After taking a pregnancy test when to go to doctor

See a GP or midwife as soon as you find out you're pregnant. It's important to see a midwife or GP as early as possible to get the pregnancy (antenatal) care and information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

If you're not yet registered with a GP, use the service search to find a GP near you. You can also find out about local maternity services.

Your pregnancy can be treated confidentially, even if you are under 16. A GP or midwife can tell you about your choices for pregnancy (antenatal) care in your local area. Being pregnant may affect the treatment of any current illness or conditions you have or later develop.

Read about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy and doing a pregnancy test.

Knowing that you're pregnant

When you find out you're pregnant, you may feel happy and excited, or shocked, confused and upset. Everybody is different.

Some of this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels, which can make you feel more emotional.

If you are feeling anxious or worried it will help to talk to someone, read about mental health in pregnancy.

Partners

Partners may also have mixed feelings when they find out you are pregnant. They may find it hard to talk about their feelings because they do not want to upset you. Both of you should encourage each other to talk about your feelings and any worries or concerns.

However you're feeling, contact an NHS professional (such as a midwife, GP or practice nurse) so you can start getting antenatal (pregnancy) care. This is the care that you'll receive leading up to the birth of your baby.

Find out about your schedule of antenatal appointments.

Telling people that you're pregnant

You may want to tell your family and friends immediately, or wait a while until you know how you feel. Or you may want to wait until you have had your first ultrasound scan, when you're around 12 weeks pregnant, before you tell people.

Some of your family or friends may have mixed feelings or react in unexpected ways to your news. You may wish to discuss this with a midwife.

Read about dealing with feelings and relationships in pregnancy.

Flu and pregnancy

The seasonal flu vaccine is offered if you are pregnant and at any stage of pregnancy. If you are pregnant and catch the flu virus, you are at an increased risk of complications and flu-related hospital admissions.

Find out about the flu jab and pregnancy.

Talk to a GP or midwife if you're unsure about which vaccinations you should have.

Further information

You may also find the information from Sex Wise about being pregnant and not knowing what to do is helpful in explaining the choices you have.

If you have missed a period and recently had unprotected sex, you may be pregnant. Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period.

When you can do a pregnancy test

You can carry out most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.

Some very sensitive pregnancy tests can be used even before you miss a period.

You can do a pregnancy test on a sample of urine collected at any time of the day. It doesn't have to be in the morning.

Where you can get a pregnancy test

You can buy pregnancy testing kits from pharmacists and some supermarkets. They can give a quick result and you can do the test in private.

The following places provide free pregnancy tests:

• sexual health services
• some young people's services – call the national sexual health helpline on 0300 123 7123 for details
• Brook centres for under-25s – find your nearest Brook centre

You may also be able to get a pregnancy test free of charge from your GP.

How does a pregnancy test work?

All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation.

Most pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions.

Pregnancy test results

Home pregnancy tests are accurate as long as you follow the instructions correctly.

A positive test result is almost certainly correct. However, a negative test result is less reliable.

The result may not be reliable if you:

• do not follow the instructions properly
• take the test too early

Some medicines can also affect the results.

If you get a negative result and still think you're pregnant, wait a few days and try again. Speak to your GP if you get a negative result after a second test but your period has not arrived.

Continuing with the pregnancy

If you're pregnant and want to continue with the pregnancy, contact your GP or a midwife to start your antenatal care. You can use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby is due.

If you're not sure you want to be pregnant

If you're not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:

• continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
• having an abortion
• continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted

As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information – from the age of 13 – from the following:

• sexual health services
• the MSI Reproductive Choices website
• the British Pregnancy Advisory service website
• the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website

All these services – including community contraceptive clinics – are confidential. If you're 13 or older, the staff won't tell your parents. They'll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won't force you. 

If you're under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.