What is Open Adoption?

Through semi-open or open adoption, both the birth and adoptive family exchange identifying information. If everyone wishes to be completely open, you exchange full names, physical and email addresses, phone numbers, and other information. When you choose a semi-open adoption, both parties agree to exchange certain information, but not all.

Pregnancy and STDs — Will I pass my STD to my child?

In short, yes — some STDs can be acquired by the baby from the mother during pregnancy, birth, and even after the child is born. STDs that can be passed to your child include the following: Chlamydia Genital herpes Gonorrhea Hepatitis B HIV/AIDS HPV/genital warts Syphilis Trichomonas Vaginalis

What happens if I pass an STD to my child?

Having an STD while you’re pregnant can cause complications in your pregnancy and can negatively impact your baby’s future health and wellbeing. Depending on the exact infection, some potential impacts on children born to mothers with STDs might include: Premature birth Blindness Deafness Eye infections Pneumonia Meningitis Liver disease Blood infection Brain damage Lack of coordination Acute hepatitis Stillbirth

I think I’m pregnant and have an STD — What do I do?

Whether you think you’re pregnant or not, if you’re sexually active, it’s important to be tested for STDs on a routine basis. Because these diseases can lay dormant, it’s wise to be tested even if you don’t have any symptoms. At True Care Women’s Resource Center, we provide STI testing and treatment for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis as a follow-up to our pregnancy testing service at no cost. We also provide other free services, including options counseling and ultrasounds.

Some call it Plan B, some call it “the morning-after pill” — this over-the-counter medication can be used to prevent an unwanted pregnancy from occurring if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The main thing to note here is that Plan B does not terminate a pregnancy. Instead, it uses several defense mechanisms to ensure that the body is unable to begin developing a pregnancy in the first place.

How does Plan B prevent a pregnancy?

Plan B uses the following lines of defense to prevent a pregnancy from developing after unprotected sex: Preventing the body from ovulating so an egg is not released. If an egg is released, the medication will block it from being fertilized. If an egg is somehow fertilized, the medication will prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

How effective is Plan B?

The sooner you take Plan B, the more effective it will be. If taken in the first 24 hours after unprotected sex, Plan B is 95% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, if taken between 48 and 72 hours after sex, the medication is only 61% effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy. If you think you might be pregnant after taking Plan B, schedule an appointment at True Care to receive free lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound scan.

Are there side effects from Plan B?

Taking Plan B can result in some uncomfortable side effects, such as pain in the abdomen, heavy bleeding, nausea, exhaustion, headaches, and dizziness.

What is the abortion pill?

The abortion pill, often called a medical abortion, is a chemical process of ending an unwanted pregnancy. This two-pill process is only effective in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and unlike Plan B, is designed to terminate a pregnancy that has already begun to grow and develop.

How does the abortion pill work?

The abortion pill process uses two medications: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. These medications are taken separately during two phases of the abortion pill process. Mifepristone is a drug that prevents the body from producing the natural pregnancy hormone called progesterone, which will result in the termination of the pregnancy. Misoprostol is a drug taken to cause contractions and cause the uterus to expel any remaining pregnancy tissue to complete the abortion process.

Will I experience side effects from taking the abortion pill?

It is normal for women who take the abortion pill to experience cramping and bleeding as the body pushes the pregnancy tissue from the womb. In addition, women will also likely experience side effects including nausea, exhaustion, chills, fever, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, and dizziness. In addition to the above side effects, some women report experiencing more serious, long-term health risks related to their abortion procedures, including sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging.

How Are STDs Transmitted?

You generally get an STD through sexual contact. Although, you can pass or receive the bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause sexually transmitted diseases through blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.

Anyone who is sexually active can get an STD. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that half of the new 20 million STDs reported each year are among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, noting that young women’s bodies are biologically more susceptible to STDs.

What Are The Symptoms of an STD?

Two of the most common STIs – Chlamydia and Gonorrhea – can be treated with antibiotics. Others, like HPV and HIV, are not curable.

FAQs | True Care Women's Resource Center

You may have so much on your mind when experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Get your questions answered today and take your next step with confidence. You’re not alone!

How do I Know I’m Pregnant?

At-home pregnancy tests are very accurate, but there’s still a slight chance for inaccuracy. To confirm your at-home pregnancy test, verify your results with our lab-quality pregnancy tests.

Do I Need an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is your next step to pregnancy confirmation. Confirm vital pregnancy details and what options you qualify for. An ultrasound reveals…

How far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age)
Ensure you’re not experiencing a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy (Necessary to know before an abortion)
Rule out a miscarriage, which occurs in about 10 to 20% of known pregnancies

Following a positive pregnancy test result at True Care, we’ll offer you a no-cost ultrasound appointment to medically confirm your pregnancy.

How Much Does An Appointment Cost?

At True Care, we offer our judgment-free services at no cost to women who are or think they might be pregnant. Talk to us today to learn more.

When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

The best time to take a pregnancy test is at least one week after your missed period. This allows your body to produce a detectable amount of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) – a pregnancy hormone. If you take a test earlier or before your missed period, there is a higher chance for a false negative result.

What are the Risks of Abortion?

With abortion comes serious risks. The Mayo Clinic shares the risks of surgical abortion:

Perforation of the uterus
Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Heavy bleeding
Damage to the cervix
Infection
Cramping

The Mayo Clinic shares the risks of medication abortion:

Incomplete abortion (which may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
Infection
Digestive system discomfort
Heavy and prolonged bleeding
Fever