You Asked…We Answered!

Here are more questions from our “Ask Us” submissions. We love getting your questions…plus, it’s important to get the facts to make healthy decisions about sex and relationships. So keep them coming!

Q: What are some signs of pregnancy?

A: Some signs of pregnancy are: a missed menstrual cycle, soreness of breasts, strange cravings, frequent urination, increased sensitivity to odors, or vomiting, also known as “morning sickness”. But please keep in mind that the signs differ from person to person, and these signs are just possible, and may not all happen when a female is pregnant. Visiting a doctor to get testing is important to know for sure. To help protect yourself from teen pregnancy, it’s important to use contraceptives such as wearing a condom or using birth control.

Q: Me and my boyfriend had sex, and he didn’t wear a condom, and he pulled out. Could I still get pregnant?

A: Yes, it’s very likely that you still could. There is pre-ejaculatory fluid that can come out of a penis when it is erect, prior to sexual intercourse. This fluid does contain sperm, which can lead to pregnancy. A guy can’t always tell when this happens, which makes wearing a condom very important to protect you not just from pregnancy, but also STDs.

P.S. Another term used by people to refer to what you call “pulling out” is the withdrawal method. This method is NOT safe, and is a very risky behavior that doesn’t protect against pregnancy or STDs.