to think that home pregnancy tests should be free and that all sexually active women should be encouraged to take one every month?

[darleneconnor]

So many benefits:

-women could take vitimins/folic acid asap to protect against defects
-no unplanned pregnancies could 'slip through the net' meaning fewer late abortions and unwanted babies
-women on certain meds could know to stop taking them earlier (also covers painkillers/alcohol/cigarettes)
-longer to plan for birth and baby/childcare/work

All this must cost more than the cost of providing £2 tests once a month?

Who will pay for them? It would be very expensive, imo.

But what about false negatives? One pregnancy test a month isn't going to get rid of that problem.

yes, because the nhs is a bottomless pit of money and there arent more important things to prioritise when it comes to healthcare.

i do have a pregnancy test every month - my period. not 100% failsafe of course, but neither is a hpt I understand

You can get pregnancy tests free if you go to your GP - family planning clinic.

If you are ttc you should be taking vitamins/folic acid before you actually conceive, ideally.

They are not always correct, and I can't help feeling that those who are most likely to have an unplanned and unrecognised pregnancy are also those least likely to have a monthly pregnancy test anyway.

I don't think you are being unreasonable - but I do think probably unrealistic!

You need to Google 'contraception' and 'combined Pill'.

Think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

You really do have some strange ideas, darlene.

Didn't they carry out compulsory monthly pregnancy tests in Romania under the Ceaucescu regime?

I dont think the cost would be more than the cost of health care and benefits for disabled and/or unwanted children.

I think it's unrealisitic and far to expensive to go to the GP every month.
HPTs are 99% accurate afaik.

I agree that everyone should keep condoms and a map in their bathroom cabinet too.

Women who conceive on the pill keep having periods and often dont realise they are pg for several months.

I'm inclined to agree. My DH's aunt died young from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy because she didn't know she was pregnant. I have also had an ectopic pregnancy and I was very lucky that I knew I was pregnant and had some spotting and got an early scan and diagnoses. If I hadn't known I was pregnant I could have easily mistaken the spotting for a period.
I don't think people should be forced but it should be available. I also think that all pregnant women should have a scan at 6 weeks. Then a pregnancy outside the womb could be spotted. A large proportion of ectopic pregnancies have no symptoms at all. The first thing a woman could know about it is that it ruptures and they're dead.
It would be expensive but it could save lives so imo YANBU.

Obviously you wouldn't want some kind of forced, oppressive state system a la Romania. Just a health campaign, like those on binge drinking and smoking.

The Pill is practically 100% effective provided you're not a clueless idiot.

Better stock up on HPTs OP.

this is a very strange idea! who is going to pay for all that then? most people realise something is up fairly quickly if your pregnant, there are rather alot of ways your body will tell you. i really dont understand! to many points to raise!!!

The early miscarriage/chemical pregnancy factor would make me think no.

What a ridiculous idea! On the plus side this is the first thing to make me laugh all day!!!

It seems like a bizzare idea.
There is nothing stopping women who wish to having a pregnancy test each month, but to try and make the nhs responsible for encouraging everyone to do this seems excessive. The cost of this plan vs the minor potential for benefit wouldnt warrant it. Administrating this would be a nightmare too.

Finally if you are paying £2 for each pregnancy test then you are paying too much.

Have you lost your mid, OP?

Mind. Not mid.

I have lost my n

Pregnancy tests are really dear - that's why GPs tell you to do your own one. Would be a real waste of money. Education about contraception and sex would be much better.

Well we could say that about all sorts of things couldn't we Everyone should have a monthly diabetes test, in case they develop it. Do you want people tested for STI's every month as well? Catching chlamydia early would save some women a lot of fertility issues and heartach.

The NHS isn't a bottomless pit of money. And define sexually active? Women who have sex once a month? Once a day? Once a year?

HPTs arent always accurate i went to the doctors over and over for 3mnths and they had negative tests finally one said oh ill scan you and there was my 14week ds!

good idea in theory but a bit um, controlling and cant see how the nhs would support it.

You are joking, right?
Very expensive. But also inappropriate - yes, educate women (and men!) about contraception and make contraception accessible, including the morning after pill. But don't force women to take pregnancy tests every months - that would be seriously regressive and controlling.
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