risks.

If your friend had unprotected sex within the last few days, she may want to consider the morning after pill (also called Plan B). Plan B can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex, although it is more effective when taken as soon as possible. The morning after pill is not an abortion since this pill works to prevent pregnancy from occurring at all.

If your friend is a Columbia student, she can visit Primary Care Medical Services to determine how many weeks pregnant she is and to discuss her options. She can go to Open Communicator to make an appointment, or call x4-2284. If your friend is not at Columbia, you or she can visit the Planned Parenthood and National Abortion Federation websites to find providers in your area, as well as more information about how to pay for an abortion.

Whatever your friend chooses, it will be the right decision for her at this time. She is fortunate to have someone like you to support her.

Alice

Related Q&As

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