Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy can be a scary subject for a lot of girls; however it’s only a concern if you are sexually active. The best time to engage in sexual activities is when you have a committed partner and when you are in an exclusive relationship (both of you not seeing other people). Even then accidents might happen, just one time not using contraception might result in a little bub of your very own, and unless you planned for this, it can be stress filled and worrying time. You are not alone though, research suggests that around 8,000 girls aged between 15 and 19 years become pregnant every year in Singapore. Luckily, you have a secret weapon to make sure that doesn’t happen; good info! Kotex® is here to be your guiding light on sensitive subject of how to avoid getting pregnant the sensible way.

The only sure fire way to ensure you don’t get pregnant is not to have sex at all. Even making the decision to have sex is a really massive one and something you shouldn’t really do without your mind and body being totally ready. If you have decided to have sex and feel you and your partner are ready for it, there are a few precautions we recommend. The first thing you should think about is what kind of contraceptives (something that stops you getting pregnant) you are going to use. Pregnancy is not the only thing to worry about, keeping your vagina healthy usually means using a condom to prevent STDs. Speak to your doctor about your options.

Choose a birth control method, whether it is The Pill, Condoms, a Diaphragm or a different option prescribed by your doctor. Reminding your partner and getting him to remind you to use protection can make the whole process a lot easier. If you find you don’t feel comfortable with your first chosen method of contraceptive, try another one until you have found one that that you and your partner feel comfortable with.

If you did have unprotected sex and are really worried about getting pregnant, you can get the Emergency Contraceptive Pill from pharmacies or chemists. It is possible to take this pill up to 120 hours after unprotected sex (although the earlier the better) and in most cases it will stop pregnancy. Young mums (20 years and under) are more likely to have complications during pregnancy and birth so if you are pregnant make sure you have spoken with your doctor about the different options available.

The advice provided in this material is general in nature and is not intended as medical advice. If you need medical advice, please consult your health care professional.