When teen girls visit the doctor, pregnancy is the most common diagnosis.
Each year, more than 840,000 teen girls end up pregnant—usually by accident. Don’t become a statistic. BY denise maher
the only 100% fail-safe way not to get pregnant is to not have sex
if you DO have sex.. .
| mistakes to avoid |
| ||
| using birth control only sometimes | having sex only on “safe” days | pulling out before ejaculation | thinking you can’t get pregnant |
| WHY IT DOESN’T WORK: If you don’t use birth control correctly—every time—you can get pregnant. Some teens become pregnant when they skip a day of using the Pill or don’t use a condom one time. | WHY IT DOESN’T WORK: Some girls think they know when they’re ovulating and are fertile, but it’s nearly impossible to predict “safe” days. Stress and exercise can alter a regular menstrual cycle. | WHY IT DOESN’T WORK: A guy’s penis leaks pre-ejaculate, which has sperm and can cause pregnancy before ejaculation. Also many guys can’t tell when they start ejaculating and don’t pull out in time. | WHY IT DOESN’T WORK: Nearly every girl can get pregnant if she has unprotected sex. Thinking that you’re lucky or that you or your guy is infertile (which is rare) is like playing Russian roulette—not smart. |
| If you take the Pill daily, your risk of getting pregnant drops to .3%. | 25% of women using this method will get pregnant within a year.* | 27% of women who rely on the pullingout method get pregnant.* | It is possible to get pregnant even if you’ve never had your period. |
| common questions |
| Q: If a condom breaks or gets stuck, what should you do? A: It rarely happens, but if the condom gets stuck in your vagina during or after sex, insert clean fingers into the vagina and pull the condom out. If you can’t find it, call your doctor or go to the ER to have it removed. If left there, it can irritate the tissue and cause an infection. (Don’t worry—it won’t travel into any other part of your body.) But know that if a condom gets stuck, breaks, or slips off during sex, sperm can leak into the vagina, so think about using emergency contraception: a pill taken within 72 hours to prevent pregnancy. Visit not-2-late.com for a provider who will prescribe it. |
| Q: Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period? A: Yes. A girl can ovulate (release an egg) just after her period. And since sperm can live for up to a week, she can have sex during her period—and then get pregnant five days later while sitting in class. |
| Q: Can you get pregnant from clothing soaked with sperm? A: It’s unlikely. Sperm need semen or vaginal fluid to live; once absorbed into a dry fabric, they die. But a wad of semen may not get absorbed, so if a girl’s vagina comes in contact with it, she could get pregnant. |
PREGNANCY DON’T
Some experts suspect Britney Spears got pregnant to keep Kevin close. But a baby doesn’t always strengthen a relationship—e.g., Kevin left his ex Shar Jackson when she was six months pregnant with their second child!
IF YOU DO GET PREGNANT
Yes, it’s scary—but here’s how to cope.
- tell someone A pregnancy won’t go away on its own, so you’ve got to deal. The first step: Confide in an adult. Talking to someone will make you feel less scared— you won’t have to handle it all by yourself. Talk to your parents or write them a note. If you can’t tell them because you’re afraid they may hurt you, talk to a teacher or a friend’s parent, or call a hotline, like 800-230-PLAN. About 8% of teens get pregnant, so you’re not alone. You will get through it.
- know your options You legally have three choices: to keep the baby, put the baby up for adoption, or have an abortion. To find a clinic where you can learn about all three options, go to plannedparenthood.org. No matter what you choose, visit a doctor or clinic right away. If you’re having your baby, the sooner you see a doctor for prenatal care, the healthier the pregnancy will be. If you choose abortion, experts say it’s best to get one in the first three months, when risk for complications is lowest.
- get help If you plan to give birth, read The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens & College Students by Dorrie Williams-Wheeler (available at amazon.com).
proven birth control
condom
This is a latex or polyurethane material that covers the penis to block sperm from entering the vagina. It is 98% EFFECTIVE when used correctly. Condoms are the only form of birth control that help protect against most STDs.1
the pill (oral contraception)
This is a hormone pill a woman takes every day to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. Used correctly, it’s 99.7% EFFECTIVE.
the shot (Depo-Provera)
This is a shot of hormones injected into a woman’s arm or buttocks every three months to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. Used correctly, it’s 99% EFFECTIVE.
WARNING! Taking home “remedies,” like herbal mixtures that claim to induce miscarriage, can make you infertile or even kill you. Make an appointment at a health clinic to speak to a doctor or nurse-practitioner instead.
SOURCES: Sally Faith Dorfman, M.D., Senior Director, Clinical Services and Medical Education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Amy Levine, M.A., certified sexuality educator, Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).
