FYI, It's totally possible to be pregnant and not know it

One of the ways in which we stigmatize people who have abortions is by asking why she waited "so long" to have the procedure. Aside from the fact that abortion bans, the Hyde Amendment, and restrictions like waiting periods and parental notification laws make it impossible for many to access abortion before her pregnancy passes into another trimester, there's the very real (and disarming) fact that not every person who gets pregnant experiences symptoms. It might sound like the hook for a new reality series, but there are several reasons why you could be pregnant and not know it:

1.Irregular periods are the norm for you

 Young people who just started menstruating and aren't well acquainted with their bodies/haven't had quality sex ed, people who have eating disorders like anorexia, and people with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis can have periods that are irregular to begin with, so if this is the case, you might chalk that later period up to that. If you've been exercising a lot, are or are extremely stressed out for other reasons and assume that's the reason for your late period, you also might not consider pregnancy as an option. You also might experience spotting, which some pregnant people do, and believe that to be your period.

2.You took a pregnancy test and it was negative

Sometimes, the fetus emits such a low dose of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), that an over the counter pregnancy test just doesn't register it. A blood test can detect super low levels of HCG, so if you think you could be pregnant and can access a blood pregnancy test, you'll get the most accurate result from that.

3.Your symptoms are so subtle (or severe) that you don't even notice

Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weight gain are signs of pregnancy, but they can also be signs of other conditions, like the flu. If you don't think there's any possibility you could be pregnant, then you wouldn't necessarily conclude that these symptoms mean that you are. Maybe you won't find out that you are pregnant until you see a doctor for them. On the other hand, some people have signs of pregnancy that are super low key, and therefore, you don't address them at all. If you're a tall person or a person of size, you might not show or think about consider weight gain to be a sign of anything. If you live with addiction, you may not notice the signs of pregnancy or dismiss them as symptoms of withdrawal.

If you are pregnant and don't want to be, self-managed abortion might be a good option for you. You can take the pills at home, or in a place where you feel safe. Abortion with pills is extremely safe and effective, and the pills can be taken as soon as you confirm your pregnancy. There are two routes you can go: the mifepristone/misoprostol combination is 95-98% effective up to 11 weeks. Alternatively, misoprostol can be taken on its own, and is 80-85% effective up to 12 weeks. To find out how to access the pills, how they work, what to expect, and more, check out Women Help Women’s website.