Planned Parenthood Introduces "Am I Pregnant" Widget

Online tool is latest in a series of new digital resources to empower women to understand their reproductive and sexual health

New York, N.Y. — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today launched a new online tool to help women answer the age-old question: “Am I pregnant?”

The widget — named “Am I Pregnant?^SM” — asks users a short series of questions in a dynamic interactive format about whether or not they’ve had sex; if they use birth control and if so, was it used correctly; if they would like to be pregnant at this time; and other questions.  Based on each individual’s answers, the online tool helps women determine when to take a pregnancy test.  For women that indicate they do not want to be pregnant at this time, the tool helps them determine if emergency contraception may help them prevent pregnancy.  The tool also allows women to locate pregnancy testing or contraceptive services in their area.

“One of the most common questions asked of the doctors and nurses who work for Planned Parenthood is, ‘Could I be pregnant?’  Over the course of their lives, women may wonder about pregnancy many times — after having unprotected sex, when their periods are late, or after experiencing other symptoms of early pregnancy,” said Cecile Richards, president of PPFA.  “We wanted to develop an interactive online tool to help women address this question and help get them started in taking healthy next steps.”

The earlier a woman finds out she is pregnant, the sooner she can begin making important health decisions.  For example, early information about prenatal care, including the importance of seeing a health care provider and taking folic acid supplements, can be critically important.

Because women sometimes worry about pregnancy shortly after having intercourse, the widget also lets those who don’t want to become pregnant know if emergency contraception might help them prevent pregnancy.  The tool is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  But it provides women with an easy way to find more information and to locate pregnancy-testing or contraceptive services in their area.

“Am I Pregnant?”, which will be available in English and Spanish, joins the Planned Parenthood suite of online interactive reproductive health resources, which include “The Check^SM,” a tool that helps users determine whether they should consider being tested for sexually transmitted diseases, and “My Method^SM,” a tool that helps users figure out what forms of birth control might be best for them.  Like “Am I Pregnant?” these tools use a short series of interactive questions to suggest next steps, and provides users with resources they can use.

“We increasingly use technology to meet and respond to women wherever they may be, and like most of us, that means online,” said Richards.  “Young women especially want tailored, objective information about sexual and reproductive health, clearly and candidly delivered, through the tools they use every day.  We’re committed to providing women with quick and easy-to-access answers to critical questions that they might otherwise be embarrassed to ask, answers that help inform crucially important decisions.”

The Planned Parenthood website is a popular online resource for health information and receives more than 2 million visitors every month.  The Planned Parenthood suite of widgets can be found at www.plannedparenthood.org/all-access.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.