Whether you have been using birth control for two weeks or two years, your chance of getting pregnant remains the same. If you begin some methods in the middle of a cycle, it could take up to seven days for them to start working to prevent pregnancy. Similar to this, it’s possible to become pregnant as soon as you stop using the majority of methods, which is why it’s crucial to consistently use birth. That’s why it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional to determine which approach will be most effective for you and to make sure you comprehend how the approach you select operates.
Emergency contraception (EC) is a form of birth control that you can use up to five days after unprotected sex to stop pregnancy before it even begins. Therefore, it cannot be compared to an abortion. Two different kinds of IUDs and two different kinds of EC pills are available.
If you take EC after five days have passed since your last unprotected sex, it won’t help you avoid getting pregnant or induce an abortion. You can purchase a cheap pregnancy test at most drug or dollar stores to determine whether you are expecting, or you might be able to receive a test at no cost at your neighborhood health center. If you purchase a home pregnancy test, adhere to the directions provided with it. Test results are more accurate if you wait until a few days after you anticipate your next period, and you should wait at least 10 days before taking one. Just keep in mind that you have options regardless of the test results.
Pregnancy is possible even if you have never had your period or had sex. This is a great question, and one that many of our Teen Talk readers wonder about (here is a great video on how pregnancy happens). Even if your hymen did not break, this is still true. Everybody’s hymen is a little bit different; sometimes it ruptures during the first sexual encounter, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it ruptures earlier (for example, when you insert a tampon or engage in physical activity). Some peoples hymens may never break.
You have choices if you’re still concerned about becoming pregnant, regardless of your concern. Take emergency contraception if the incident occurred within the past five days or less. There are several choices, including over-the-counter emergency contraception pills that are available to anyone without a prescription.