Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

Getting pregnant

Why talk about getting pregnant?

Getting pregnant could be the last thing on your minds, but if you're a man and a woman having sex and you're both healthy, there's always a chance it'll happen. There are no 100% effective methods of contraception.

Talking about whether or not you'd want to have the child if there is a pregnancy will help you both cope better if it does happen.

There are other reasons too. Some people can't have children because it would be dangerous, because the child would have genetic diseases or because of sexually transmitted infections.

Having proper discussions with your partner about these things is an important part of getting to know each other properly.

back to top

Planning for pregnancy

Planned pregnancies offer many advantages, from making sure you're living somewhere suitable to saving up a wee bit extra cash to cover the essentials.

Find out more in our section "Why plan pregnancy?"

back to top

Keep talking about getting pregnant

If you're a healthy man and woman having sex, there's always a chance of pregnancy. That much won't change. But circumstances and feelings do change.

Talk through how you're feeling about the prospects of getting pregnant regularly.

back to top

Babies change everything

Don't assume that just because either or both of you have been keen on using contraception from the start that you'll automatically want an abortion if there's a pregnancy.

Similarly, people can be reluctant to use protection and for all kinds of reasons – it doesn't automatically mean that children are wanted.

Even if they've never thought they wanted children before, when there's a real possibility of a child many people suddenly feel quite strongly that they'd like have a family.

back to top