Pregnancy options counseling

Abstract

Half of all US pregnancies are unintended. How women decide to manage the unintended pregnancy is influenced by age, socioeconomic status, and access to care. Pregnancy options counseling provides the opportunity for the adolescent or young adult woman to explore her feelings about all available options in order to help her come to the decision that is best for her given her life circumstances, values, and desires. Pregnancy options counseling should be unbiased, nonjudgmental, and nondirective. The counselor should provide medically accurate and factual information about all options available including pregnancy continuation, prenatal care and delivery, adoption, and abortion. An effective counselor helps a woman prepare for how her choice may affect her relationships, goals, and sense of well-being. It is particularly important to be direct and concrete with adolescents as their ability to understand the concept of consequence is still in development. Issues specific to adolescents addressed in this chapter include parental involvement and the law, family involvement, sexual abuse/incest, and adolescents' coping/mental health.