How do I know if I’m really pregnant?

• Take a pregnancy test.
• Get a free limited ultrasound.
• Talk about pregnancy options with someone I can trust.
• Learn about pregnancy symptoms from a medical professional.
• Get support.

At Alternatives, we will provide the confidential support and facts you need to make your decision. You can call right now. What are my options?

• Raising the baby.
• Making an adoption plan.
• Getting pills for plan B.
• Getting an abortion.

Each of these choices is difficult. Making a choice means listening to your head and your heart. But you don’t have to do this alone. We will help you look at each option. What do I need to know to make an informed decision?

• Whether or not I am pregnant.
• How far along I am.
• The financial resources available to me.
• My prenatal care options.
• Information about adoption.
• Information about abortion.

At any of our pregnancy clinics, Alternatives can provide you with free pregnancy testing and a free ultrasound. We will also share objective information about parenting, adoption and abortion. How am I supposed to tell my parents, spouse or boyfriend that I’m pregnant?

• Know the facts about your options.
• Talk with us first to figure out how you want to share the news.

At Alternatives, we can help you discover your concerns before you share your decision. We’re here to support you before and after these important conversations. What about my future?

• Achieving my personal and professional goals.
• Understanding what it’s like to be a mom.
• Having access to adoption planning and education.
• Exploring long-term effects of your pregnancy options.

More Questions? If you have more questions about your pregnancy options or our support programs, just call our 24-hour pregnancy help hotline: 303.295.2288. It’s free and confidential. We’re here for you, so you can talk to us right now and request an appointment. Just remember, you have Alternatives.

What is an STD?

• An STD is a sexually transmitted disease, also known as an STI, for sexually transmitted infection.
• In medical terms, it is a virus, insect, bacteria or parasite that can be shared through sexual contact.
• Some STDs have treatments and cures. Some do not.
• Getting tested for STDs is important for your health.

Why should I get tested?

• Every 11 seconds, a teenager in the U.S. gets an STD.
• Half of the 20 million new cases of STDs each year occur among people ages 15–24.
• In 2010, 57% of new HIV infections happened among people ages 13–34.

Some people get STDs they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. You can get the facts, get tested and take control of your health decisions. How do STDs spread?

• STDs spread by skin-to-skin contact with infected body regions and by body fluids.
• STDs spread the same way to men and women.
• You can get an STD from oral, vaginal or anal sex, or blood exchange.
• You are not safe from STDs simply because you don’t “go all the way.”

At Alternatives, we provide education and confidential counseling to help you avoid STDs and make healthy decisions about sex. How many kinds of STDs are there?

• There are more than 25 known STDs, some with multiple strains of each.
• There are two main types of STDs: viral and non-viral.
• The most common viral STDs are: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, human papilloma virus (HPV) and herpes simplex II.
• The most common non-viral STDs are: chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.

Getting tested is the only way to know what kind of STDs you may have. You may experience symptoms such as itching, burning, sores or a rash. But STDs often don’t have symptoms at all, so you might be infected and not know it. What will I be tested for?

• Bacterial vaginosis
• Chlamydia
• Cervical cancer
• Gonorrhea
• Herpes
• HIV
• HPV
• Syphilis
• trichomoniasis
• Urinary tract infection
• Yeast infection

At Alternatives, we will help you decide what type of STD testing you may need. Our medical staff will provide a full scope of care. It may involve a physical exam, or a sample of blood, urine, cells or discharge. Can STDs be treated and cured?

• Viral STDs cannot be cured. They can only treated to relieve symptoms.
• Non-viral STDs can be cured, but may still come with serious risks to your future health.
• The greatest risk comes from STDs that are undetected and untreated. They can damage your reproductive organs, your eyes, your heart and other organs.

What you don’t know and don’t treat can really hurt you. At Alternatives, we can help present STD treatment and counseling options based on your test results. How can I avoid getting STDs? Medical experts say the most reliable way to prevent STDs is to abstain from sex or have sex only in a monogamous relationship. At Alternatives, we believe you can protect your health by saving all sexual activity for marriage. Making this choice can also be one of the most powerful things you do for your self-respect and your relationships. We believe you can have A Promising Future and a better life tomorrow when you defend yourself with good information. More Questions? If you have more questions about STD testing and treatment, call our 24-hour hotline: 303.295.2288. It’s free and confidential. We’re here to talk with you. Just remember, you have Alternatives.

Is it normal to feel emotional pain after an abortion?

• You may experience a range of emotions after abortion, such as …
• A sense of relief.
• Conflicted feelings about your decision.
• Sadness, anger or guilt, either immediately or years later.

An abortion can have a profound effect on your life. At Alternatives, we have walked alongside many women before and after abortion. We understand the complexity of the decision and the pain that can follow. We’re here for you. What kinds of losses might I experience after abortion?

• Your baby.
• Broken relationships.
• Hopes and dreams.
• Your ability to trust.
• Your personal beliefs.

Naming and acknowledging your losses is an important step toward peace. At Alternatives, we can help you identify your losses and understand the impact they’ve had on your life. Doing so enables you to begin the journey of healing. What are the signs that I need counseling or support after abortion?

• You may feel sad, empty, depressed or hopeless.
• You may feel angry, anxious, regretful or detached from relationships.
• You may have doubts or questions that won’t go away.
• You may try to ignore, deny or cope with your feelings — perhaps by eating, drinking, using drugs or engaging in harmful behaviors.
• You may keep your feelings bottled up and feel very isolated or alone.

These feelings can be hard to sort out. At Alternatives, we are here to listen and help. You can call right now to talk confidentially with us and learn about the post-abortion services we offer. What does post-abortion recovery look like?

• Telling your story.
• Having a safe place to be honest about your feelings, without judgment.
• Identifying and grieving your losses.
• Forgiving yourself and others.

With Alternatives, your journey of recovery after abortion can begin with a phone call and personal counseling. We also invite you to consider a confidential support group where women share their stories and encourage one another in their journeys toward healing. How do I know it’s the right time to reach out to Alternatives? 

• If you are ready to find freedom from emotional pain.
• If you are tired of pretending everything is okay.
• If you want to silence the “if only” voices in your head.
• If you desire deeper trust in your relationships.
• If you want to live more fully with hope for your future.

It’s time to care for yourself and begin this journey — the path that leads to peace. At Alternatives, we encourage you each step of the way. More Questions? If you have more questions about post-abortion counseling or how to find support after your abortion, please call our 24-Hour Helpline: 303.295.2288. It’s free and confidential. We’re here for you, so you can talk to us right now and request an appointment. No matter how long it’s been, You have Alternatives.