Pregnancy

Finding out you’re pregnant can be a joy or a nightmare, depending on your situation. If you’re pregnant by accident, or your partner is, what next? In this section, you can find out what your options are and learn what happens to the body during pregnancy.

Facts

Unsure about being pregnant?

Women bear the burden of unplanned pregnancy

An unplanned pregnancy occurs when a woman conceives without intending to. The reasons for this can vary from contraception failure, being in school, not being married, lacking the financial resources to support a child, having no desire to become a […]

Unsure about being pregnant?

How can I support a friend considering an abortion?

In Kenya alone, an estimated 500,000 abortions are performed annually—a number likely higher, given the challenges in collecting accurate data and the fact that some women may choose to carry out the procedure at home. This means there’s a strong […]

Pregnancy

How do I know if I am infertile?

In females, regular menses with pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms are usually an indicator that the woman is ovulating. But, what if you have normal menses but still can’t get pregnant? Determining whether you are fertile or not requires a doctor to […]

Pregnancy

Pregnancy over 35: What to expect, risks, and self-care

Advanced maternal age is commonly defined as being over 35, though there is no standardized definition. Risks of advanced maternal age Women over 35 face higher risks of pregnancy-related complications, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. There is also a […]

Pregnancy

Je kuosha kuma baada ya ngono je kunaeza zuia boll?

Baadaye alianza kuathirika kizazi yake hali iliyomlazimisha kutembelea kiutembelea daktari. Kuna dhana mbovu kuwa kuiosha vagina ni njia poa ya kuzuia mimba. Mimba hutokea kama sperms za mwanamume zimegusa mayai ya dem hayakufanyika katikati mpira wa kizazi na kusaisha kuma […]

Unsure about being pregnant?

What does it mean if I miss a period?

Missing periods, medically termed amenorrhea, can occur due to various reasons, and predicting their return the following month can be influenced by several factors. You have hormonal imbalances One common cause of missed periods is hormonal imbalances. Fluctuations in estrogen […]

Pregnancy

The age of consent in accessing abortion in Kenya

Fast forward to 2020, another nine-year-old girl from Murang’a County was impregnated. Hon Sabina Chege, the Murang’a women’s representative at the time, confirmed that this young girl hailed from Ithanga, lower Gatanga, an area marked by a disturbingly high number […]

Pregnancy

How abortion laws impact women and girls in Kenya

The laws around abortion in Kenya have a big effect on the lives of women and girls, influencing their choices about having children, their ability to get healthcare, and their overall well-being. In Kenya, the laws about abortion is not […]

Pregnancy

What does the Kenyan law say about abortion?

Mwatha lost her life due to complications arising from a botched abortion, where a post-mortem examination revealed excessive bleeding caused by a rupture at the rear of her uterus. Caroline’s tragic fate triggered the arrest of six individuals, including the […]

Pregnancy

At how many weeks can I get an abortion?

In this article, we delve into the question, ‘How many weeks into a pregnancy can a woman legally obtain an abortion in Kenya?’ We sought the expert insights of Dr. Zebedee Nyakwara Motanya, the Secretary General of Usawa Health Foundation, […]

Pregnancy

Safe vs. unsafe abortion: what’s the difference?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly half of all abortions are unsafe, with a staggering 97-percent of these occurring in developing countries. In Kenya, for instance, the number of induced abortions rose from 300,000 in 2004 to 464,490 […]

Pregnancy

How legalizing abortion can improve lives of women’s and girls

You might be wondering, ‘Why should I care about legalizing abortion care?’ Well, let me walk you through it. Currently, Kenyan law outlaws abortion and only permits it in the opinion of a trained health professional, when there is need […]

Pregnancy

Where can I access abortion in Kenya?

The high cases of unsafe abortion point to the reality of unwanted or unplanned pregnancies among women and girls. The bigger challenge is that abortion is not permitted unless under restricted circumstances, such as when a trained health professional deems […]