Confirming Your Pregnancy
As you consider your options, it’s important to confirm the pregnancy and how far along you are in the pregnancy.
To confirm a pregnancy, you can buy a pregnancy test at most pharmacies, grocery stores, or dollar stores, then test your own urine at home, or somewhere you can have a more confidential and safe few minutes. Anyone can buy a home pregnancy test, including people under 18.
If you go to a clinic or provider to confirm a pregnancy, they will likely order a blood or urine test. If you already have a provider you trust, you can see them for care in this situation. If you can get to a New Mexico public health office, you should be able to get a low-cost or free pregnancy test done there. Many clinics that provide abortion care also provide free pregnancy tests.
Generally, blood tests and urine tests will have accurate results as early as a week from the last missed period. If the test is negative, consider retesting in a week if your period doesn’t start. If you use emergency contraception such as Plan B or Ella, your period may be later than normal. Consider taking a pregnancy test 4 weeks after the use of these medications if your period has not returned.
PEOPLE BECOME PREGNANT FROM CONSENSUAL SEX AND NON-CONSENSUAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE. IN THIS GUIDE, WE USE THE TERM SEX TO REFER TO ANY SEX ACT THAT RESULTED IN A PREGNANCY.
IN NEW MEXICO, PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 13 HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK CONFIDENTIAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, ABORTION CARE, CONTRACEPTION, STI TESTING, AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE WITHOUT PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OR CONSENT.
After a positive pregnancy blood or urine test, it is important to figure out how far along you are in the pregnancy.
Many people can use the timing of their last period or dates of sex* to estimate how far along in the pregnancy they may be. For other people who are unsure of when their last period was or have irregular periods, an ultrasound appointment with a provider may be helpful.
Many clinics that provide abortion services also offer ultrasound services. If you already made the decision to have an abortion or you want to learn more about your pregnancy and pregnancy options, you can go directly to a provider or clinic that offers abortion care. They will establish your pregnancy timeline and guide you through your abortion options.
A provider visit to confirm a pregnancy may be free, low cost, covered by NM Medicaid or other insurance, or paid out-of-pocket.
For more information on payment options for pregnancy-related care or abortion care, see the coverage and payment section.
Using Medicaid or other insurance will trigger an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) about your visit being sent to the address on record. See more on EOBs and possible risks related to your confidentiality.
The only reason not to have an abortion is if you don’t want to have an abortion.
CONSIDERING YOUR OPTIONS and OPTIONS COUNSELING
Pregnancy options may include continuing the pregnancy and becoming a new parent or adding to your family, having an abortion, or moving toward an adoption. Ideal care centers the pregnant person, their situation and needs. Pregnant people should never be coerced into making any decision.
Pregnant people should have places to find unbiased, non-judgmental, accurate information about pregnancy and the full spectrum of pregnancy options available in New Mexico. Some providers offer something called Options Counseling, which might include education, resources, and/or referrals based on the person’s pregnancy decisions.
The options information you get will likely depend on where you go. For example, staff at an abortion clinic may provide compassionate space for you to discuss abortion, but they will likely not offer comprehensive information on adoption or parenting if you are still considering those options. You should also note that not all providers offer unbiased options counseling or actual healthcare services. Some centers, like “crisis pregnancy centers,” operate to change the minds of those considering an abortion and are not real healthcare clinics. New Mexico, like most places, needs more resources, care, and counseling along a spectrum of pregnancy decisions.
You may find Options Counseling through your usual provider, at an abortion clinic, through online/hotline services and more.
For some considering abortion, complexities and emotions may come up. Trusted therapists or mental health professionals, family, friends, and religious leaders can be good sounding boards.
It is our hope that healthcare providers deliver compassionate, non-judgmental, expert support. Professional staff should understand that pregnancy decisions can be complex and deeply personal, or simple and straightforward. Remember, you have the room and right to seek different providers and more information, as well as a place of care that fits your needs.
Keep in mind, there are centers that advertise free pregnancy testing and other free resources but do not provide unbiased options counseling or actual healthcare services. Instead, they operate to change the minds of those considering an abortion. These “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” are not real healthcare clinics. Most do not even have healthcare staff. These “fake clinics” use manipulative tactics as well as misleading and inaccurate information to try and dissuade pregnant people from deciding on an abortion.