Pregnancy testing is quick, free and confidential at our Caledonia Youth clinic in Edinburgh. We can also refer you to other services if required.
Pregnancy tests should be taken if you’ve had unprotected sex and your period is late, if it is shorter or lighter than usual, or if you feel you might not have used a method of contraceptive properly. To work properly, tests need to be carried out at least two weeks AFTER unprotected sex.
What happens?
- You’ll see a nurse or doctor who’ll ask some questions about why a test may be required, and information about recent periods
- If they think a test is needed, you will be asked to consider how you might feel and what you may do if the test is positive
- You will be asked to give a small urine sample for the pregnancy test that will take about three minutes
- Once there is a result, the nurse or doctor will discuss this with you right away
Check it out: Pregnancy tests
Negative results - not pregnant
The nurse or doctor will:
- Discuss the test with you and how you feel about the result
- Discuss future contraception with you
- Refer you to counselling if wanted
Positive results - pregnant
The nurse or doctor will:
- Discuss the test with you and how you feel about the result
- As a positive result can sometimes be a surprise or a big thing to come to terms with - whether planned or unplanned – you’ll be offered an appointment to talk with one of our counsellors to discuss how you feel, decisions regarding the pregnancy and the support available to you. Your partner can get counselling too.
- Once the news has settled in, another appointment will be made to discuss available options regarding the pregnancy - carrying on with the pregnancy or having a termination
- If the decision is to carry on with the pregnancy, our team will refer you to specialist organisations and health professionals who will be able to support you through your pregnancy
Referral for termination
If your decision is to have a termination – an abortion - an appointment will made with a doctor to discuss what will happen. At Caledonia Youth we do not carry out termination of pregnancy, so the doctor will make an appointment at the hospital where the procedure will take place. As considering having a termination can very difficult, we will try our best to help you reach the decision that is right for you. Your partner can join you at this time if you choose.
Terminations in this country are performed legally under the 1967 Abortion Act, which means that they can only be carried out for certain reasons and only performed in an approved place.
Terminations if under 16
Although you don’t normally have to tell or get permission for a termination from your parents or guardian, this is at the discretion of the hospital doctor who is responsible for the procedure. The doctor may decide that a parent or guardian should be involved - a guardian can be an aunt or mature adult such as a friend’s mum who’s willing to take responsibility for you. For your own safety following the procedure, you’ll need to be collected from the hospital by a responsible person otherwise the hospital may keep you in longer.
If your pregnancy test comes back positive, we need to know that you are safe and are doing something about it. We will make a counselling appointment for you but if you fail to turn up and don’t contact us, we will have to get in touch with you to make sure you are safe.
We always advise that someone outside of Caledonia Youth knows about your pregnancy or decision for a termination, as there can be dangers associated with both. Whatever the decision, it should be viewed as life changing, so it can be a big help to have someone to talk with about this.