Unplanned pregnancy: what if you’re unsure?

A positive pregnancy test can bring up many emotions. You may feel happy, shocked, or several things at once. Even when the pregnancy is already visible on an ultrasound scan, you do not have to know yet what you want to do.

At HAP.GENT, you can talk about this in confidence and receive information about your options.

An early pregnancy, a decision still to be made

Consider this situation: a 25-year-old woman has a positive pregnancy test. An ultrasound scan shows a gestational sac inside the uterus. She is unsure whether she wants to continue the pregnancy.

During the consultation, there is time to explore her questions. What does this pregnancy mean to her? What support does she have? What makes the decision difficult? Her GP helps her make sense of the situation while respecting her wishes. The final decision is hers.

What can an ultrasound scan and blood test tell you?

An ultrasound scan helps assess where the pregnancy is located and how far along it is. Very early on, only a gestational sac may be visible, without an embryo or cardiac activity being detectable yet. Depending on the findings, another scan may be needed. An early scan therefore does not always immediately establish how the pregnancy is developing.

In this situation, we also take a blood sample to measure hCG. This is the pregnancy hormone detected by urine pregnancy tests. A single blood result cannot tell you exactly how many weeks pregnant you are, nor can it confirm on its own that the pregnancy is developing normally. If necessary, we assess progress with a further blood test and/or ultrasound scan. Your doctor interprets the results alongside your symptoms and the ultrasound findings.

You do not need to wait for a blood test result before making an initial appointment at an abortion centre. A positive pregnancy test is enough to contact the centre.

What are your options?

You can continue the pregnancy and raise the child, with additional support if needed. If you wish to continue the pregnancy but cannot or do not want to raise the child yourself, you can receive counselling to explore options such as adoption.

You can also choose to end the pregnancy within the legal framework.

You do not have to work through this decision alone. Your GP and specialist counsellors can help you explore what each option would mean for you. You may involve a partner or someone you trust if you wish.

An appointment at LUNA Gent does not commit you to an abortion

If you are unsure about your pregnancy, we recommend making an appointment at LUNA Gent promptly. You do not need to have decided that you want an abortion. The first appointment includes a conversation and a medical assessment. You can ask questions, have the stage of your pregnancy assessed, and receive information about your options. If you remain uncertain, an additional counselling appointment can be arranged.

Dr Didier Hebberecht is familiar with LUNA Gent through his previous work as a doctor at the centre, where he performed first-trimester ultrasound scans. Drawing on that experience and his contacts with the centre, he can provide information and help patients access specialist support.

You can also contact LUNA directly, without a referral.

What does Belgian law say about abortion?

Under the current Belgian legal framework, an abortion on request is possible before the end of the twelfth week after conception. This generally corresponds to fourteen weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. Because these are different ways of counting, it is best to have your doctor or the centre assess the timing.

There is a mandatory waiting period of at least six days between the initial consultation in the abortion care process and treatment. An exception may be made for an urgent medical reason. If the initial consultation takes place during the final six days before the legal time limit, the law allows a limited extension to accommodate the waiting period. The centre will calculate this, so do not delay contacting them.

Beyond the legal time limit, an abortion in Belgium is only permitted if continuing the pregnancy poses a serious threat to the woman’s health, or if the child would have an extremely serious, incurable condition. A second doctor must then be involved.

The decision is yours: you do not need permission from your partner or parents. You provide written consent for treatment. Your conversations and medical care are protected by professional confidentiality.

How can an abortion be carried out?

There are two usual methods.

A medical abortion involves taking medicines in sequence to end the pregnancy and cause the pregnancy tissue to pass from the uterus. This causes cramping and bleeding. LUNA offers this method for pregnancies of less than nine weeks, counted from the first day of the last menstrual period.

During a vacuum aspiration, also known as suction curettage, the pregnancy tissue is removed from the uterus through a thin tube.

The centre will explain pain relief or anaesthesia, what the treatment involves, and aftercare. Which method is available and suitable depends on the stage of your pregnancy, your medical circumstances, and your preferences.

When should you seek urgent medical help?

If you experience severe or worsening abdominal pain, particularly on one side, shoulder pain, fainting, or heavy bleeding, contact a doctor or an emergency department immediately. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment or blood test result if you have these symptoms.

Where can you get help in Ghent?

At HAP.GENT, you can receive a confidential consultation, medical assessment, and support with the next step.

LUNA Gent
Lieven De Winnestraat 65/001, 9000 Gent
To make an appointment by phone: 09 233 64 92
Website: LUNA Gent

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