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Choices Regarding Pregnancy
Understanding Your Options
50% of pregnancies are unplanned. If you have a uterus and ovaries and are having sex with someone with a penis, you are at risk of getting pregnant. Pregnancy is a personal and private matter. If you prefer to keep it that way, here are some tips, especially if you are considering terminating a pregnancy.
Keeping Your Research Private
In a digital world, your searches and online activities can be tracked. To protect yourself, there are several ways you can safeguard your privacy:
Tips to Protecting Your Online Activity
- Digital Browsers: Use browsers and search engines with strong privacy settings, such as DuckDuckGo, Firefox, and Brave.
- Disable Tracking: Turn off browser features related to site data, cookies, caching, and browser history.
- Secondary Contact Information: Use a separate phone number (Google Voice, Hushed, Burner) and secure email (Tutanota, ProtonMail).
- Encrypted Messaging: Use apps like Signal for end-to-end encrypted communication.
- Mobile Privacy: Review privacy settings on your phone and health apps. Choose apps with strong privacy policies or track manually.
Planning Pregnancy
If you are trying to get pregnant, University Health Services can assist with:
- Urine and blood pregnancy testing
- Prenatal vitamins
- Early pregnancy information
- Referrals for prenatal care
Resources for Planning Pregnancy
- 17 Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts That May Surprise You | Healthline
- Working During Pregnancy: Do's and Don'ts | Mayo Clinic
Preventing Pregnancy
Contraceptive Options
University Health Services can guide you on the best options to prevent pregnancy.
- For a description of the effectiveness of different methods of birth control, click here.
- The best method for you is based on your age and health status - birth control is not a one-size-fits-all. For a description of which method is the safest type for each person, click here.
Emergency Contraception
If you've had unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure and you want to prevent pregnancy, you may need emergency contraception (EC):
- Plan B: Must be taken within 3 days of unprotected intercourse. Available over-the-counter or at UHS.
- Ella: Prescription-only, effective up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Requires a pregnancy test.
- IUD (ParaGard): Can be used as emergency contraception if placed immediately, though appointments can be hard to secure.
Note: Emergency contraception is NOT the same as the abortion pill (mifepristone or misoprostol).
Suspected Pregnancy
If you think you might be pregnant, UHS offers:
- Urine and blood pregnancy testing
- Prenatal vitamins
- Early pregnancy information
- Referrals for prenatal care and abortions
- Note: UHS does not offer medical abortions at this time.
Resources for Support & Decision-Making
If you are pregnant and conflicted, it may be best to proceed with steps for a healthy pregnancy in case you change your mind. Regardless, there are several resources for information and support in decision-making.
On-Campus Support
- UHS General Medicine
- UHS Counseling Center
Off-Campus Resources
- All Options: Unconditional, judgment-free support for pregnancy decisions.
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG): Provides valuable information regarding pregnancy options.
Terminating a Pregnancy
Both medical and surgical abortions are legal in Massachusetts. Medical abortions via telehealth are also available.
- Medical Abortion: Involves taking mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy within the first trimester.
- In-Clinic Abortion: Includes suction/aspiration abortion and dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion, depending on the pregnancy stage.
Resources for Terminating a Pregnancy
Services
- Abortion Finder State-by-State Guide | Abortion Finder
- Mail Forwarding Abortion Pills | Plan C
Talklines
- All-Options Talkline: 1 (888) 493-0092
- Exhale Pro-Voice: (617) 749-2948 (after-abortion support)
- National Abortion Hotline: (800) 772-9100
- Repro Legal Helpline: (844) 868-2812 (free legal helpline)
Resources & Websites
- Abortion Care: FAQ | ACOG
- Guttmacher Institute State Abortion Laws Map
Additional Resources
Useful Links
Pregnancy Resources
- Pregnancy Choices FAQ | ACOG
- Starter Information and Pregnancy Tips | Healthline
- Working During Pregnancy: Do's and Don'ts | Mayo Clinic
Pregnancy Prevention Resources
- Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods | Healthline
- Medical Eligibility for Initiating Contraception | Reproductive Health Access Project
Abortion Resources
- Abortion Care FAQ | ACOG
- Pregnancy Choices FAQ | ACOG
Legal Support
- Abortion Legal Hotline | Reproductive Equity Now
- If/When/How | Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
- Pregnancy Justice
- Self-Managed Abortion; Safe & Supported (SASS)
- Women Help Women
Cost Considerations
- Raising a Child in MA: Around $22,677 annually.
- Contraception: Costs vary, but many are covered by insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Average annual out-of-pocket cost is about $266 with insurance and $268 without.
- Long-Lasting Methods: IUDs and implants have negligible yearly costs.
- Abortion: Costs around $500-$1,000 in Massachusetts, with some insurance coverage.