recently me and my boyfriend have been having protected sex but I get scared that I’ll get pregnant. We’re both 14, Im female and he is male. I’m just unsure when I can get a pregnancy test, as I’m not sure when my next period is due since my cycle isn’t consistent anyway. Is there a certain time after sex to get a pregnancy test? It’s only been a few days since the last time we had it. We’re both consenting and neither of us feel pressured but after we do it I always feel overwhelmingly anxious in case I become pregnant, so I’m just desperate to know when I could take a test. We previously visited a sexual health clinic which provider us with condoms but whenever we use them it tends to slide off, so should I be worried about that too?
Sam
Hi there,
Having sex always carries the risk of getting pregnant, but contraception can reduce that risk to almost nothing, when used properly. If you have heterosexual sex without protection, you have more chances to become pregnant.
There are lots of different types of contraception you can use, and it might be confusing at first which to choose. Condoms provide protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. If the condom is slipping off then your partner might need a different size – it’s important to get the right size, otherwise it might break and you could become pregnant.
There are also other types of contraception that women can get as well. The contraceptive implant, for example, is a tiny rod that’s put in your arm underneath your skin. Once it’s in, you won’t feel or notice it’s there. This then stops you becoming pregnant for a few years, until it needs replacing. You can get similar protection for a few months at a time by having an injection or you can take a pill every day. You’ll need advice about which one is right for you from a medical professional, like your GP or a sexual health practitioner.
All types of contraception and pregnancy tests are free when you’re under 25 and you can get them from your GP, a sexual health clinic or some <s>areas </s>towns have schemes where you can get condoms from a pharmacy with a special card. If you don’t want to visit your GP or a health clinic, you can also buy pregnancy tests at chemists and supermarkets. They are usually around £7-10, but it depends on which type and brand you buy.
Different pregnancy tests need different amount of time to give an accurate result. Some can tell you if you’re pregnant as quickly as within a week after you had sex, but it’s more common that it takes several weeks before your test results will be accurate. If you take a test too soon you could get what’s called a false negative, which is when the test says you aren’t pregnant when you actually are. To avoid this, make sure you take a second test a few weeks later – some tests come in packs of two for this reason.
I hope this has helped, if you need to talk more about your situation and how you feel then our counsellors are there to listen.
Thanks for your letter.
Take care.
Sam
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