We often get questions about pregnancy, or threads written by girls who are scared they might be pregnant.
So you make a thread and get 100 replies telling you 100 different things. As if you were worried and confused enough! Well- let this be the help you were looking for. Not only will this (hopefully) clear up the confusion- it will hopefully give you the answers you were looking for before you ever find yourself in this situation. The following information is taken from Doctors sites online as well as textbooks.
But before I get started- I would like to address the girls who think it’s a good idea to lie about being pregnant. First- it’s stupid, selfish and immature to lie about such a thing. We’re a caring group here and it’s awful of you to lie for attention or entertainment purposes. Secondly- there ARE girls who wish to find help and support here- and it’s terrible to make up such a lie when there are girls who truly are looking for support. Lastly- if and when we figure out you’re lying- you will not likely be welcomed here by other members. Because no one likes a liar- and especially not after we’ve supported and cared for you.
You know who you are…just stop it already.
Ok- with that nasty subject addressed- on to the real point of this post.
I had sex- could I be pregnant?
Pregnancy is ALWAYS a possibility if you’ve had sex. Anytime a penis comes in contact with your vagina- pregnancy CAN happen. So yes- if you’ve had sex- there’s a chance you may be pregnant. It doesn’t matter if you’re a virgin, on your period, took a shower right after or anything else you can think of.
Of course, using birth control EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE SEX will significantly reduce the chances of you getting pregnant. No birth control is 100% effective- but if you use a good birth control method(s) and use it correctly and responsibly EVERY time- the chances of pregnancy are greatly reduced.
Also- even if you’re on the pill or some other birth control- it’s always a good idea to use condoms as a backup method. Not only will that further protect you from pregnancy- it also prevents STDs…so get in the habit of using condoms along with some other form of birth control every time you have sex. (Note: some contraceptives are not meant to be used with condoms- such as a female condom- using them together can cause them to slide off or break. But birth control like the pill, the patch or the shot are the most common birth control used- and they can ABSOLUTELY be used together. )
Ok- I had unprotected sex…what now?
As soon as possible- contact a doctor and request the morning after pill a.k.a Plan B. This should be taken as soon as possible- it’ most effective with in the first 72 hours (that’s three days) of the unprotected sex. It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get pregnant- but it significantly reduces the chances…and that’s better than nothing. So if you had a moment of stupidity and had unprotected sex- don’t wait! Call a doctor or your local clinic. (I’ll provide contact info at the end of this thread.)
How can I tell if I’m pregnant?
The obvious answer is…a pregnancy test. These can be purchased at a drug store (even grocery stores) or you can schedule an appointment with your doctor or at a local clinic.
Home tests will cost you anywhere from 8-20 dollars. Be sure to read the directions and follow them step-by-step so you can get the most accurate reading possible.
Clinics are also great because they offer free and confidential tests. They’re also handy if you don’t have health insurance or can’t go to your family doctor. Again, I’ll post contact info at the end of this thread.
When can I take a pregnancy test?
In the US, home pregnancy tests are very accurate as soon as a few days after you’ve missed your period. Some even claim they can be used 3-4 days BEFORE your missed period- but this increases the likelihood you’ll get a false negative. Meaning- it might say you’re not, even though you are. Your best bet is to wait three to four days after the day your period should have started. Then follow up with a test at your local clinic if the test was negative- but your period doesn’t start.
How early can I find out if I’m pregnant?
Here’s the thing. When you have sex, you don’t immediately become pregnant. The sperm has to find its way into the egg- and this can take up to 6 days. So if you have sex on Monday- the sperm might not enter the egg until the upcoming Sunday. Make sense? Secondly- after the sperm enters the egg it has to implant itself in to the lining of your uterus- which can take another 6-10 days to occur. Only after the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine wall will you start releasing the pregnancy hormone- and this is when pregnancy officially begin on terms of how you can tell if you are pregnant or not.
When the fertilized egg implants itself- the body will begin to produce the pregnancy hormone…and that’s what it used to detect pregnancy.
So the short answer is- pregnancy can be detected about 7-15 days after having sex. But it really depends on your specific circumstances because we have no way of knowing the exact moment as to when the fertilized egg implants itself.
Your best bet is to take a pregnancy test after you’ve missed you period.
I didn’t have sex but I did _______ Can I be pregnant?
The only way you can get pregnant is when a sperm fertilizes an egg. This means that anytime your vagina comes in contact with semen- there’s a chance of pregnancy. What this also means is- if semen DID NOT come in contact with your vagina- pregnancy is NOT possible.
Kissing, oral sex, anal sex, masturbation…these things do not cause pregnancy. Period. Of course the exception to this rule is if semen comes in contact with your body WHILE doing these things…in which case I refer you to the first two sentences of this answer.
I missed my period! Does this mean I’m pregnant?
Ok- if you’ve had unprotected sex- there’s a chance you could be. In which case- we’ve covered what you should do above.
If you’re using birth control and condoms- AND you use them correctly and faithfully- it’s not likely that you are pregnant- although no contraceptive is 100% effective. As we covered above- sex equals possible pregnancy- so it’s a good idea to make sure. Not using contraceptives correctly can cause them to lose their effectiveness…Yet another reason to be sure you understand how to use your birth control method- and use it correctly every time you have sex.
NOTE: Hormonal birth controls like the pill and the patch become less effective when you’re taking anti-biotics and some other medications. Make sure you check with your doctor to see that all medications you take are compatible with your birth control- and take extra precautions as needed.
Next- there can be many reasons you’ve missed your period. Things like illness, diet, extreme exercise, weight loss, weight gain, and stress can cause you to miss your period- and that’s just to name a few.
To go a bit further- it’s a good idea to track your period with a planner or calendar:
The first day of your period- mark your calendar on the day your period begins- and mark everyday thereafter until it stops. This will help you track your period and how long it lasts. Also- to predict your next period you can count 28 days forward from the FIRST day it started to figure out when you’ll have your next period. Keep in mind though- although this is considered a “regular” cycle- not every women has her period on an exact 28 day cycle.
During checkups and physicals doctors will often want to know when your last period was and how long it lasted too- so this will help you answer those questions in the future.
Ok- I found out I’m pregnant for sure. What do I do now?
You’ve got three possible options:
Keep the baby and raise it.
Have the baby and then put him/her up for adoption.
Have an abortion.
Obviously all of these are big choices with consequences. They all have pros and cons too- and none of them is an easy choice…but you’ve gotten yourself here- and you have to decide what to do. My advice is to research each option and think long and had about your choice before you make your final decision. Because you will carry whatever choice you make with you the rest of your life. So make sure you make the right one, whichever it may be. Talk to an adult you know and trust for support and guidance as well.
As a final thought…
Much of the fears, worries and heartache pregnancy/pregnancy scares have can easily be avoided by educating yourself and using common sense if/when you decide to have sex.
Birth control is easily accessible and can be obtained free and confidentially. But then it’s up to you to be smart and responsible in using it correctly- and using it every time.
It only takes one stupid decision to change your life forever- so avoid it all together by making the right choice BEFORE you are ever in the position to worry in the first place.
And please rememeber thinking things like “it won’t happen to me” or “we just did it once” is exactly the kind of stupid thinking that gets girls and women pregnant all the time.
Clinic contact information for free birth control, counseling and pregnancy services:
1-800-230-PLAN for a Planned Parenthood center nearest you,
1-888-NOT-2-LATE for a list of clinics providing birthcontrol and pregnancy services.
plannedparenthood.org
Birth Control information
teensource.org Bc methods, uses and efectivness.
4woman.gov . . . FAQ about BC methods.
