I’m writing a book (for my own enjoyment, I might add) but in the remote possibility that it may get published (in my wildest dreams!) I want to get a few facts straight.
My character is 19, the date is 1976 and she has found out she is pregnant by her boyfriend. I was 20 in 1976 so I know a lot about the era, but I’m not sure how she could get a pregnancy test without seeing a doctor then.
I know family planning clinics were around then but my character, as I did then, lives in a small provincial town and the nearest clinic would be in a larger town/city.
I’m pretty sure that over the counter tests weren’t available then, but I have a vague recollection of a College friend of mine getting a test from the local chemist. When I say a test, I mean she bought a sample bottle and was told to bring it back and they then sent it away. She got the result about a week later, which, by the way, much to her relief, was negative.
Would this be feasible, do you think? I also vaguely remembering seeing notices in chemist’s windows advertising pregnancy tests.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Bought the wrong Hot Cross Buns 😩