What do I do if I think I’m pregnant?
Don’t spend another day worrying because you may be compromising your mental and physical health. Your first step should be to go to a family planning clinic or another health care provider. Having support from a friend or someone you trust may be helpful. If you find out you aren’t pregnant, you should think about ways to avoid having another scare in the future, such as finding a birth control method you can use consistently and correctly every time. If you are pregnant, your health care provider can talk to you about the options that are available to you. Your health care provider can tell you about different organizations where you can find help and support for the decision you make.
What do I do if I had unprotected sex or my birth control method failed?
Relax. If your regular birth control method fails or if you’ve had sex without a method of birth control you can still prevent pregnancy up 72 hours after sex. You can take Emergency Contraception (EC) to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. EC is two pills that contain a higher dose of a hormone found in many birth control pills. Take the first pill as soon as possible (within 72 hours after sex) and the second pill 12 hours later. It works better the sooner you take it and works best when taken within the first 24 hours after sex.
Women and men 17 and older can get Emergency Contraceptive from pharmacists over the counter. If you’re under 17 you will need a prescription from a health care provider. Click here to find a health care provider near you.
You can take EC as a backup method to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant if your regular birth control method failed (the condom broke or slipped), you made a mistake with your regular method (you forgot to take a birth control pill), or if you didn’t use any birth control method.
You should not use EC if you’re already pregnant. It will not harm the fetus, but you shouldn’t take it if you’re pregnant, because it won’t work. You should also not use EC in place of a regular birth control method. It should only be used as a backup. EC does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
Does birth control affect my ability to get pregnant later?
Talk to your physician or a health care provider at a local family planning clinic about your personal child bearing goals. You can discuss how long it takes your body to be able to become pregnant after birth control use and your child bearing goals to find a birth control method that is right for you.
It’s common to have concerns about using a birth control method for a long period of time. Certain types of birth control have no apparent delay at all, meaning that you are able to become pregnant as soon as you stop using them. The only birth control method that seems to have a prolonged contraceptive effect is Depo- Provera or the birth control shot. It takes anywhere from 3 to 18 months to for your body be able to get pregnant after you stop using the shot. Women who are planning to get pregnant in the next year should consider other methods.
It takes very little time to for your body to be able to become pregnant after you stop using of some types of birth control. This includes the intrauterine devices, such as Mirena and ParaGard, and barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms. For women who use Implanon, your body is able to become pregnant immediately after implant removal.
For women who use birth control pills, there is a potential for a month or two of delay until your body can get pregnant. Less than 3 percent of women who used birth control pills had experienced this delay. There is also a minor delay after discontinuation of the patch and vaginal ring.
Does the duration of birth control use affect fertility?
The amount of time you are using a birth control method does not seem to affect fertility. There is no need to “take a break” from birth control methods, especially if it puts women at risk for an unwanted pregnancy. For more information on each specific type of birth control, visit Stork Insurance.
Can I get pregnant the first time I have sex?
Yes! Anytime a man and woman have sexual intercourse, pregnancy is possible. This includes the first time. Even if a young woman has never had her period she still can be fertile and therefore pregnancy is possible.
You are more likely to become pregnant anytime you have sex if you are not using a birth control method. There are many forms of birth control available; some forms protect you against sexually transmitted infections as well.
Can I get pregnant if I’m having my period?
Yes! It is possible to get pregnant while you are having your period and right before or after your period. You are more likely to become pregnant when you are ovulating, or when your body is releasing a mature egg where a man’s sperm is more likely to penetrate it.
Ovulation typically happens about 14 days into your 28 day menstrual cycle. However, different women ovulate at different times during their cycle, some during their period, some before and some after. Also, sperm can live in the vagina for up to 7 days after intercourse. So when ovulation occurs, sperm just needs to be present for the egg to be fertilized.
Can I get pregnant if my partner pulls out (withdrawals)?
Yes! Even, if your partner does pull out before ejaculation every time you have intercourse, you can still get pregnant. The problem lies in the fact that before orgasm (when a man ejaculates), there is something called pre-ejaculation. This pre-ejaculation may contain sperm that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
If withdrawal is the only form of birth control you are using, you should think about adding another method.
