Looking down at a positive pregnancy test after the morning-after pill can be a lot to process.
If you took the morning-after pill, chances are you are not in a place where you feel ready or able to become a parent or parent another child. And that’s OK.
The morning-after pill isn’t 100% effective, so you should always thoroughly read and follow the instructions that come with the pill to reduce your chance of pregnancy. If your pregnancy test is positive, don’t panic. You never have to parent if you don’t feel you’re ready or able to. You have options.
We created this article answering five common questions women have about the positive pregnancy tests after taking the morning-after pill.
1. Can I Get A positive Pregnancy Test After the Morning-after Pill?
Yes. No form of contraception is 100% effective, including the morning-after pill.
By taking the morning-after pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraception failure, you can reduce your chances of pregnancy by 87%. If you take it within 24 hours, it’s 95% effective. There is still room for the pill to fail.
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is over 25, you are ovulating or have already ovulated, the effectiveness of the morning-after pill decreases. That doesn’t mean you can’t take it, as there is a chance it may still work for you.
If you don’t get your period within three weeks of taking the pill, you should consider taking a pregnancy test. But ultimately, no matter how soon you take the morning-after pill, there is always a chance the pill may not work.
If your pregnancy test does come back positive, see your doctor to confirm your pregnancy so that you can decide how you want to move forward.
2. Can the Morning-after Pill Affect a Pregnancy Test?
No. Birth control tests are typically accurate, but it is possible to get a false positive or false negative. There are a few hormonal factors that can contribute to this, but the morning-after pill isn’t one of them.
If you are worried about getting a false positive or negative, see your doctor. They will be able to conduct higher sensitive pregnancy tests so that you can know for sure.
3. How Long After the Morning-after Pill to Take Pregnancy Test?
A pregnancy test will not show up positive until at least 7-10 days after conception. If it has been three weeks since you took the pill and you have not gotten your period, you should take a pregnancy test immediately.
The sooner you can determine whether or not you are pregnant, the sooner you will be able to figure out the best course of action.
4. Why is There a Pregnancy Test with the Morning-after Pill?
The morning-after pill is an emergency contraceptive designed to prevent the release of an egg and decrease the chances of implantation in the event of unprotected sex or failed contraception. If you are taking the morning-after pill, you likely do not want to be pregnant.
Some morning-after pills come with pregnancy tests so that you can verify whether or not the pill worked for you. If it’s been three weeks since you took the pill and you still haven’t gotten your period, take the test. If you want to be extras sure, talk to your doctor.
5. What do I do When I Have a Positive Pregnancy Test After the Morning-after Pill?
If you have a positive pregnancy test after the morning-after pill, it’s easy to feel trapped. But this is your pregnancy and your body. You never have to parent if you don’t want to. You have three options:
- Adoption
- Abortion
- Parenting
Here’s what each of those options could look like.
Adoption
When you adopt through a licensed adoption agency, you will have access to all sorts of helpful services and resources such as:
- 24/7 counseling. The emotions of an unplanned pregnancy and adoption can be a lot to cope with. There are adoption counselors available 24/7 to listen and talk you through the feelings you are experiencing.
- Financial assistance. As a prospective birth mother, adoption is completely free to you. You won’t have to spend a dime. Many adoption agencies offer financial assistance to expectant mothers that will cover your pregnancy costs and living expenses throughout the adoption process.
- . National adoption agencies work with prospective adoptive parents all over the country, which means you will be able to find the perfect family for your baby. They’ll help you do this by looking through as many adoptive family profiles as you want.
- Open Adoption. Through open adoption, you will be able to stay in touch with your child’s adoptive family post-placement. You will have peace of mind knowing your child is happy and healthy and your child will have the closure of knowing their adoption story.
- And more.
Abortion
If it’s too late for you to take the morning-after pill because you’re already pregnant and you don’t want to be, abortion might be an option for you.
The earlier you confirm your pregnancy, the more likely it is that you will be able to terminate your pregnancy. Most states have a cut-off on how far along you can be and still receive an abortion.
Many women experience feelings of guilt, grief and loss following their abortion. These emotions are normal and may fade, but the emotional impact of your abortion can stay with you for a significant amount of time. Even so, over 90% of women do not regret their abortion decision.
Parenting
Even though the pregnancy was unplanned, you might feel conflicted about placing your baby for adoption or terminating your pregnancy. If you feel like parenting is a realistic choice, then you can definitely choose to raise your child.
Before deciding to parent, consider why you were considering parenting in the first place
Are you prepared to do this? Is parenting a realistic option for you based on your current situation? Before deciding to parent, it’s important to carefully consider these questions.
Getting The Support You Need
If you have questions about your positive pregnancy test after the morning-after pill, reach out to an adoption professional today to get the answers you need. Even if adoption isn’t for you, they can provide you with unbiased, free information.
