May_be_pregnant

"Think you may be Pregnant?" Schedule a Pregnancy Test Visit.

What is a pregnancy test visit and what to expect.

If you have any concern that you may be pregnant,

please call us at 719-3580 and make an appointment for a pregnancy test visit.

Early diagnosis of pregnancy is very important for the health of both the mother and the fetus.

The goals of pregnancy testing at Greene County Family Planning are to diagnose pregnancy early, diagnose any health problems that may have adverse effects on the client’s health, or which may be life threatening such as ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, help pregnant women access appropriate medical care and offer information needed to make informed decisions.

Our pregnancy test visits follow the guidance from United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Population Affairs, Office of Family Planning which are as follows: According to the January 2001 Program Guidelines for Project Grants for Family Planning Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Population Affairs, Office of Family Planning:

“Projects must provide pregnancy diagnosis and counseling to all clients in need of this service. Pregnancy testing is one of the most common reasons for a first visit to the family planning facility. It is therefore important to use this occasion as an entry point for providing education and counseling about family planning."

Pregnancy cannot be accurately diagnosed and staged through laboratory testing alone. Pregnancy diagnosis consists of a history, pregnancy test, and physical assessment, including pelvic examination. Projects should have available a pregnancy test of high sensitivity.

If the medical examination cannot be performed in conjunction with the laboratory testing, the client must be counseled as to the importance of receiving a physical assessment as soon as possible, preferably within 15 days. This can be done on-site, by a provider selected by the client, or by a provider to which the client has been referred by the project. For those clients with positive pregnancy test results who elect to continue the pregnancy, referral for early initiation of prenatal care should be made.

Clients planning to carry their pregnancies to term should be given information about good health practices during early pregnancy, especially those which serve to protect the fetus during the first three months (e.g., good nutrition, avoidance of smoking, drugs, and exposure to x-rays).

For clients with a negative pregnancy diagnosis, the cause of delayed menses should be investigated. If ectopic (tubal) pregnancy is suspected, the client must be referred for immediate diagnosis and therapy. Projects must offer pregnant women the opportunity to be provided information and counseling regarding each of the following options:

Prenatal care and delivery
Infant care, foster care, or adoption
Pregnancy termination.

If requested to provide such information and counseling, provide neutral, factual information and nondirective counseling on each of the options, and referral upon request, except with respect to any option(s) about which the pregnant woman indicates she does not wish to receive such information and counseling [59.5(a)(5)].

Clients will be offered HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing and referrals or treatment if appropriate. Sexually transmitted infections including HIV can cause very serious harm to the developing fetus. Treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV during pregnancy can reduce the chance of harm to the fetus. To learn more about HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing click on the following links:

HIV Counseling and Testing and local resources for those living with HIV/AIDS

STD Testing and Treatment

Client’s will be given information about nutrition, including the importance of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects, the importance of avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and HIV and other STI prevention information. The risks associated with x-rays, accutane (a medication used to treat acne) and other causes of birth defects will be explained.

Clients will be screened for domestic violence, given HIV pretest counseling and offered HIV testing, given information about the Family Planning Extension Program and given a HIPAA notice. To learn more about HIPAA clink on the link http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa

Clients who are found NOT to be pregnant are given information about the availability of contraceptive and infertility services, as appropriate.