Pregnancy Test screening Information for Children & Parents before Surgery

Pregnancy Test before planned surgery

Young females over 12 years old coming in for surgery, will be asked to give a urine sample for a pregnancy test on the morning of the operation.

This is something hospitals all across the country are doing and has been recommended as a way of enhancing safety by national organisations who advise hospitals on how best to care for patients.

Why is my daughter being asked to do this?

Once a young female has started her periods, making sure that pregnancy has been considered before any operation is an important part of preparing for surgery. This reduces the risk of harm to the young woman and her unborn child.

It is hospital policy to test all young females instead of asking sensitive questions on the day of surgery. Please be reassured that we are not judging or discriminating against any young female.

My daughter is sure she is not pregnant. Must she have the test?

Nobody is compelled to have a pregnancy test. If your daughter has not yet had her first period, a test may not be necessary.

If you or your daughter decide not to be tested, the team looking after her may decide to postpone her surgery or procedure. This is to ensure that we provide the best possible care for the young female and her unborn child.

On the day of surgery

Why is it important?

The very early stage of pregnancy, maybe before the pregnancy has been recognised, is the time when an embryo may be most vulnerable to the effects of medicines, X-rays and anaesthetics.

As the pattern of periods can be irregular, it is safer to test all young females rather than rely on the date of the last period. 

What if my daughter has her period on the day of her operation? 

Young females may still be pregnant even if they have their period and so hospital policy is to test all young females.

If my daughter is pregnant, will her operation be cancelled?

We want to involve you in all decisions about your care and treatment. Pregnancy is just one factor in the decision about whether it is safe to have an operation.

If your daughter is pregnant you will have the chance to talk to the doctors looking after her about the urgency of the surgery and whether there are any additional risks involved with the anaesthetic and operation. You will be able to decide together whether to go ahead, consider another treatment or delay surgery.

If your daughter is pregnant, our staff will support her and be able to refer her for expert advice and help about what to do next.

Occasionally, surgery is cancelled at the last minute. Please do not assume this has anything to do with a test result. 

I do not think this is right for my daughter

We hope you will understand that it is better to test every female patient of childbearing age rather than discriminate by asking personal questions, especially for very young patients.

When girls are mature enough to understand and weigh up information to help them make decisions, they can legally direct their own health care, even when not yet 16 years of age.

Useful contacts

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your care, or if you have any worries, you can contact:

Children’s Outpatients
T: 020 3315 2019

• Pregnancy Advisory Service
• Family Planning Association
• British Pregnancy Advisory Service (or call 08457 304030)
• Marie Stopes Organisation (or call 0845 3008090)
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Contact information

Weekends and weekdays after 5pm :

• Your own GP after-hours service
• Your local walk-in centre
• A&E at Chelsea and Westminster
• NHS Direct (free from landlines and mobiles): Call 111

If you or your carer needs information about your health and well-being and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advice a member of staff and this can be arranged.