R U Thinking?

Sex - what are the risks?

You only have to have unprotected sex once to get pregnant – no matter what stories you’ve heard about your first time, certain positions, or days of the month being safe.

And even if your boyfriend only did it once with his ex without using protection, he could have caught a nasty STI. It’s impossible to tell just by looking at him.

Contraception is designed to prevent pregnancy – but only condoms can protect you from pregnancy and STIs, including these ten most unwanted:
Chlamydia  
Genital Herpes
Genital warts
Gonorrhoea
HIV
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Pubic lice
Syphilis
Scabies

Although Cystitis and Thrush aren’t sexually transmitted, they can be made worse by sex.

Find out more:
Go to The Facts

‘I had Chlamydia’

Teena: ‘I’d been seeing this lad a month. We used condoms at first, but he said sex would be better if I went on the pill. I couldn’t tell the difference. Not long after, his ex rang and told him she had an STI – Chlamydia. My boyfriend hadn’t been tested but he said we both needed to go to the doctor. I was confused, angry and panicky, and dumped him straight away. When I got my results from the doctor and they were positive I burst into tears. The doctor said long term damage was unlikely and prescribed antibiotics. Luckily they worked. I suppose I’m lucky my boyfriend was honest, but I couldn’t go back to him. He had his Chlamydia sorted out but I didn’t feel the same about him. It wasn’t just his fault though – I had a choice and regret not using a condom.’

Read more:
Chlamydia

Could I be pregnant?

You can get pregnant if you have unprotected sex just once – and even if you haven’t started your periods yet.

How did it happen?
If you have sex without using contraception at any time of the month, you could get pregnant. You could also be pregnant if your contraception didn’t work properly – if you forgot to take your pill and then didn’t use a condom, for example.

How will I know if I’m pregnant?
The first sign is usually a missed period, but you might have sore boobs and feel sick and tired. To know for sure, take a pregnancy test as soon as possible after the day your period was due. Free tests are available from your GP or clinic, or you can buy a test from a chemist or supermarket.

It’s best to get the result checked by your doctor or clinic – remember advice is free and confidential, even if you’re under 16.

Read more:
I think I might be pregnant  

Pregnancy – true or false?

There are loads of pregnancy myths – sort out the truth from the myths:

True: You can get pregnant whenever you have unprotected sex including your first time - even if you’ve never had a period.

False: Some people say you can’t get pregnant if you’re on your period – but you are risking pregnancy if you don’t use contraception at any time of the month.

True: You could get pregnant no matter what position you have unprotected sex in.

False: Don’t believe anyone who tells you that you can still get pregnant by giving a blow job – you could catch an STI, but can’t get pregnant this way.

True: Some sperm leaks out before a boy comes, so even if he ‘pulls out’ you could still get pregnant.

True: If you use them properly, condoms are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy and STIs.

What if I need to do a pregnancy test?

The only way to find out if you’re pregnant is to do a pregnancy test.

When should I test?
If you’re not sure when your period’s due, or your periods are irregular, count three weeks from when you had unprotected sex and if you haven’t had a period since, a test should show if pregnancy hormones are in your system.

What’s a test like?
Most tests come in a small box containing one or two long sticks. You pee on the stick and see the result after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different so read the instructions.

Free tests
You can get a free and confidential test from your local GP or young person’s clinic. Some anti-abortion organisations offer free pregnancy testing, but may push you to go through with a pregnancy. Try to get your test from an organisation that won’t pressure you either way.

I regret it

Lady E: ‘I had sex the first time because I didn’t want to get left behind and was sick of pretending I was doing it, just to join in with my friends’ chat. I got drunk and couldn’t remember much about it. It wasn’t special. When I started seeing someone I loved I really wished I was still a virgin so my first time could have been with him.’

Marie: ‘My second proper boyfriend was lovely but the first time we had sex I couldn’t stop laughing. I was just nervous, but he was really upset about it and nearly dumped me. I wish I’d known that boys can be just as sensitive as us.’

My best friend had an abortion

Lady E: ‘I went to a party with my best friend and this guy was there she really fancied. She didn’t tell me they’d had sex until the next day. I admit, I was so excited for her I never asked if they used anything – I just wanted the gory details. The boy never text or called her, and by the time she realised she was pregnant, she was two months gone. She was doing exams and didn’t want a baby on her own. I went to the clinic with her when she had a termination. She was really scared, even though the doctors were nice. She was in pain for a couple of days afterwards, like a really bad period, but she couldn’t stop crying for ages. She still gets upset about it now, a year after.’