What are my options with an unplanned pregnancy?

What should I do first when I find out?

Finding out about a pregnancy you did not plan can bring a rush of feelings all at once — shock, fear, confusion, sometimes relief, and often a mixture that changes by the hour. All of these are normal. Before anything else, give yourself a moment to breathe. You do not have to decide everything today, and you do not have to decide alone.

A sensible first step is to confirm the pregnancy properly. A home test is a good start, but an ultrasound scan tells you much more: that the pregnancy is inside the womb, how far along it is, and whether all seems well. That information matters whichever path you choose, and it gives you solid ground to stand on while you think things through.

Whose decision is it?

It is yours. This is your body, your health and your future, and the choice about what happens next belongs to you. People who care about you may have strong opinions, and some women find it helps to talk things over with a partner, a close friend or a relative they trust. Others prefer to speak only to a doctor. Either way is completely fine.

What matters is that the decision is made freely, in your own time, without anyone pushing you in one direction or another. That includes us. Our role is to give you honest information and safe care, and to respect whatever you decide.

What if I decide to continue the pregnancy?

If you choose to continue the pregnancy and raise your child, the most helpful thing you can do is to begin good pregnancy care early. Regular check-ups, a few simple blood tests and well-timed scans help keep you and your baby healthy. They also pick up anything that needs extra attention, such as anaemia, raised blood sugar or a thyroid problem, while it is still easy to manage.

Pregnancy care is a large part of what we do at the hospital in Goa, and we would be glad to look after you from your first visit through to the birth. An unplanned pregnancy can still be a well-supported one.

How does adoption work in India?

Some women feel that they cannot raise a child at this point in their life, but would prefer to continue the pregnancy. For them, adoption is a real and lawful option. In India, adoption must always go through the government's official legal adoption system, which works through registered adoption agencies. The process exists to protect everyone involved: you, the baby, and the family who will one day give the child a home.

Please do not agree to any informal or private arrangement, however kind or convenient it may sound; a child can only be placed safely and lawfully through the official system. If you are considering this path, we can look after your health through the pregnancy and the birth, and help guide you towards the proper official channel. It is a decision that deserves time and support, and there is no shame in considering it.

What does a lawful termination involve?

The third option is to end the pregnancy. In India, this is lawful care under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, provided by a qualified doctor at a government-licensed hospital. It always begins with an ultrasound, to confirm that the pregnancy is inside the womb and to plan care safely. Depending on your situation, the doctor may advise the medicine route or a short procedure; the differences are explained in medical or surgical abortion. Either way, your care is supervised in person, from start to finish.

If a procedure is needed, we use 100% single-use disposable instruments, opened fresh for each patient, so nothing passes from one woman to another. Every surgical procedure, whether suction or D&C, is done under real-time ultrasound guidance, with the doctor watching the womb on screen throughout. That lowers the risk of complications such as perforation, and it shows the exact moment the womb is empty, so the procedure stops right there, with no unnecessary scraping. This helps protect the lining of the womb for any future pregnancy.

Why does it help to get advice early?

There is no need to panic, but it does help not to wait too long. Every path is easier to plan when there is time in hand. If you continue the pregnancy, early care helps keep you and the baby healthy. If you are considering adoption, there is more time to arrange things calmly and properly. And if you are considering a termination, care is simpler when it is started sooner. So even if you are not ready to decide, a scan and an honest conversation early on give you more room to think, not less.

How can I get calm, private advice?

You can start with a simple call or message, and your first conversation can even be an online consultation. It is there to listen, to answer your questions, to tell you whether a particular treatment is feasible for you, and to guide your next step. It is not a substitute for being seen: we do not send any medicine by post or courier, and no abortion is ever carried out over the phone. Any abortion service is received in person, at the hospital in Goa.

If you are not married, you are every bit as welcome. Every option described here is open to you, and you will be treated exactly the same, with privacy and respect. Our staff are trained to be kind and non-judgemental, and what you share with us stays with us.

Getting started

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you do not have to work it all out alone. Call or message us, and we will listen, answer your questions and help you understand your options, without pressure in any direction. Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas. This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.

Or call +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641

This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.