Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of pregnancy?
The most obvious sign is a missed period. However it is important to be aware that some women continue to have a monthly bleed when they are pregnant.

Other signs are:

• feeling sick or being sick in the morning or at other times during the day
• breast tenderness
• needing to pee more often
• being constipated
• increased discharge from the vagina
• feeling tired
• having a strange taste in your mouth
• going off certain foods and drinks you normally like

What should someone do if they think they are pregnant?
No matter what age or stage they are at in their lives, whether they want to be pregnant or not, they should find out as quickly as possible. Only then can they get the help and advice they need to make decisions about managing the pregnancy and keeping healthy. If they don't want to be pregnant and the test shows they're not, this can prevent days or even several weeks of anxiety. If they do find they are pregnant, it gives time to cope with mixed reactions, adjust to the situation and make decisions.

Where can they get information and advice?
The following are possible sources of help and advice:

• Websites (see Links section)
• School nurses
• Youth projects
• Brook Advisory Clinics
• Family Planning Clinics
• Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
• Sexual health clinics
• Young person's clinic
• General Practitioners
• Local community health projects
• Drop in centres for young people
• Telephone helplines
• Pharmacists who work in chemist shops
• Parents

At different ages and stages in their lives people will have different ideas about how to access information and advice. There may also be differences in terms of help and advice available locally. The important thing is to get sound advice as quickly as possible and to find someone you can talk to easily.

Why do some teenagers get pregnant the first time they have unprotected sex and yet some older people who want to get pregnant, find it difficult?
As soon as a girl begins to release eggs from her ovaries during puberty she can get pregnant. As soon as boys begin to produce mature sperm they can make a girl pregnant. Both sexes are at their most fertile in their mid to late teens. Sexual emotions are very powerful and if young people don't take precautions at every sexual encounter, they have a high risk of becoming pregnant.

Fertility reduces for both men and women as they get older. It can also be affected by the stresses and strains of everyday life. Women are faced with having to have a child within a certain time scale.

Why do teenage pregnancies cause so much concern?

Health
Teenage pregnancies cause concern for a whole range of reasons. While girls under 16 can be very fertile, they are often not physically mature enough to carry a baby. This can result in health risks for the mother and the baby.

Education, jobs and careers
Teenage mothers can lose out on both school and higher education. This can make it difficult to find work later and may result in low earnings. People then tend to be more dependent on benefits and help from others. This can take away their independence and make them feel isolated if they are not doing what everyone else their age is doing.

Social and moral reasons
Different groups in society, including religious groups, view sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancies in different ways. In some cases there is a stigma attached to teenage pregnancy if the mother is not married.

Commitment and skills
Having a baby involves a huge commitment and changes the lives of all around. Babies can be rewarding but they are also demanding and need a lot of looking after. People need the skills to be able to do this.

Babies become toddlers who need time and attention to keep them safe and help them learn and develop. Throughout childhood and through the teenage years they need your help and support. Pregnancy is just the beginning.

Legal reasons
For those under age sixteen, there are issues to do with the law.

How come some people who use contraception still get pregnant?
There is a whole range of potential reasons for this. Some examples follow. Use the Links section for more information.

Condoms
Using a condom needs care and skill. The condom needs to be on properly before there is any contact between the penis and a woman's genital area. The penis needs to be removed carefully from the vagina soon after ejaculation so that the condom doesn't come off. The condom should be wrapped in a tissue and put in a bin. The condom must be within its sell by date and care must be taken not to puncture or tear it with nails, jewellery or teeth. If it splits during intercourse there is a high risk of pregnancy and you must seek advice as quickly as possible.

Contraceptive pills
There is a range of these on the market and doctors prescribe the most suitable for each individual. The main reasons for the failure of this type of contraception are:

• forgetting to take it
• not taking it at the correct time each day
• being sick after taking it so the hormones it contains don't get into the body system

Unplanned pregnancies
Another reason for unplanned pregnancy is people having sex with someone on the spur of the moment without being prepared.

Alcohol or drugs
Alcohol and drugs can affect your judgement and put you at risk.

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Remember the pill does not protect from sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) or HIV. Only barrier methods such as the condom, if used properly, can prevent both pregnancy and such infections.