Auntie Stella was produced by Training and Research Support Centre (Zimbabwe)
Box CY2720,
Causeway, Harare,
Zimbabwe
Phone: 263-4-795124
Email: admin@tarsc.org
Website: www.tarsc.org
27. Can I be pregnant?
Theme:
Safer sex
Unwanted pregnancy
Dear Nyaradzo
I’m sorry you are in this difficult situation. I’m afraid you can get pregnant the first time you have sex. You need to have a pregnancy test to make sure. You can be tested at a clinic, or buy a test kit from a pharmacy.
If you are pregnant, talk to your boyfriend and to someone close to you. Please don’t harm yourself or your baby! Rather talk to people who can help you decide how best to look after the baby. This won’t be easy but hopefully family and friends will help you.
The ‘morning after’ pill is a special combination of contraceptive pills available from a clinic or pharmacy. It prevents pregnancy but only if you take it within 72 hours after having sex.
If you’re not pregnant, you’ve been lucky. Boys really pressure you about sex but, as you’ve found out, sex is no fun if you’re unhappy about doing it.
If you still want to stay with your boyfriend but not have sex, talk to him about it. Spend time with him, but not alone, and avoid alcohol and drugs. They make it harder to stick to what you really want to do.
Finally, I suggest you wait until you’re older and know what you want before you have sex – many people choose to wait until they are married. This is your choice but whatever you decide, when you do have sex, stay safer by using a male or female condom.
Auntie Stella
QUIZ: The female condom
Which of these statements are TRUE and which are FALSE?
Check answers at the bottom of the page.
1 Female condoms protect men and women from pregnancy, STIs and HIV.
2 Female condoms are more expensive than male condoms.
3 A female condom can make a noise when used. To prevent this, put it into your vagina a few hours before you have sex.
4 It’s better to use a spermicidal cream with a female condom.
ANSWERS: ALL the statements are true.