Unplanned Reproductive Options

Sometimes there is so much intolerance of and pressure on GLBTT* people that we use sex, pregnancy, or parenting as a way to hide our identity or conform to acceptable social standards. Teen pregnancy rates especially tend to be much higher among GLBTT* people than heterosexual teenagers, largely due to pressures to conform and be accepted by their peer groups.

ECP (Emergency Contraceptive Pill)

The emergency contraceptive pill, also known as the morning after pill or Plan B, can prevent a pregnancy from developing. It is useful if you had unprotected sex, if a condom or barrier breaks, or if you have been sexually assaulted. The pill is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. It generally works best within three days, and may be effective for up to five days. The ECP does not protect against any STIs.

Unplanned Pregnancy

Before considering your options for a possible pregnancy, you first need to confirm whether or not you might be pregnant. Home pregnancy tests can be purchased at a drug store, and some can give you an accurate result if you use it in the morning on the day that your period should have started. Waiting another week will give you a more accurate result. A urine pregnancy test can be done by a health care practitioner a week after your period should have started; getting a urine test earlier may give an inaccurate result.

If your pregnancy test has been confirmed and you are uncertain about what to do, it is helpful to visit a clinic or talk to a counselor who will support you in your options. We've listed some Pro-Choice Clinics below that can equally inform you about and support you in all three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. Being informed will help you make the best decision for you. And you are the only person who has the right to make choices about your body. If you feel pressured to make a decision that isn’t right for you, find someone else to talk to.

Abortion

Abortion ends a pregnancy using a medical or surgical procedure; talk to a health care practitioner to find out what options you have (not just the ones that they recommend or could perform). The earlier an abortion is done, the less likely there will be any complications; in Manitoba, abortions are only done within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Having an abortion should not affect your ability to get pregnant again later.

Before you have an abortion, get tested for STIs. If you’re having a surgical abortion, the bacteria from an undetected STI can be transferred to your reproductive organs, causing an internal infection called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. PID can have some serious, long-term effects if it is not treated.

Keep in mind that for religious and political reasons, some people do not support a person’s choice to have an abortion, and while they may claim to inform you about all your options, they may consider an abortion only as a last resort or as something to be avoided altogether, and may distort information about the procedure. If an abortion is the best decision for you, refer to the list of Pro-Choice Clinics below.

Adoption

If you decide to carry your baby through pregnancy and put your child up for adoption, there are several forms of adoption that you can choose.

A public adoption is handled by Child and Family Services and allows you some input into the choice of parents.

A private adoption through a lawyer is possible if you are over 18. You must agree to the choice of adoptive parents.

With extended family adoption, you can have your child adopted by a family member.

If you choose adoption and you know who the biological father of the child is, he must be informed about the adoption beforehand.

Parenting

Parenting involves a huge time and financial commitment, particularly if you will be a single parent. Technically, the biological father is financially responsible for the child until the child reaches age 19, regardless of whether he chooses to parent. However, even if the father is not financially supportive, he still has the right to request access to the child. Having or creating a supportive network for yourself and your child can minimize the pressure for you. There are also community organizations and policies that may help you with basic needs such as shelter and parenting information.