Women can get pregnant any time after puberty. After the 40s, fertility takes a dip. But it is still possible to conceive at an older age before hitting menopause. If you want to stop an unplanned pregnancy, you must not have unprotected intercourse. In other terms, you must use birth control measures to prevent a pregnancy from taking place. However, a female can conceive even after using the contraception method. So, what are the major reasons behind an unintended pregnancy, and what are your options to deal with such a situation?
In this post, we will tell if you can get pregnant on birth control, how to ensure prevention from getting pregnant, if you can opt out of a pregnancy, or what else you can do.
Reasons behind a Surprise Pregnancy
Did you know you can get pregnant on birth control even if use the contraception correctly? None of the pregnancy-controlling techniques is foolproof. However, the success rate of each product for safeguarding you against pregnancy differs. And you must compare your choices and go for the one that suits your health and preference. Some of the methods are more reliable than others. Also, they grant protection till different time periods (long-acting or short-acting contraceptives).
Birth control pills, condoms, IUDs, and other measures are 80% to 90% successful. Sterilization of females or male vasectomy is permanent contraception, with a risk of failure of less than 1%. So, if you are unexpected pregnant, then probably the birth control did not work for you. Or, you did not use it as per instructions of the healthcare provider and conceived. Another reason for a surprise pregnancy is not using protection when required.
For instance, not using a barrier method like a condom or missing a dose of contraceptive pills. Or not getting birth control replaced on time. Some contraception methods have viability for a duration. A fine example is a vaginal ring, which should be replaced every 3 weeks. If you do not change the product at the right time, then the risk of getting pregnant and birth control failure also increases.
Take Emergency Contraceptive Pill
Even if you have intercourse without taking pills for not getting pregnant, there is a way to save yourself from conceiving. Take the emergency contraceptive pill within 72 hours of intimacy and do not delay the intake of the medicine. Emergency contraception cannot remove an established pregnancy. And you must not consume it before intercourse. It works as a backup method to stop a pregnancy from occurring and is not a regular birth control method.
Irregular Periods and Unplanned Pregnancy
Certain issues with the reproductive system can you to conceive when you least expect it. For those who have irregular periods, it is difficult to keep a track of the fertility window. Also, you cannot manually calculate when you will get periods or understand your menstrual cycle. So, you may get intimate without using contraception, and conceive. Thus, it is imperative to use birth control pills and pregnancy will not occur even if you get delayed periods.
Pregnancy When You Are Close to Menopause
Before the menstrual cycle comes to a permanent stop in your life, there is a risk of conceiving if you do not use contraceptives. Yes, the chances of getting pregnant are too low at this stage, but not impossible. So, pregnancy control is important till you have the ability to conceive, no matter how fertile you are and how old you are. If you conceive close to menopause, the physician will conduct several tests to understand if you have a continued and healthy pregnancy. If the chances are negative, then you need to get the pregnancy terminated as soon as possible.
Parenting, Pregnancy Termination, or Adoption
If the pregnancy control pills did not work or you had unprotected intercourse, then pregnancy may happen. As such, you can choose from parenting, ending a pregnancy, or adoption. Which option you take depends completely on your personal viewpoint and health. Sometimes, it is unsafe to continue a pregnancy given a health problem. Here, you have to terminate the pregnancy. Or, you can keep the pregnancy and go through the childbirth process as well as parenting.
Otherwise, after bearing a child, you may put the infant up for adoption. Taking a decision about what you want to do with a surprise pregnancy is not that easy always. You may encounter confusion and be unable to make a choice. In this event, you can consult your gynaecologist as well as your pregnancy counsellor to understand what you can opt for. If you want to parent the child, then prepare yourself to shoulder the responsibility of the baby.
If you want to discontinue the pregnancy, then get it terminated. Sometimes, you may not want to either parent or get the pregnancy ended. There is still a way out through adoption in this situation. Know the provisions for adoption in your state and follow the needful. Finding the right home for your infant, in this case, will ensure proper parenting for the same.
To Conclude
A surprise for pregnancy can turn your life around in unexpected ways. To protect against unplanned pregnancy, you must avoid unprotected intercourse, use birth control accurately, and get a check-up done for your gynaecological health to ensure safety and well-being.