Question 1

Can I Be Pregnant & Still Go To High School?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  According to Title IX, any school that receives federal financial aid, such as a public high school, cannot discriminate against a pregnant or parenting teen.

Question 2

How Much Does the Abortion Pill Cost?

Accepted Answer

The abortion pill is a set of two drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) used for pregnancy termination in women ten weeks pregnant or less. These two drugs come in different forms and dosages, but the average cost is around $400 to $500 without insurance coverage.

Question 3

Will South Dakota Medicaid Pay for the Abortion Pill?

Accepted Answer

South Dakota Medicaid will only pay for abortion in cases of life endangerment. This is unique to South Dakota, as many other states will also provide funding for abortion for rape and incest.

Question 4

What Does South Dakota Medicaid Pay For?

Accepted Answer

Even though South Dakota Medicaid doesn’t cover most abortion costs, pregnant women who meet income and resource limits and eligibility guidelines can qualify for limited or full medical coverage.

Question 5

Will My Insurance Pay For My Girlfriend’s Abortion?

Accepted Answer

Unless you and your significant other are married and they are under your insurance plan, they will not qualify for any medical coverage under your plan, including abortion. However, this does not mean that your girlfriend doesn’t have access to quality pregnancy care.

Question 6

Does South Dakota Medicaid Cover Abortion?

Accepted Answer

No — South Dakota state law restricts public funding from paying for abortions aside from those required in cases of life endangerment of the woman. This means that those who are insured under public health plans, like South Dakota Medicaid, will most likely not be eligible for coverage for their abortion procedures.

Question 7

How Much Does an Abortion Cost In South Dakota?

Accepted Answer

Surgical abortion procedures can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 depending on how far along your girlfriend is and what type of procedure she is eligible for.

Question 8

What Are The Side Effects Of Abortion?

Accepted Answer

Common side effects include: 

Heavy Bleeding
Cramping
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Vomiting 
Headaches
Exhaustion
Fever & Chills

Question 9

What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

Accepted Answer

Abortion, like any medical procedure, comes with risks to consider. The risks specific to the abortion pill, or chemical abortion, include incomplete abortion, an ongoing pregnancy, heavy and prolonged bleeding, infection, fever, and digestive system discomfort.

Question 10

What Are the Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The only way to know if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test, but there are common early pregnancy symptoms that can indicate you might be pregnant:

A missed period
Sore or tender breasts
Nausea/vomiting (morning sickness)
Increased urination
Fatigue/exhaustion

Question 11

When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?

Accepted Answer

It’s possible to take a pregnancy test too early. As anxious as you may feel about a possible pregnancy (especially if it is unexpected), it’s best to wait at least one week after your missed period.

If your home pregnancy test comes back positive, you’ll want to confirm your result with a lab-quality pregnancy test with a healthcare professional to rule out a false positive.

Question 12

Will My Insurance Pay For My Girlfriend’s Abortion Pill?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is “probably not.” 
If you do not have a legal financial obligation between you and your girlfriend, she likely cannot be added to your health insurance policy. If she is considered a domestic partner by your state, then she could possibly be added to your health insurance. However, there’s no guarantee that your insurance will fund the abortion pill.

Question 13

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Ectopic means “an abnormal place or position.” An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. The most common location of an ectopic pregnancy is within a fallopian tube. However, the egg could also implant in another area of the body, such as the ovary, abdominal cavity or cervix. The danger of the fertilized egg implanting in a fallopian tube is that the tube cannot expand like the uterus to accommodate the growing embryo.

Question 14

How Do I Know if I’m at Risk of an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

There are potential risk factors to know in order to determine if you are at an increased chance of developing an ectopic pregnancy. Those include:
A previous ectopic pregnancy
A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Surgery on your fallopian tubes
A history of infertility
History of IVF treatments
Endometriosis
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
An intrauterine device (IUD), a form of birth control, in place at the time of conception.
A history of smoking

Question 15

What Are the Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Although some women never show any symptoms, signs of an ectopic pregnancy usually occur between 4-12 weeks gestation. 

The earliest warning signs of ectopic pregnancy are light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Abdominal pain and shoulder pain are also possibilities. This bodily pain is caused by blood leaking from the fallopian tube into the abdomen and irritating the nerves responsible for the involuntary muscles that move in your diaphragm. If the fertilized egg continues to grow undetected, it has the potential to rupture the fallopian tube and cause heavy bleeding, extreme lightheadedness and shock.

Question 16

What are the Risks of STDs?

Accepted Answer

If you are sexually active, especially with multiple partners, you are at risk of developing or transmitting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Even if you or a partner do not show any symptoms, an STD could still be present. What do you need to know to protect yourself and others?

Question 17

What are STDs?

Accepted Answer

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are passed from one person to another person through sexual contact. Common STDs you may have heard of include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV.

Question 18

Are STDs Common?

Accepted Answer

Yes, STDs are very common, especially among young people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people in the United States has an STD. 

In 2018 alone, there were 68 million known infections in the United States. Of the total infections, 26 million were newly transmitted infections, and half of these new infections occurred among people ages 15-24.

Question 19

What are the Symptoms of STDs?

Accepted Answer

STDs can have a wide range of signs and symptoms, and some may not experience any symptoms at all. That's why an infection might go unnoticed until later complications occur or you or your partner are diagnosed by a doctor.
Common signs and symptoms could include:
Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area
Painful or burning urination
Discharge from the penis
Unusual or odorous vaginal discharge
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Pain during sex
Sore, swollen lymph nodes
Lower abdominal pain
Fever
Rash on the torso, hands or feet

Question 20

What Happens if an STD Goes Untreated?

Accepted Answer

As mentioned, you may not show any symptoms of an STD or the symptoms may be so mild that they are overlooked. However, if an STD is left untreated, severe complications could occur.
 
 
Possible complications include:
Pelvic pain
Pregnancy complications
Eye inflammation
Arthritis
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Infertility
Heart disease
Cancers, such as HPV-associated cervical and rectal cancers

Question 21

How Do I Tell My Parents I’m Pregnant?

Accepted Answer

An unexpected pregnancy can make your whole world feel like it has stopped. We can only imagine how you may feel - scared, confused, angry, sad, and not sure what your future holds. You are not alone on this journey. Our team at Alpha Center is here to support you through your pregnancy and beyond. 

If you’re still figuring out how to break the news to your parents, we get it. Though it seems like a daunting task, it’s necessary to move forward. Here are some ways to make the process a bit easier. You are stronger than you might think - you can do this.

Question 22

What Do I Need to Know If I Am Pregnant In College?

Accepted Answer

An unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming to process. If you’re pregnant and in college, the news of your pregnancy can bring many questions. Know that you are not alone. It’s essential to understand your pregnancy details to determine your options. 

At Alpha Center, we can come alongside you to help you take the next best step at no cost to you.

Question 23

What Is My First Step?

Accepted Answer

Your first step to clarity in your journey is confirming your pregnancy with a lab-quality pregnancy test. While you may have gotten one or multiple positive store-bought pregnancy tests, it’s vital to be sure about the accuracy of your result by following it up with a medical-grade pregnancy test. 

At Alpha Center, our pregnancy test are 97-99% accurate as early as one day after your first missed period. They are also more sensitive at detecting hCG, the pregnancy hormone. Receive free pregnancy testing today at our center.

Question 24

When should I take a pregnancy test?

Accepted Answer

When a period is late, most women start by taking a store-bought pregnancy test at home. You can find several options of varying prices at a local pharmacy or grocery store, and all you need to do is test your urine. Most tests claim to be able to detect a pregnancy as early as the first day of a missed period, and some even claim to detect a pregnancy before a missed period. However, the accuracy of these tests decreases before a missed period. 
Waiting until a missed period may be the last thing you want to do, so why wait? After implantation, when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, the placenta forms and starts to produce a hormone called the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is only present during pregnancy. HCG enters your urine and bloodstream, and each day the hCG levels in your body increase. If you take a test before the first day of your missed period, it might be more difficult to detect the hCG in your urine since the hormone levels have not had as much time to increase. This could lead to a false negative pregnancy test result.

Question 25

Could a positive result on a pregnancy test be wrong?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to get a positive result from a home pregnancy test even when you're not pregnant. This result is known as a false positive.
A false positive might happen if you had an early miscarriage, the pregnancy is ectopic or you are taking a drug that contains hCG. Menopause, ovarian conditions, test defects or incorrect testing may also lead to a false positive result.

Question 26

Could a negative result on a pregnancy test be wrong?

Accepted Answer

As mentioned earlier, it is also possible to get a negative result from a home pregnancy test when you are pregnant. This result is known as a false negative.
A false negative might happen if you take the test too early before or after a missed period, use diluted urine, check the test result too soon, perform the test incorrectly or use a defective test.

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