Family Planning Plus

If you remembered to take your pill within 24 hours of forgetting it, pregnancy is unlikely, especially if the pill you forgot was during your last week of hormone pills. However, pregnancy is alway possible when you have sex. The pill is not 100% effective. Even women who take their pills perfectly can become pregnant.

Your period was probably different because of the pill you took late. You period may stop for a while and then start back up for a few days. You may also have a little breakthrough bleeding or spotting during your next pack of pills. Try to remember to take your pills on time to avoid this.

Pregnancy is highly unlikely since the unprotected intercourse occurred while you were still protected by the Depo-Provera shot. Depo-Provera has one of the highest effectiveness rates. If you still feel you are pregnant, you can always take another test, but pregnancy rarely occurs among Depo users who get their shots on time.

Depo-Provera does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections, however. If you are worried that you may have contracted an infection and you live near one of our offices, please contact us for a free STD screening. If you live further away, locate your local STD Clinic or contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to your.

Wait until your period is more than one week late. 

If you had intercourse on day 3 of your period, it is unlikely that you became pregnant. If you normally take your birth control pills correctly and consistently, then your protection will continue to be effective during your period. The pills that you take during your period are placebo pills. This means that the pills do not contain any active hormones. Most pill packs are set up with 21 days of active (hormone) pills and 7 days of inactive pills. This set up serves as a reminder to take your pill every day, and keeps you on track for starting a new pack.
Missing or being late with a placebo pill will not decrease your protection. Keep in mind that missing or frequently being late with your active pills will decrease your protection. If this occurs, make up the missed pill, and consider using condoms for the next week or so.

Irregular spotting and bleeding can be side effects of the DepoProvera injection. The injections work by stopping ovulation and by thinning the uterine lining. This effect on the uterine lining is what helps decrease, and frequently stop, period bleeding. Even if shots are consistently on time, it does not completely stop the build up of uterine lining. Therefore, some bleeding or spotting may occur at one time or another. The length of time the bleeding lasts will just depend on how thick the lining is. This usually resolves on its own.

Irregular bleeding can be a sign of a vaginal infection or STD. If you have multiple partners  or your partner has other sexual partners, you may want to consider having an STD screening. If your bleeding continues after your next injection, talk to your doctor or clinic about your options.

Pregnancy is unlikely if you used condoms correctly from start to finish during both acts of intercourse. However, pregnancy is always possible whenever two people engage in sex. Condoms are not 100% effective. Wait another week or two, and then repeat the pregnancy test if you still haven’t had your period. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or get a positive test result.

The symptoms you described may simply be premenstrual in nature (meaning your period might be just around the corner). However, if the headaches and back pain do not go away soon or if they worsen or additional symptoms occur, call your doctor for an appointment.

You made the right decision to be tested. If you’re frightened to go to the doctor by yourself, think about who you might be able to trust to go with you - perhaps a relative or a best friend.

When you do visit the doctor, be honest and explain that you had unprotected sex a month ago and would like to be tested for as many sexually transmitted diseases as possible. Ask him if your insurance will cover the tests, and if not, how much you will be expected to pay before consenting to the tests. Also, describe in detail the symptoms you are having. Even though you are on the pill, pregnancy is still a possibility as the pill is not 100% effective. However, if you’ve been taking your pill regularly, pregnancy is not likely. Don’t be surprised if your doctor recommends a pregnancy test though. Your doctor may want to run some other tests that are unrelated to sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy but may indicate the problem that is causing your symptoms.

If you don’t have any insurance and you live near one of our offices, please call us for a free STD screening. If you live further away, contact the local STD clinic or the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.  Best of luck!

Penicillin is normally used to treat syphilis. Doxycycline is used to treat chlamydia. If your medical provider prescribed doxycycline, you are more than likely being treated for chlamydia. Contact the provider who prescribed your medication to determine the correct diagnosis.

Most medical professionals advise individuals who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection to abstain from sex during their treatment and for at least seven days after they have completed the treatment.  While under treatment, some individuals clear the infection faster than others. Therefore, it is possible that one of you may still be infected while the other is not. Reinfection may or may not occur. If it does occur, you may need another course of treatment. It is best to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

This is beyond our scope of care. Your girlfriend needs to contact the medical provider who has been evaluating her. Before calling the doctor, you and your girlfriend should jot down some questions that you would like to ask. Best of luck!

Pre-ejaculatory fluid may have leaked into the vagina when the condom slipped off. This fluid can contain sperm so pregnancy is possible but your risk is pretty low. Your risk would have been much higher if he had ejaculated inside the vagina. You were right to stop when the condom slipped off. Continue to take your pills at the same time each day. Do not stop taking your pill unless you have a positive pregnancy test.

Since you just started the pill, you may have some menstrual irregularities during your first three months of use. These irregularities may include a missed period. However, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. If it is negative and you also miss your next period, repeat the test just to be sure.

If there was a hole in the condom or if the condom slipped off inside of you when he was pulling out, it is possible that pre-ejaculatory fluid may have leaked out inside of you. This fluid can contain sperm so pregnancy is possible. However, the risk of pregnancy would be much higher had semen been deposited in the vagina.

Condoms work best when they are used correctly and consistently. Here are some tips for correct condom use.

• Always check the expiration date to be sure it is not expired prior to use.
• Condoms should be stored at room temperature in a sharps free environment.
• Never use an oil-based lubricant with a latex condom. If you need additional lubricant, use a water-based type like KY Jelly or Astroglide.
• Pinch the tip of the condom between the thumb and forefinger while rolling it onto the erect penis to ensure that there is no air pocket in the tip of the condom.
• Smooth out the sides of the condom once it has been rolled on to ensure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom.
• Hold onto the rim or base of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina to prevent it from slipping off inside the vagina during removal.
• Do not have any penis-vagina contact without a condom.

You and your partner may want to consider a hormonal method of birth control since they are a little more effective. If you live near our service area, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you live further away, call the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

According to the manufacturer, Plan B One-Step prevents seven of eight pregnancies that otherwise would have occurred which means that it reduces your risk of pregnancy by 88%. If you take Plan B One-Step within 24 hours of the unprotected sex, you reduce your risk of pregnancy by 95%. Plan B is not meant to be used as a regular method of birth control.

The most common reason that condoms break is that they are not used correctly. Here are some tips for correct condom use.

• check the expiration date to be sure it is not expired prior to use.
• store condoms at room temperature in a sharps free environment.
• never use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom.
• pinch the tip of the condom between the thumb and forefinger while rolling it onto the erect penis to ensure that there is no air pocket in the tip of the condom.
• smooth out the sides of the condom once it has been rolled on to ensure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom.
• hold onto the rim or base of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina to prevent it from slipping off inside the vagina during removal.

You and your partner may want to consider a hormonal method of birth control since they are a little more effective. If you live near our service area, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you live further away, call the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Yes.

Anytime you engage in sex, pregnancy is possible. Remember that the birth control pill is not 100% effective even when used perfectly. However, when used perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. Missing pills or taking them late can increase your risk of pregnancy. However, missing a pill by five hours is not likely to decrease the pill’s contraceptive effects. Pregnancy is highly unlikely in your case.

It is unlikely that you would become pregnant 6 days after having a C-section. However, it is recommended that you wait at least 6-8 weeks after delivery before resuming sexual intercourse. This is to prevent infection of the uterus and allow your incision to heal.

If you have been taking your pills correctly and consistently, then the risk of pregnancy is low. You made up your missed pill. Your period started not long after the first intercourse, and the second episode was during your period. Your protection should still be effective.

The length and flow of your periods will vary from month to month. That this past period was a little lighter and shorter should not be a big concern. Continue to take your pills every day.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly and consistently,  the chance of pregnancy is unlikely. Your protection is effective during the placebo pills.

Probably, but it really depends on which type of birth control you’re using, how long you’ve been using it, and if you are using it correctly. Contact the medical provider who prescribed your birth control. Since they know your medical and contraceptive history, they will be better equipped to answer your question.

Being sexually active does not affect the timing of your periods. If you have been having unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Having Polycystic ovarian syndrome does not mean that you are infertile and won’t get pregnant.

If your period is late, do a pregnancy test.

No, it’s not too late. If you live near one of our offices, please call us and make an appointment. Thanks to PA Department of Health funding, we offer free STD testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. If you live further away, contact a local STD clinic or the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

We would recommend contacting the medical provider who prescribed your pill for their advice. 

However, you may want to rule out pregnancy before starting your birth control pills. If you choose to do this, you should abstain from sex or use condoms for every act of sexual intercourse until you’ve taken your eighth birth control pill.

Wait until you get your next period. If your next period is more than seven days late, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you start your period or get a postive test result.

Once your period starts, you can start the pill the first Sunday after you begin bleeding.  Do not have sex without a condom until you take your eighth birth control pill.

Use of Plan B can cause some menstrual irregularities, but they generally only last a month or so. First, take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy. Other common causes of missed or irregular periods include:

• Excessive weight loss or gain.
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. If you have an eating disorder, get professional help immediately.
• Increased exercise. 
• Emotional stress.
• Illness.
• Travel.
• Certain medications.
• Hormone problems. This may cause a change in the levels of the hormones that the body needs to support menstruation.
• Age. Women in perimenopause often experience irregular periods.

If you normally have regular monthly periods, you should be evaluated by a medical professional to determine why your periods have become so irregular.

Some antibiotics will decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. Recommendations are to use a back up birth control method for the time you’re on the antibiotics and for at least 7 days after completion of the antibiotics. Therefore, the effectiveness of your pills may not have been 100%. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy.

You probably do not need to take Plan B again, especially if you have continued to take your birth control pills on a daily basis. During this next month, you may experience some irregular bleeding or spotting. Your period may be a little earlier or later than usual, even though you’re taking the pills.

If your period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test.

If you did not receive your DepoProvera shot when it was due, you were not protected. The DepoProvera injection is only effective for 13 weeks.  Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy.

If you think that you may be pregnant, do a pregnancy test. In the meantime, if you are not planning a pregnancy, do not have unprotected intercourse. If you are not interested in starting another hormonal method, like birth control pills, ring, etc, correct condom use can be effective at preventing pregnancy.

Contact the medical provider who prescribed the pill for you. They will have more information about the recall and will be able to answer your question better.

Whenever you miss a pill, your risk of pregnancy does increase slightly. However, you did make up your pill correctly and thankfully, you only missed one pill. Your pregnancy risk is still pretty low.

Since you’ve only been on the pill for two months and since you missed a pill, breakthrough bleeding (bleeding or spotting between periods) is likely. You may even experience a missed period. However, if you miss two periods, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. In the meantime, try not to forget any more pills.

It is unlikely that she would be having pregnancy symptoms this early. More than likely, she is just coming down with some bug. However, pre-ejaculatory fluid can contain sperm so pregnancy is possible. It’s too late to do anything about the unprotected sex now. Your girlfriend should wait until her next period. If she is more than seven days late, have her take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until she has a normal period or a positive test result.

If unprotected sex should occur in the future, your girlfriend could take the morning after pill (Plan B) as soon as possible after sex to reduce her risk of pregnancy. Plan B is most effective if it is used within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex but can be used up to 120 hours (five days) of unprotected sex. However, Plan B is meant to be used for emergencies only.  It should not be used as a regular method.

You and your girlfriend should talk about how you will prevent pregnancy in the future. You can either choose not to have sex at all or use a reliable method of birth control. If you live near one of our offices, please call us to make an appointment. We can talk with you about all of your contraceptive options and help you choose the method that’s best for the both of you. If you live further away, please contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

No, you’re not the only woman, but one of the few who uses this anonymous Q & A post. By the way, if you want to be pregnant, you probably shouldn’t be using condoms. Good luck!

Condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as they are used correctly and consistently. When condoms are not used correctly or consistently, they have an 85% effectiveness rate. As long as you used the condom correctly, pregnancy is unlikely. 

Urinating before sex did not really matter in your case. Urinating prior to sex reduces the risk that pre-ejaculatory fluid will contain sperm. Semen always contains sperm and can cause a pregnancy. As long as the condom completely contained the semen and as long as no semen spilled into her vagina, pregnancy cannot occur.

If you are actually having a period and not just experiencing some breakthrough bleeding, pregnancy is highly unlikely.

No, there is nothing you can do after the fact, and yes, if you’re worried that you may have contracted an STD, testing is a good idea. If you live near one of our offices, call us for a free STD screening appointment. If you live further away, locate the closest STD testing facility and contact them.

Yes, there is the possibility of pregnancy. Sperm are able to live in the vagina for up to 3 days. As soon as ejaculation occurs, sperm are swimming up the vagina and into the uterus. By time the semen starts leaking out of your vagina, the sperm are already up there, and fertilization could occur.

If this incident occurred recently, you may want to consider Plan B.

Wait two more weeks. If you still haven’t gotten your period yet, take a pregnancy test. When you say you had protected sex, I am assuming you mean that a condom was used. Pregnancy is unlikely as long as you used the condom correctly and as long as there was no penis-vagina contact without a condom. 

With the exception of sexual abstinence, hormonal methods of birth control provide the highest degree of protection against pregnancy. If you are interested in starting a hormonal method and you live near one of our offices, please call us for an appointment. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Yes, there is the possibility of pregnancy. Semen may have leaked out of the condom that was inside your vagina. Sperm are able to live in the vagina for as long as 3 days.

If this incident was recent, you may want to consider taking Plan B.

The test will be negative only if there are no signs of trichomoniasis in the obtained specimen. You don’t have to have any symptoms to be diagnosed with trichomoniasis (trich for short). Trich is diagnosed by swabbing the vagina (females) or urethra (males). The discharge obtained by the swab is then transferred to a slide and then examined under a microscope for signs of the infection. Many people without symptoms are diagnosed with trich.

Depo Provera (the shot) becomes effective 24 hours after your first injection and remains effective as long as you continue to get your shots on time. The main way it works is by preventing ovulation. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries. When there is no egg available for the sperm to fertilize, you cannot become pregnant. Therefore, a male can ejaculate inside of the vagina, and you will still not become pregnant because there is no egg.

The shot does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) though. To reduce your risk of STIs, you should use condoms in addition to Depo.

Use of Plan B often causes menstrual irregularites which includes on and off bleeding. You are probably just experiencing this common side effect. The bleeding should stop soon, but you may still experience some on and off spotting. However, if your bleeding worsens or you experience severe abdominal pain or fever, contact your regular medical provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

As long as you are taking your pill around the same time every day (within a three hour time period) and you have not missed any pills, pregnancy is extremely unlikely. However, if you are more than seven days late for your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

You should be fine. Though we recommend taking your pill around the same time (within a three hour time period) every day, being only four hours late should not affect the pill’s ability to prevent pregnancy. Since you are on the pill now, your period doesn’t really have any effect on your fertility since you are no longer ovulating. However, missing pills does affect your fertility. Missing a pill by more than 24 hours may cause a drop in your hormone level which could allow you to ovulate.  

The pill works continually as long as you are taking a pill every day (even during your sugar or placebo pills. By taking hormone pills for three weeks straight, you build up enough hormones in your body to last you through your placebo pill week (the last week of pills) and you remain protected against pregnancy during that week. It is important, however, to remember to take the first hormone pill of your new pack the very next day after finishing the previous pack.

As long as you are taking your pills every day around the same time every day and you have not missed any pills, Plan B use was not necessary the first time nor is it necessary this time. Birth control pills begin to prevent pregnancy after you have taken the first seven pills, and continue to protect you as long as you are taking a pill every day (even during the sugar pills). Plan B is a large dose of hormones that are similar to the hormones in your regular birth control pills.  The extra hormones that you took were unnecessary. 

Using condoms in addition to the pill is a good idea since they can provide protection against STDs as well. The most common reason that condoms break is that they are not used correctly. Here are some tips for correct condom use.

• check the expiration date to be sure it is not expired prior to use.
• store condoms at room temperature in a sharps free environment.
• never use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom.
• pinch the tip of the condom between the thumb and forefinger while rolling it onto the erect penis to ensure that there is no air pocket in the tip of the condom.
• smooth out the sides of the condom once it has been rolled on to ensure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom.
• hold onto the rim or base of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina to prevent it from slipping off inside the vagina during removal.

The first day of a menstrual cycle is the first day of your period. If you have regular periods and the intercourse occurred during or just after your period, pregnancy is unlikely. Since you also used Plan B, pregnancy is extremely unlikely. Seven out of eight women who normally would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant if they used Plan B within 72 hours of the unprotected sex.

The most common reason that condoms break is that they are not used correctly. Here are some tips for correct condom use.

• check the expiration date to be sure it is not expired prior to use.
• store condoms at room temperature in a sharps free environment.
• never use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom.
• pinch the tip of the condom between the thumb and forefinger while rolling it onto the erect penis to ensure that there is no air pocket in the tip of the condom.
• smooth out the sides of the condom once it has been rolled on to ensure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom.
• hold onto the rim or base of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina to prevent it from slipping off inside the vagina during removal.

You and your partner may want to consider a hormonal method of birth control since they are a little more effective. If you live near our service area, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you live further away, call the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Sperm can live 3-5 days inside a woman’s body so if you really ovulated 6 days later, it is unlikely that any sperm would have survived that long to fertilize an ovum. How can you be sure that you ovulated exactly on that day though? Wait for your next period. If it is more than seven days late, take a pregnancy test.

If you are going to continue to have sex, please use a method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. If you live near one of our offices, call us for an appointment. We can talk with you about all of your contraceptive options and help you choose a method that’s best for you. If you live further away, please contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood clinic closest to you.

Pregnancy is unlikely if you had a normal period after the unprotected intercourse occurred. However, if you plan to continue to have sex, either use condoms or another method of birth control. You don’t want to continue to risk an unintended pregnancy. If you live near one of our offices, please call us for an appointment. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Yes. Pre-ejaculatory fluid can leak out of the penis prior to ejaculation. This fluid can contain sperm. You might want to purchase Plan B to reduce your risk of pregnancy. If you are 17 or older, it is available without a prescription at most drug stores, and costs about $50. You may need to show ID to prove your age. We also provide Plan B at all of our offices and we can see you the same day you call if we are open. Fees are based on household size and income and the most you would pay is $30. Plan B is free at our offices if you are under age 18 or if you meet certain income guidelines. It should be taken as soon as possible but must be taken within 120 hours of the unprotected sex.

If you plan to continue to have sexual intercourse, please use condoms or another form of birth control to reduce your risk of pregnancy. If you live near one of our offices, please call us for an appointment. We can talk with you about all of your contraceptive options and help you choose a method that’s best for you. If you live further away, please contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood clinic closest to you.

Since you had taken a full week’s worth of pills when the incident occurred, Plan B is not necessary. The pill becomes effective (begins to suppress ovulation) after one week of use as long as you did not miss any pills.

Yes, if there is any penis-vagina contact and the penis is not covered with a condom, the woman can still become infected with trich if the man has it. Pre-ejaculatory fluid can leak out of the penis prior to ejaculation and this fluid may contain trich parasites.

Yes, most likely the spotting you are experiencing is because you are not taking your pills at the same time every day. Setting your alarm is a good idea. You can also get daily reminders by text or by e-mail by registering on www.bedsider.org.

If you have been having sex, an STD may be the cause of the burning sensation during urination. However, there may be other possibilities, especially since the sensation comes and goes. It would be best to be evaluated by a medical professional.

If you live near one of our offices, we offer free STD testing for both men and women. The visit includes testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. If you live further away, contact the STD clinic that is closest to you.

Pregnancy is always possible if you have been having sexual intercourse. It is much less likely, however, if you are using your birth control method correctly.

It is unclear what type of birth control you are using and how long you’ve been using it. Since you mentioned that you had unprotected sex near the end of December, I will assume that you just started a hormonal method of birth control sometime in January. For the first three months of hormonal birth control use, you can expect some menstrual irregularities until your body becomes used to the new hormone levels.  Menstrual irregularities include bleeding or spotting between periods, a missed period, a change in the amount of flow, and a change in the amount of bleeding days.

Keep using your birth control method as directed. If you skip two periods in a row, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side.

It’s possible. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection can be burning, discomfort with urination and urinary pressure (feeling like you have to urinate) and sometimes, urinary frequency. If its a mild UTI, increasing your fluids and drinking acidic fluids (like cranberry juice) can make it better. If its a more complicated infection, symptoms will continue. In this case, antibiotics would be needed.

Women can have UTI like symptoms from “mechanical irritation”. This can be caused by things like sex, tampons/pads, or wearing tight pants. This resolves on its own.

These urinary symptoms can also be related to sexually transmitted infections, especially if one has been having unprotected intercourse. Men may have intermittent burning with urination, especially in the morning. Women may have these symptoms due to an STD or a vaginal infection.

If the urinary discomfort continues, contact your doctor and have a urinalysis. This will detect any infection in your urine. You may also want to consider having an STD screening. Family Planning Plus clinics offer free STD screenings for men and women.

Women can become pregnant the first month after stopping the pill. While it is true that it can take up to three months for your periods to return to normal and for all of the effects to wear off, it is also true that ovulation may occur the very next month after you stop taking the pill. Your risk of pregnancy depends on when you had sex and when you started the pill in relation to your period. If the sex occurred during or immediately after your period and if you restarted your pills with your period, pregnancy is unlikely. If the sex occurred and you restarted the pill mid-cycle, pregnancy is more likely, and we would recommend that you use the morning after pill (Plan B) if it has been less than 120 hours since the unprotected sex.

It really depends on the length of your menstrual cycle. If you normally have cycles longer than 27 days, pregnancy is unlikely on day 7. You can use the calendar method to predict your most fertile days. However, the calendar method is not an exact science and should only be used if your periods are regular and your cycles normally last 27 days or longer.

With the calendar method, you need to keep a record of the length of each menstrual cycle in order to determine when you are fertile. You can use an ordinary calendar. Circle day one of each cycle, which is the first day of your period. Count the total number of days in each cycle (from day one to the day before your next period). Do this for at least eight cycles (12 is better). 

To predict the first fertile day in your current cycle:

• Find the shortest cycle in your record.
• Subtract 18 from the total number of days.
• Count that number of days from day one of your current cycle, and mark that day with an X. Include day one when you count.
• The day marked X is your first fertile day.

 To predict the last fertile day in your current cycle:

• Find the longest cycle in your record.
• Subtract 11 days from the total number of days.
• Count that number of days from day one of your current cycle, and mark that day with an X. Include day one when you count.
• The day marked X is the last fertile day.

 Here is an example:

To predict your first fertile day:

If your shortest cycle is 28 days long, subtract 18 from 28. That leaves 10. If day one (your first day of bleeding) was February 6, the day you will mark X will be February 15th. That’s the first day you’re likely to be fertile. So on that day, you should start abstaining from sex or start using birth control.

To predict your last fertile day:

If your longest cycle is 32 days, subtract 11 from 32. That leaves 21. If day one was February 6, the day you will mark X will be February 26. That’s the last day you’re likely to be fertile during your current cycle. So you may start to have unprotected vaginal intercourse after that day.

In this example, February 15th through the 26th are unsafe days. All the others are safe days.

Source: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/fam-calendar-method-22139.htm

Pregnancy is unlikely as long as you made up your two pills correctly and as long as you haven’t missed any more pills. When you miss two pills in a row, you should take two pills a day until you’re caught up and then resume the one pill daily schedule. Be sure to take your pills around the same time everyday. If you haven’t missed any pills in the last two weeks prior to the condom breaking, you should have enough hormones built up in your system to prevent pregnancy.

The likelihood of pregnancy would be very high, as you are probably aware. 

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. It takes at least 7 days of continious use before birth control pills are effective. After just 3 days, you would not be protected. 

Continue taking your pills everyday. If your period is more than one week late, perform a pregnancy test.

Yes, another dose would be indicated.

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive. It helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is not a reliable, long term method of birth control. Taking Plan B frequently can actually increase your chances of pregnancy.

Consider beginning a long term method like pills or the DepoProvera injection. When used correctly, condoms can also be an effective method of birth control. Family Planning Plus clinics offer exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on household size and income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. If your partner has been taking her birth control pills correctly and consistently, then she would be protected. It can take a woman’s body 3-4  months to become adjusted to being on the pills. When first beginning the pills, women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting. Periods may be slightly irregular, occurring earlier or later than usual. It can be common to not have bleeding during the first cycle of sugar pills. A regular period should begin during the second cycle. However, if you had unprotected sex prior to her pills becoming effective, then pregnancy is a possibility.

It would be a good idea for your partner to contact her doctor or clinic to discuss her concerns and to have a pregnancy test.

If you had sex the day before your period started, it is unlikely that you would be pregnant. The few days prior to and the days of your period are typically the days when you are the least fertile.

No, you can’t become pregnant from an event that occurred a month ago. However, if you haven’t had a normal period yet, you may have gotten pregnant a month ago, especially if you were not taking your pills correctly. If you skip your next period, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or a positive test result.

If you have decided not to have sex anymore, stopping your birth control pill is fine. However, if you plan to continue to have sex and do not want to become pregnant, you do need to use some method of birth control. Contact the medical care provider who prescribed your pills to discuss all of your birth control options and choose one that’s best for you.

Women often have the urge to urinate during sex because the bladder lies very close to the front vaginal wall. During sex, the penis is thrust into the vagina and pressure is applied to the vaginal wall. This pressure is sometimes transferred to the bladder which causes the urge to urinate. Try peeing just before you have sex.

If peeing doesn’t help and you are still feeling the urge to urinate during intercourse, your partner may be stimulating your G spot. Your G spot is a very sensitive dime-sized patch of tissue that lies about halfway between your vaginal opening and your cervix on your front vaginal wall. This spot is more likely to be stimulated when you’re having sex from behind, when you’re on top, or when you’re lying beneath your partner with your hips slightly lifted. And yes, stimulation to the G spot can cause an orgasm.

Sometimes this happens, especially if you don’t take your pills on time. Try to remember to take your pill around the same time every day (within a three hour time period). If you currently started using another medication/antibiotic or herbal supplement (like St. John’s Wart), the new medication may be decreasing the effectiveness of the pill which can cause breakthrough bleeding or spotting. If this is true for you, contact the medical provider who prescribed the pill for you to see if your new medication interferes with the pill’s effectiveness. If, after making these changes, you continue to have spotting or breakthrough bleeding during your next pack of pills, call the doctor who prescribed your pill. You may need a pill change.

The Depo shot prevents pregnancy by suppressing or stopping ovulation. Ovulation is the monthly release of an egg or ovum from the ovary. Since you don’t ovulate, there is no egg for the sperm to fertilize, and therefore, you cannot become pregnant regardless of whether your boyfriend ejaculates inside of you or not.

Yes, sperm are able to survive in the vagina for as long as 3 days.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The penis leaks pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre cum) during fore play and prior to ejaculation. This pre-ejaculatory fluid can contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy. Therefore, pregnancy could occur even without ejaculation in the vagina. This is why the withdrawal method is only about 70-80% effective.

Yes, one week of birth control pills can alter your cycle, making is come earleir or later than usual. It may also alter your ovulation time.

It is quite uncommon for the symptoms you describe to be side effects of the birth control pills. These symptoms are more frequently signs of a urinary tract infection or yeast infection.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test. If it’s negative, consider restarting another long term method of birth control. Discuss your options with your doctor or clinic.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly & consistently, then you were protected. Some antibiotics will decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pills. We recommend either abstaining from sex or using condoms during the week you’re on the antibiotics and for at least 7 days after completion of them. Since you started antibiotics after you had sex, you do not have to be concerned about the effective the antibiotics have now. Continue to take your pills every day, and use a back up method as above.

Several things can cause a changes in your menstrual cycle. Stress, illness, medications, and lack of sleep can alter your period. Your period may come earlier or later than usual. You may have some irregular bleeding or spotting throughout this cycle. Hang in there, your period will usuallly return to normal within a month or two.

If you are positive for a sexually transmitted infection and have unprotected sex, you are exposing your partner. It is unknown how much exposure is necessary in order for an individual to become infected. It is not “for sure” that they would get the infection. 

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. After taking Plan B, you may experience some irregular bleeding or spotting. Your next period may come earlier or later than usual, and may be lighter, heavier or spottier than usual. Some women experience cramping during mid cycle (ovulation time) or prior to starting their period.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. You cannot tell whether or not your pregnant prior to missing your next period. The symptoms you describe could be due to pregnancy or PMS.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test.

Yes, anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy.

You don’t mention what pill you skipped or how long you waited to restart a new pack. If you did not make up that missed pill and stopped taking your pills, then you were no longer protected by them.

Taking 5 birth control pills asap after unprotected intercourse and then another 5 twelve hours later is known as the Yutzpe regimen for emergency contraception. It was introduced in the early 1970′s to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. Due to the high doses of estrogen with this protocol, nausea is a common side effect. Therefore, it is no longer used.

Plan B (and others) are  emergency contraceptives which have been available for about 8-9 years. These are easier, safer and have little to no side effects. Plan B contains a 1.5mg dose of levonorgesterol (a progestin found in most birth control pills). It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, but can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours after unprotected sex. Plan B is available for purchase over the counter at most pharmacies for women 17 and older. Women under 17 require a prescription. It costs around $46.

You won’t be able to tell whether or not the 5 and 5 pill  regimen worked until your next period. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test. Also, if you are interested in restarting your pills, contact your doctor or clinic for instructions on how to do this.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer Plan B, gynecological exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on household size & income. Teens 17 and under receive free services.

Great news that your HIV test was negative!

Viral infections can take time to show up in the bloodstream. With HSV, it can take about 3 months for the antibodies to start showing up in your blood. Therefore, the general rule is to be retested about 3 to 6 months after the initial test. If the second HIV test is negative, then you’re most likely okay. In the meantime, be diligent about practicing safe sex .  Abstain from sex or use condoms consistently.

If you are having unprotected intercourse, yes, you could be pregnant. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, there is the risk of pregnancy.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected sex, but can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.  Because Plan B delays ovulation, it can alter your regular cycle for a month or two. Most people do not have any bleeding within 24 hours.  A period should occur within 2-3 weeks (or sooner) after taking Plan B. Plan B may make your period

Pregnancy is definitely possible. When you forget to take several pills, your hormone level changes and ovulation can occur. You did make up your pills correctly by taking two a day until you are caught up. Once you are caught up, resume the one pill a day schedule. Try to take them around the same time each day. If you don’t have any bleeding during your placebo pills, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or get a positive result on your test. Do not stop taking your birth control pills unless you test positive for pregnancy.

If you frequently have trouble remembering to take your pills, you may want to consider a method change. If you would like more information about your contraceptive options and you live near one of our offices, please call us for an appointment. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

If you took a full week’s worth of pills before you had sex, you should be protected. Also, since you started your method (the pill?) with your period, it is unlikely that you would have ovulated. If you were put on the Depo Provera shot, that becomes effective 24 hours after your first shot.

As long as you are taking your pills everyday within a three hour time period, the pill will remain effective for you. Missing your pill by one to two hours will not affect the pill’s ability to protect you from pregnancy. It’s wonderful that you have been taking your pill so faithfully. Keep up the good work.

You may not be fully cured and you may transmit the infection to your sexual partner. Also, if your partner has chlamydia, you may become reinfected. Contact the medical provider who treated you and explain the situation. They may want to treat you again and/or test and treat your sexual partner.

Since the intercourse occurred right after your period, your risk is not extremely high, but there is still a risk. When restarting the pill, you should wait at least seven full days before engaging in sex without a condom. Ovulation is not likely to occur just after your period, but because of your on and off pill use, it may have. Keep taking your pill as scheduled and do not have any more unprotected sex during the first seven days. Use condoms or do not have sex. Keep in mind that during your first three months of pill use, you may have some menstrual irregularities which may include a missed period. However, if you skip your period by more than a week, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side.

Abstinence is the only 100% effective form of birth control.

In order for it to be effective, any birth control method must be used correctly and consistently. This applies to condoms, pills, shot, etc. If you started the birth control pills, and took them correctly & consistently, you would probably achieve a 96 to 98% effectiveness rate. The DepoProvera is 99.9% effective, as long as you receive your injections on time. If you are using a hormonal type birth control correctly, you should not need to use condoms. Condoms could be used as a back up method, if needed.

The withdrawal method is about 80 to 85% effective when done correctly. The problem with this method is that accidents can happen…a man could pull out too late. Also, prior to ejaculation, the penis leak pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre cum). This fluid may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

Combining two methods, such as pills and condoms, or pills and withdrawal, provides more effective pregnancy prevention. Discuss this with your partner. Decide which type of birth control method is right for your lifestyle. Would you remember to take a pill every day? Would you have transportation to the clinic for your Depo injection every 3 months?

If you will be having sex regularly, beginning a long term method of birth control can provide you with consistent protection and decrease your stress about unplanned pregnancy.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer gyn exams and birth control for little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

No, it is not possible to know the exact date of conception.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Is there a chance that you became pregnancy 4 days after ending your period? Yes.

Bleeding after intercourse is usually not a symptom of early pregnancy.  Some women may have some spotting during the middle of their cycle (mid-cycle), typically around ovulation time.

If bleeding persistently occurs after intercourse, it could be a symptom of a vaginal infection.

If you continue to have bleeding after intercourse, consider having a vaginal infection check or STD screening done. If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test.

If you had unprotected sex two days prior to your period, the likelihood of pregnancy is low. The few days prior to and the days of your period are usually your least fertile time. Taking Plan B was also appropriate.

Yes, anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Condoms are most likely to break due to old age or incorrect application. Check the expiration date of the condom. Also, check the package and condom; if the package is torn or punctured, do not use it. If the condom is dried out, discard it.

Be sure that you are pinching the tip of the condom when you apply it to your penis. This allows room for the semen after ejaculation.  Make sure the condom fits snugly in order to prevent slippage during thrusting. Additionally, holding onto the condom when entering and exiting the vagina can help prevent it from slipping off.  For more information, you can go online and search under condom. You’ll find guidelines for correct use. Family Planning Plus clinics offer free condoms and information about their use. 

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The chances of pregnancy depends your partner’s cycle. If the unprotected sex occurred while your partner  is in the middle of her menstrual cycle, around ovulation  (fertile) time, the chance of pregnancy is greater. If she is just prior to or having her period, then the chance of pregnancy is lower.

Condoms, when used correctly & consistently, can be very effective at preventing pregnancy. Your partner may want to consider starting a long term, reliable method of birth control, like the pills or DepoProvera injection. Keep in mind, abstinence is the only 100% effective method of birth control. There are many ways, other than sexual intercourse, to be intimate within a relationship.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, there is the chance of pregnancy.  Clear mucus is not usually a symptom of pregnancy. It can be an indicator of ovulation. When you are in your fertile time, your body makes an increased amount of clear, thin mucus. This mucus makes it easier for the sperm to swim up in the vagina and uterus, thus increasing likelihood of pregnancy. When you are during your least fertile time, your mucus is usually a thicker (creamy) white.

If you became pregnant from sex on Jan 25, it would be too soon for you to be having any symptoms of pregnancy. Most women usually don’t have symptoms until they are at least 3-4 weeks pregnant, or around the time of their first missed period.  However, if you have regularly been having unprotected sex, it is possible that you became pregnant at an earlier date. Nipple/breast soreness can be a symptom of a hormonal change—pregnancy or PMS.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy. During sexual foreplay, prior to ejaculation, the penis leaks pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre cum). The fluid can contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant without having ejaculation in the vagina.

Technically, yes. The more frequently you have unprotected intercourse, the more you increase your chances of pregnancy. Taking Plan B was appropriate.

Wait for your next period. In the meantime, do not have any more unprotected sex. If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform at pregnancy test.

No, it is not possible to know the exact day of conception.

Yes. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The birth control pills take at least 7 days of consistent use before they are effective. The pills protect you from pregnancy only during the time that you are taking them. Once you stop your pills, consider yourself fertile.

You most likely started bleeding because of the lack of hormones (from the pill) in your system. However, since you stopped your pills in the middle of the cycle, it is still possible that you could have ovulated, increasing your chance of pregnancy.

If you stopped your pills because of side effects, questions or concerns, contact your doctor or clinic. Discuss these things with your health care provider. If discontinuation was due to side effects, a change in pills may be needed. If discontinuation was due to cost, discuss changing to a lower cost pill.  If the birth control pills just weren’t for you, there are many other birth control options available. When used correctly & consistently, condoms can be an effective birth control method.

Free condoms are available at all Family Planning Plus clinics. Family Planning Plus also offers gynecological exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Yes, it probably will.

Plan B is not indicated for use prior to planned unprotected sex. Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. One dose is only effective for one incident of unprotected intercourse, not for repeated acts of sex. For example, if you had unprotected sex on Monday, then again on Wednesday, the Plan B you took on Monday would not be effective for Wednesday. Plan B is not a long term method of birth control. Taking Plan B frequently could actually increase your risk of pregnancy due to the alteration it causes in your menstrual cycle.

Ideally, you should be using a reliable long term birth control method like birth control pills, patch, ring, DepoProvera injection, etc. When used  correctly, condoms can also be effective at preventing pregnancy.  Family Planning Plus clinics offer gyn exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Being confident about your cycles and familiar with when you ovulate, can help you in becoming pregnant.  It is  recommended that you and your partner have sex about a day prior to ovulation, the day of ovulation, and a day after. Sperm are able to survive in the vagina for as long as 3 days. Having sex the 3-4 days over ovulation time makes it more likely that there will be viable sperm present in the vagina/uterus at ovulation.

Other things when trying to get pregnant: if you smoke…STOP!  This is something you and your partner can do together (if you both smoke). Studies have shown that women who smoke have more difficulty getting pregnant.  Take prenatal or multi-vitamin daily, eat healthy, exercise and get adequate rest.  If you are under or over weight, make changes in your lifestyle to get to a healthy weight.  Decrease or stop use of drugs /alcohol.

You probably won’t get a normal period until the placebo (iron) pills. However, because you did start your pills mid-cycle, you very well may have some spotting around day 21 or so of your “normal” cycle. It would also not be unusual for you to have some spotting then and still have period like bleeding during the placebo pills. Your cycle should be adjusted to the LoEstrin within a month or two, so continue to take your pills daily.

As long as you’ve been taking your pill everyday around the same time everyday, you should be protected against pregancy. If you missed a pill by more than 24 hours around the time of the incident, your pregnancy risk is a bit higher. If  that is the case, wait until your next period. If you miss your period, take a pregnancy test.

As long as you are using the pill correctly, your partner does not need to use a condom unless you want protection against STDs as well. If you are concerned about the possibility of acquiring an STD, please call us for a free STD screening. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Pregnancy is unlikely if you haven’t had sex since your last normal period. However, to be on the safe side, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or a positive test result.

Rather than worry about this in the future, please use a method of birth control if you have sex. Use condoms or start a hormonal method. If you live near one of our clinics, please call us for an appointment. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

No, as long as you are using your pill as directed (taking a pill everyday around the same time each day), you are still protected during the placebo pills. Just remember to start your next pack of pills on time.

Most experts recommend waiting at least three months after stopping the pill before trying to conceive. That should give you enough time to start having more regular periods. If you had regular periods before you went on the pill, your periods should revert back to the way they were before the pill. However, since you have been bleeding so often, you may want to consult an OB/GYN to determine the reason for your frequent bleeding.

Yes, the morning after pill can definitely cause spotting. However, the morning after pill is not meant to be used as a regular method of birth control. It should only be used for emergencies. If you are going to continue to have sex, you need to use a regular method of birth control that will give you better protection against pregnancy. Use condoms or start a hormonal method of birth control. If you live near one of our clinics, please call us for an appointment. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood clinic closest to you.

If you have not had a regular period in over a month, take a pregnancy test. The morning after pill is not meant for repeated use. Pregnancy is possible.

As long as you made up your pill correctly (took it as soon as you remembered and then took your next pill at the regular time), the risk of pregnancy is extremely low. However, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test.

 As long as you started your generic pill the day you normally would have started your brand name pill, you will still be protected against pregnancy. A back up method (like condoms) during the first week of your generic pill is not necessary.

I am assuming you are on the pill. Contact the provider who prescribed the pill for you to see if the antibiotic decreases the effectiveness of the pill. Let them know the name and dosage of the antibiotic. Follow their recommendations.

Plan B is safe to use during breastfeeding since it does not contain any estrogen. However, if you are exclusively breastfeeding (not supplementing at all with formula), use of Plan B is unnecessary. As long as you have not had a period and are exclusively breastfeeding, birth control use is not necessary for up to six months.

Since she had a normal period, pregnancy is highly unlikely. However, please don’t risk unprotected intercourse again. Use condoms or talk with your girlfriend about the possibility of her starting a hormonal method of birth control. If you live near one of our clinics, please call for an appointment. We have free condoms available at all of our offices. If you live further away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Pregnancy is highly unlikely. Plan B use is unnecessary. Of course, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test. But since you are taking your pill regularly and he did not ejaculate, it is highly unlikely that you would experience a pregnancy.

Yes, pregnancy is possible since you lengthened the amount of time that you were without hormones. If it has been less than five days since the unprotected sex, use the morning after pill. If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or your test is positive. Good luck!

Yes, it is too late to take the morning after pill, and pre-ejaculatory fluid can cause a pregnancy. However, It is unlikely that the nausea your partner is feeling is because of a pregnancy - it’s a bit too early for that. She most likely is just ill. Wait until her next period. If she misses it, have her take a pregnancy test.

Make sure you are using condoms correctly:

• check the expiration date to be sure it is not expired prior to use.
• store condoms at room temperature in a sharps free environment.
• never use oil-based lubricant with a latex condom.
• pinch the tip of the condom between the thumb and forefinger while rolling it onto the erect penis to ensure that there is no air pocket in the tip of the condom.
• smooth out the sides of the condom once it has been rolled on to ensure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom.
• hold onto the rim or base of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina to prevent it from slipping off inside the vagina during removal.

You and your partner may want to consider a hormonal method of birth control since they are a little more effective. If you live near our service area, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you live further away, call the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Since you only missed one pill and you made it up correctly, the likelihood of pregnancy is low. A change in diet and exercise can cause a missed period. However, since the pill is not 100% effective, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. Keep taking your pill as directed. If you miss a second period, contact the medical provider who prescribed your pill.

The risk is extremely low if you missed your pill by less than 24 hours. Of course, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

Pregnancy is unlikely if the condom was used correctly and as long as there was no penis-vagina contact prior to the condom being rolled on. Stress can cause menstrual irregularities. However, condoms are not 100% effective. The only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or a positive result.

You may want to consider a longer term method of birth control like the pill or the shot. If you live near our service area, contact one of our offices for an appointment. We can run a pregnancy test and discuss your birth control options with you. If you live far away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office nearest you. Good luck!

If you have not missed any pills, pregnancy is highly unlikely. However, the pill is not 100% effective. Even when used perfectly, it is possible to become pregnant. Take a pregnancy test, just to be sure.

That being said, some women do skip a period every now and then while using the pill. Contact the medical provider who prescribed the pill for you and explain that you have missed a period. Follow their recommendations.

If the first act of unprotected intercourse was the same day as the Plan B, and the second unprotected act was the next day, the Plan B will probably still be effective. If it was 2 or more days between, the it would be indicated for you to take Plan B another time.

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive. It helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Due to this, frequent use of Plan B can actually increase your risk of pregnancy.

A better option would be to use a long term method of birth control. Discuss this with your partner. Condoms, when used correctly & consistently, can be effective. If you and your partner are not consistent about or dislike using condoms, then consider starting the birth control pills, patch, ring, the Depo injection, etc.  This would provide you with consistent birth control.

Family Planning Plus clinics provide exams and birth control for little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

Since you had sex in November 2011 and had normal periods in December and January, it is doubtful that you are pregnant. Sometimes, outside factors can alter your menstrual cycle. Things such as stress, illness, medications, changes in diet, exercise or sleep can all cause changes in your period. They may make your period come early, late or not at all. It is not uncommon for some women to skip a period now and then.

Give your body another month and your periods should return as usual. If it doesn’t, follow-up with your ob/gyn doctor or clinic.

Yes, anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Prior to ejaculation the penis leaks pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre cum). This fluid can contain sperm, which could result in a pregnancy. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant, even if ejaculation has not occurred in the vagina.

If he ejaculated outside of your vagina, then put his penis in, there may still be some semen remaining in the urethral tract. This also could contain sperm and cause pregnancy.

You probably got your period for this month. If the first day of your period was Jan 13, and it started today (2/5 or 2/6/2012), that would be 23 or 24 days since your last period. This is within the normal range for a cycle. Remember your menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of one period (ie.  01/13) to the first day of the next period. Menstrual cycles can range from 21 to 32 days.

If you begin to have irregular or absent cycles, follow-up with your doctor. Also, if you are not planning a pregnancy, use a reliable birth control method to decrease your risk of pregnancy.

Plan B is not indicated for multiple acts of intercourse. Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. If your friend had unprotected sex again, she would need to take Plan B again.

Plan B is not intended to be a long term method of birth control. Additionally, taking it frequently can alter your cycle and actually increase your risk of pregnancy.

Your friend should consider beginning a long term method of birth control. When used correctly & consistently, condoms can be effective at preventing pregnancy. Beginning a long term method like birth control pills, the patch, Depo injection, etc. would help her prevent pregnancy and decrease the need for emergency contraception.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer free exams and birth control at little to not cost, depending on household size & income.

Yes, it is possible to become pregnant after first intercourse, especially if you had unprotected sex. Sharp pains in your side is not a common symptom of pregnancy. Pregnancy symptoms usually do not occur until you are (at least) 3-4 weeks along, typically around the time of your first missed period.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic.

Most likely, but you won’t know for sure until you have a regular period or you take a pregnancy test. Hopefully you made up your pill correctly. When you miss a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember and then take your next pill at the regular time. If you don’t remember until you’re ready to take your next pill, you should take both pills at the same time.

Missed pills or taking pills late can cause some breakthrough bleeding (bleeding or spotting in between periods).  Keep taking your pills as directed. Try not to miss any more this cycle. If you don’t have any bleeding at all during your placebo pills, take a pregnancy test.

Yes, most doctors screen for STDs at the first prenatal visit. Your doctor may rescreen again later in the pregnancy. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trich are detected through vaginal swab. Diseases like HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis are done through blood testing.

If you have any concerns, discuss these with your ob doctor.

Yes, Plan B would be a good option. Advise your partner to still begin her birth control on Sunday as scheduled.

Yes, pre-ejaculatory fluid (precum) can contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Leaking pre-ejaculatory fluid is not something men can control. It contiues until ejaculation occurs; washing/wiping it will not decrease the risk of pregnancy.

If you used a condom and withdrawal, it is unlikely that pregnacy would occur from this sexual encounter.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse or condom failure, there is the risk of pregnancy.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It delays ovulation for several days, allowing sperm within the vagina to die off. Sperm can survive in the vagina for as long as 3 days. After taking Plan B, you should have a period within 2-3 weeks. Plan B is not a long term method of birth control. It is not effective for repeated incidents of unprotected sex. Additionally, because it alters your hormones and delays ovulation, taking Plan B frequently can actually increase your chance of pregnancy.

Since Plan B is safe for most women, you could take it again. In the meantime, do not have unprotected intercourse until your next period. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.

If the condom keeps breaking, review with your partner the correct use of condoms. Make sure that he is pinching the tip of the condom when it is being applied. This allows room for semen. There are several online sites that review condom use. Family Planning Plus clinics also have information on this.

You should consider beginning a long term method of birth control like pills, patch, Depo injection, etc. When taken correctly & consistently, you would have effective, reliable prevention from pregnancy, plus the added benefit of cycle control. You and your partner could still use condoms as a back up method.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer gyn exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income. 

It is normal for some women to have spotting after first intercourse. This should resolve over time. If you persistently have spotting or period type bleeding after sex, you should schedule an appointment with your ob/gyn doctor or clinic.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse there is the risk of pregnancy.

If your period “comes when it wants to”, you probably have a hormonal imbalance that is making  your menstrual cycle irregular. Having irregular periods also means that you have irregular ovulation times. If you don’t know when your going to get a period, you can’t tell when you’re ovulating. You don’t know when your fertile time is. Having unprotected sex is like playing “Russian roulette”.

Depending on when the unprotected sex occurred, Plan B is an option. Plan B is an emergency contraception that helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. Studies have shown it can also be effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.

Plan B is available for purchase over-the-counter at most pharmacies for women 17 and older. Women under 17 require a prescription. Plan B costs around $45.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer Plan B at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

Ok, two weeks since Plan B and one week since DepoProvera injection, right?

The Depo shot does several things. It stops ovulation. It thickens cervical mucus, making the mucus a hostile environment for sperm. The Depo shot also thins the uterine lining, which is why many women do not have periods while on the shot. Some women stop having periods after their first injection. Some women may require several injections before periods completely stop. Some women may not have regular monthly periods, but may have infrequent spotting. All of these scenarios are okay. You may not have any bleeding from the Plan B because of receiving the Depo shot.

For peace of mind, do a pregnancy test, either at home or in the clinic. If your pregnancy test is negative, receive your next injection at the appropriate time. Remember that irregular bleeding/spotting is common during the first 3-6 months of use. This bleeding may occur later in the next month or so.

If you have further concern, contact your doctor or clinic.

Yes, most hormonal birth control methods are not immediately effective. When first starting birth control pills, the birth control patch or the vaginal ring, it takes at least 7 days of consistent use for them to become effective. The DepoProvera injection is effective after 24 hours.

The risk of pregnancy also depends on where you are at within your menstrual cycle. If you started your pills/had unprotected sex in the middle of your cycle, this could be your “more fertile” time, and the chance of pregnancy is greater. If you started your pills/had unprotected sex immediately after your period (your less fertile time), then chance of pregnancy would be less.

Whether you are just starting your method or have been on it for a while, it is important to take your birth control correctly and consistently. If you have any further concerns, contact your doctor or clinic.

Several things may alter your menstrual cycle. Stress, illness, medications, changes in sleep, diet or exercise can cause periods to come earlier or later than usual. Sometimes your body may skip a period. If this is the case, your body usually returns to its own normal cycle within a month or two.

Of course, the only way to know now is to perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic. If your period continues to be absent after several months, and your pregnancy test is negative, consult with your doctor or clinic.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy.

From the time of fertilization until implantation into the uterus normally takes about 7 to 14 days. It is unlikely that you would be experiencing symptoms as soon as 1 or 2 days after unprotected intercourse. However, if you have been having unprotected intercourse regularly, you may have become pregnant prior to this. While not always accurate, intuition can be useful.

Wait until your next period is more than 1 week late. If it does not occur, perform a pregnancy test. In the meantime, if you are not planning a pregnancy, do not have unprotected sex.  Abstain or use condoms until your next period.

Yes, your vaginal pH could have been disrupted by the bleeding or irritation from recent intercourse. Things like stress, medications and illness can also cause alteration in the vaginal pH. If you have had bacterial vaginosis in the past, you probably were given antibiotics for treatment. Contact your family doctor or ob/gyn doctor or clinic to schedule an infection check.

If you have been having regular periods for the past 7-8 months, it is very unlikely that you are pregnant. That your most recent period was a little late, starting Feb 4 instead of Jan 31 should be of little concern. Several things can alter your cycle, causing periods to come earlier or later than usual. Stress, medications, changes in sleep, diet, or activity can all cause changes in your cycle.

Weigh yourself regularly for a month. Use the same scale and weigh yourself at around the same time of day. You may not be gaining weight as much as you think. Keep in mind, that our weight can fluctuate by 3-5 pounds due to hormones. Your “belly fat” may be more noticeable right before your period because you’re bloated. (Yuck, PMS!)

If you are still uneasy, perform a pregnancy test. If you do not have the privacy or the money for a home test, contact a local Family Planning or Planned Parenthood clinic. Our Family Planning Plus clinics offer pregnancy testing at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income. Women 17 and under receive free services, and parental consent is not required for reproductive health care.

The symptoms you describe can be due to many things. Occasionally, ovarian cysts may cause cramping, irregular spotting or bleeding and bloating. Ovarian cysts can be common in young women. These cysts usually resolve on their own. If the cyst increases in size or causes constant, progressively worse pain, then surgical intervention may be necessary. The best way to accurately measure an ovarian cyst is by doing an ultrasound.

If your urine is changing color and you are having any burning or pain when urinating, you may have a urinary tract infection. Urine should be clear to pale yellow in color, with little to no particles in it. Keep in mind, that some vitamins and foods can change the color and odor of urine. For instance,  B vitamins will make urine appear bright yellow. The “night shade” vegetables ( broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, etc) may cause urine to have a strong odor.

Urine should not be bloody, green or brown. If your urine appears this way, or it you have discomfort with urinating, consult your family doctor. A urinalysis will show if there is any infection, and your doctor would prescribe an antibiotic to treat this.

Continue to follow up with your doctor regarding your ovarian cyst. If you begin to experience constant pain, have a fever, or begin having vomiting or diarrhea, consider going to your local emergency room. Also, make a list of the symptoms that concern you. Keep track of when they occur and anything that may have recently changed (diet, exercise, sleep, stress). Having this list allows you and your family doctor to discuss these concerns more effectively. 

It is unlikely that 1 or 2 doses of penicillin would significantly decrease your protection. However, a “normal course” of 7, 10 or 14 days of this would. It is important to use a back up method of birth control during the time you are on the antibiotics, and for at least 7 days after. Abstinence, condoms, or vaginal spermicides are affordable options.  

Yes, you could have become pregnant. If you are not taking your pills, then you are not protected from pregnancy. There is no carry-over protection.  Wait until your next period is more than 1 week late. If it does not occur, perform a pregnancy test. In the meantime, do not have unprotected intercourse. Abstain from sex or use condoms.

If your next period occurs on time, you should be able to re-start your birth control pills. Call your clinic or doctor if you have further questions about re-starting.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The more frequently you have unprotected intercourse, the more likely it is that you will become pregnant.

However, the level of risk can depend on where you are at in your menstrual cycle.

The first day of your period is considered day 1 of your menstrual cycle. “One cycle” is considered to be from day 1 of a period to day 1 of the next period. Normal cycles are around 25-28 days. This means that you have a period regularly about every 25 to 28 days. Cycle lengths can vary. Things like stress, medications, hormones, lack of sleep can all cause your period to come earlier or later than usual. Therefore, your ovulation time (the time when you are most fertile) will also vary.

If you have a 28 day cycle, then ovulation (fertile) time would be in the middle, from approximately days 12 to 16. The times prior to this and after this, theoretically, are when you are less fertile. During your period days, typically, the risk of pregnancy is lower. Keep in mind, that a woman who has shorter cycles (less than 23 days between periods) will ovulate earlier, possibly around day 8 or 10, while bleeding/spotting may be still occurring.

If you and your partner are not planning on becoming parents, it is best to use an effective birth control method consistently. Condoms can be very effective when used correctly. You may want to consider beginning a long term method of birth control like pills, Depo injection, patch, etc. Hormonal methods of birth control provide you with protection during your entire cycle.

If you are interested in long term birth control, Family Planning Plus clinics offer birth control at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Birth control pills are usually effective after at least 7 days of use. It is unknown how much protection you had after 6 days.

It can take your body up to 3-4 months to become adjusted to being on the birth control pills. In the beginning, your periods may be a little irregular. Most women do not begin bleeding immediately when starting the placebo pills. Bleeding (period) usually doesn’t begin until day 3 of the placebos, but could start as late as day 5. Any bleeding during this placebo pill week is considered a period. If your period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at the clinic. Although it is not unusual for women to skip a period in the beginning, doing a pregnancy test gives you more peace of mind.

Start a new pack of pills as scheduled and continue to take them correctly and consistently. If you do not have a period with your second pack of pills, and your pregnancy test is negative, give your doctor or clinic a call. You may need to change to a different pill.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. If you have unprotected intercourse during your fertile time, it is more likely that you will become pregnant.

If you and your partner are not planning to be parents, consider using some form of birth control. Condoms can be very effective when used correctly and with every act of intercourse. You may chose to begin a long term method of birth control like the pills, Depo injection, patch, etc.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Family Planning Plus clinics offer pregnancy testing, Plan B and birth control for little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

If his penis did not enter your vagina, then it is unlikely that you would be pregnant from this episode of sexual activity. It is also unlikely that there was enough semen on his finger to cause pregnancy.

Additionally, you took Plan B, which helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. You note that you got your period on time, 3 days later. If you were that late in your cycle when this incident occurred, the risk of pregnancy is low.

Your nausea may just be coincidence, related to hormone fluctuations from your period and Plan B, or the start of a stomach virus. However, if this period is not normal, and you have regularly been having unprotected intercourse, you’d want to perform a pregnancy test.

Antibiotics are very effective at curing chlamydia infection.  Most antibiotics take 3-5 days, sometimes up to 7 days to be completely effective. That is why people are advised to wait 7-10 days after treatment before resuming sexual activity. As long as you completed your medication, you should be completely cured. It is also important for your partner(s) to be treated, so you are not reinfected.

You can be reinfected with chlamydia again if you have sexual intercourse with someone who is infected. The medication only cures this episode of infection, it does not offer any protection from future chlamydia infections. 

A sexual partner may have chlamydia and not be aware of having it. Most men and women do not have symptoms. Therefore, it is important to practice safe sex. Condoms are not 100%, but using them can decrease your risk of infections.

Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings for men and women. Please call to schedule an appointment.

Yes, there is always a chance of pregnancy whenever you have unprotected sex, regardless of where you are in your cycle. It’s usually less risky just before, during, and just after your period, but there is still a chance. If you don’t want to get pregnant, please don’t risk it. Either use condoms or don’t have sex.

If you plan to continue to have sex, please use a reliable method of birth control. If you live near one of our offices, call us for an appointment. We can help you choose a method that’s best for you.

You have two options. 1) You could tell one or both of your parents about your dilemma and ask them to purchase the pill for you at a local drug store. or 2) Contact the clinic first thing Monday morning and request Plan B.  The morning after pill can be used up to five days after unprotected sex, though the sooner you use it, the better.

If you plan to continue to have sex, make sure you use birth control in the future. Your local family planning or Planned Parenthood clinic can talk with you about all of your birth control options and help you choose one that’s best for you. Ask you boyfriend to purchase some condoms as well. Good luck.

It is unclear what type of birth control your girlfriend is using. If it is the pill, she needs to be on it seven days before it becomes effective. It was good that she used Plan B the third day when you had unprotected sex. Hopefully, she just kept using her pills (one a day at the same time everyday) even though she also used Plan B.

It’s impossible to give you a percentage regarding how likely it is for her to be pregnant since there are so many factors that impact the chance of pregnancy. Since she just started the pill (if that is the method she is on), she may experience menstrual irregularities for the first few months. She may have spotting or bleeding in between periods and she may entirely miss a period. She can expect her periods to be lighter and shorter in duration. If she doesn’t have any bleeding by her placebo pills of her second pack, she should take a pregnancy test. Good luck!

Yes. Plan B is not a long term method of birth control. It helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Sperm can survive in the vagina for up to 3 days. If you are delaying ovulation and continue to have unprotected sex, the risk of pregnancy can actually increase. You may want to abstain from sex or use condoms until your next period. Emergency contraceptives may cause to experience some irregular spotting or bleeding during this next cycle. Your next period may be a little earlier or later than usual. It may be a little lighter, heavier or spottier than usual.

If your period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

Yes. Emergency contraceptives help prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Additionally, if this incident ocurred 4 days prior to your period, this should be the time in your cycle that you are the least fertile.

If your period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

If your partner is not taking a long term method of birth control (like pills, shot, patch, etc.), then Plan B would be a good option.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, but can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours after unprotected sex. It is available over the counter at most pharmacies to women 17 and older. Women under 17 require a prescription. The cost is about $46.

After taking Plan B, your partner may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding until her next period. Her next period may occur a little earlier or later than usual. It may be lighter, heavier or spottier than usual. it should return to normal within a month or two.

If her period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic.

If you did not take your pills over the weekend, then you were not protected during that time. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Missing that many pills will decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pills. You did the correct thing as far as making up your missed pills.  For the rest of this pill pack, either abstain from sexual activity or use condoms. Begin a new pill pack on time. You may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding throughout the rest of this current pill pack. You period may come a little earlier than usual. Continue to take your pills correctly & consistently, and your cycle should return to normal with a month or two.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

The general rule is to wait at least 4-6 weeks after giving birth before resuming sexual activity. This gives the mother time to heal and allows the uterus and cervix to return to its non-pregnant state. Waiting also helps prevent post-partum infection and allows the mother’s hormones to return to normal.

The risk of pregnancy depends on how soon ovulation and regular periods return. Breastfeeding women may take several months to have ovulatory cycles, while bottle-feeding women may ovulate soon after hormones return to normal. Therefore, it is possible for a woman to become pregnant within the 6-8 weeks after delivery. If it is too soon for your wife to begin birth control, condoms are an option.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse or a method failure (condom problem), there is the risk of pregnancy. It takes at least 7 days of consecutive used before the birth control pills are effective.

If the semen did leak only on the outside of your vagina, and you cleaned yourself immediately after, the chance of pregnancy is unlikely. However, it is not impossible, as some semen may have leaked into the vagina.

Continue taking your pills correctly & consistently. If your next period is more that 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic.

Once you stopped receiving the Depo injections, consider yourself fertile. After discontinuing the Depo shot, it may take one to twelve months for your period to return on a regular monthly basis. Periods may be irregular at first. They may be heavy or light. Keep in mind that you ovulate before you have a bleed. Therefore, you could become pregnant without having a period.

Once your periods return on a monthly basis, it will be easier to keep track of your cycle. By using the rhythm method (natural family planning), you’ll be able to anticipate the times when you are fertile. For more info on keeping track of your cycles, you can go to www.plannedparenthood.org and read about fertility awareness based methods.

It is highly unlikely to become pregnant without penetration. The semen needs to be deposited inside the vagina.  Also, since you cleaned yourself immediately afterwards, it is unlikely that any semen would have remained to enter the vagina.

If you had sex on the day your period began, it is unlikely that you would become pregnant.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse or a condom failure, there is the risk of pregnancy. If your partner is on a long term method of birth control, like pills, Depo, patch, etc., and she has been taking it correctly & consistently, then she is protected and does not need Plan B. If she is not on a regular birth control method, then Plan B would be an option.

Plan B is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, studies show that it can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.  Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. After taking Plan B, your partner may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding during this menstrual cycle . Her next period may come a little earlier or later than usual, and it may be spottier than usual.

If her next period is more than 1 week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Discuss with your partner the possibility of starting a long term birth control method like I mentioned above.

Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings to men and women. Birth control, Plan B and pregnancy tests are provided at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

The directions specify to take the colored pills first because these are the pills that contain the active ingredients. The active pills contain the hormones estrogen & progestin. (These hormones are naturally found in your body and help to regulate your menstrual cycle.) The placebo or sugar pills(which are probably the white ones), are inactive and do not contain any hormones. When taken correctly, the pill pack is designed to give you 21 consecutive days of hormone pills, then 7 days of hormone free pills. After you begin the hormone free pills, you body senses that its not getting the estrogen and progestin. Therefore, you have a bleed (period). The birth control pills provide you with 28 days of protection. Taking pills out of sequence does affect your birth control. Since you started your hormone free pills first, you are/were not protected from pregnancy.

If you have had unprotected intercourse during that time, you may want to consider taking Plan B. You would also want to begin taking the colored pills on a daily basis. It takes at least 7 days of daily use for the birth control pills to become effective. Use a condom or abstain from intercourse for the remainder of this pill pack,  just to be safe.  After your next period, begin a new pack on time. You may want to write yourself a reminder about starting the colored (active) pills first. Since you started your pills incorrectly, you may notice some irregular spotting or bleeding during the current pill pack. This should correct itself within the next month or two.

If your next period is more than 1 week late (especially if you’ve had unprotected sex), you should perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Family Planning offers Plan B, gynecological exams, birth control and STD testing for little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

It is understandable that you are concerned about your past chlamydia infections and fertility. Repeated or long term chlamydia infections may cause scarring of the fallopian tubes, thus preventing fertilization.

Chances are that, if your infections were caught early and successfully treated, the probability that it damaged your tubes is low. However, there is no way to know the patency of your tubes without a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). An HSG is an outpatient procedure that is usually done in the x-ray department in the hospital. The radiologist places special x-ray dye into your vagina. The dye travels through the cervix and into the uterus and fallopian tubes. Then, x-ray pictures are taken. The dye shows up on the x-rays and shows the outline of the uterus and tubes, thus allowing the doctor to see if your tubes are open.

At your young age, it is unlikely that your ob/gyn would be quick to do any major testing. Most doctors recommend having regular, unprotected intercourse for at least 1 year. If no pregnancy occurs after that time, then evaluation is usually started. Keep in mind, too, that depending on the type of IUD you have, it may take your body several months to begin having periods on a regular monthly basis.

If you have further questions or concerns, be sure to address these with your doctor.

It is unlikely that you would become pregnant the day before your period started. Plan B is probably not necessary at this time.

If  you have been using your birth control pills correctly and consistently,  then you are still protected from pregnancy during your period. Plan B would not be necessary. Keep in mind, that after taking Plan B, you may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding during this next cycle. Your next period may come a little earlier or later than normal. Continue to take your pills everyday. Your period should return to normal within a month or so.

There is no way to positively know whether or not the condom was still “good”.  It is best to use a condom prior to its expiration date. Condoms can degrade and dry out over time.

Things like stress, illness, change in diet, change in activity or sleep patterns may alter the timing of your period. Your period may come earlier or later than usual, or once in a while, not at all.

Anytime you have had unprotected intercourse or a method failure (like a broken condom), there is the possibility of pregnancy. Wait until your period is 1 week late. If it still hasn’t come, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

Family Planning clinics offer pregnancy testing at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy.

That being said, if your partner has had her period in December and January, and currently has a negative pregnancy test, she is most likely not pregnant.

You and your partner may want to consider using condoms consistently or her starting a long term method of birth control. 

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy.

During arousal, the penis may leak a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre cum). This fluid may contain sperm, which can result in pregnancy. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant even if ejaculation has not occurred. Sperm are able to survive up to 3 days in the vagina.

The chance of pregnancy increases when intercourse takes place around or during ovulation time, as this is when you are most fertile. The more frequently you have unprotected sex, the more likely you are to become pregnant.

Depending on when the incident occurred, Plan B may be an option. Plan B is an emergency contraception that helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, research shows that it can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex. Plan B is not good for several acts of intercourse, as it is not a birth control method. It is available for purchase over the counter at most pharmacies for women 17 and older. Women under 17 require a prescription. It costs about $45. Plan B does not terminate or harm an already existing pregnancy.

If you are not planning a pregnancy, consider starting a long term method of birth control, like pills, Depo injection, patch, etc. When used correctly & consistently, condoms are an option, too.

If you are interested in Plan B or a birth control method, Family Planning clinics offer these at little to no cost, depending on household size & income. Call to schedule an appointment.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The level of risk will depend on where you are at in your cycle. 

 The shot is effective for up to 14 weeks, there is no “carry over” effect.  So, you must consider yourself fertile and unprotected. After discontinuing the Depo shot, it can take 1 to 12 months for your periods to return on a normal, monthly basis. However, you will ovulate before you have a bleed. Due to this, if your periods have not returned on a regular basis, having unprotected sex right now is like playing “Russian roulette”.  You don’t know when you’re going to ovulate.

If you are not planning a pregnancy, do not have unprotected intercourse. If you do not wish to use a hormonal method at this time, condoms would be a good option.

Yes, this can be normal. It can take your body 1 to 3 months to become adjusted to being on the birth control pill and to begin having regular bleeding during the sugar pills. Many women may take several sugar pills, as many as 4 or 5, before any bleeding or spotting occurs.

Begin your new pack of pills as scheduled and continue to take your pills consistently. You should experience regular bleeding cycles within the next month or two. Keep in mind that the pills should lighten and shorten your period, so hopefully, you will see improvement in your bleeding.

If you don’t have any bleeding during the sugar pills of your second pack, call your doctor or clinic.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The more frequently you have unprotected sex, the more likely it is you will get pregnant.

If you and your partner are not planning a pregnancy, consider using condoms for every act of intercourse to help prevent pregnancy. You should also consider beginning a long term method of birth control like pills, Depo injection, patch, etc.

Family Planning clinics offer gynecological exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

The risk of pregnancy from unprotected intercourse depends a lot on where you are at within your menstrual cycle. The first day of your period is considered day 1 of the cycle. Having a 28 day cycle means that there are around 28 days from the beginning of one period to the beginning of the next period. If you have regular 28 day cycles, you will generally ovulate around day 14.  This will vary. If you have short cycles (24 days or less between cycles), you will ovulate earlier. Women with longer cycles (over 28 days) will ovulate later.

Assuming that you have a normal cycle, January 27th should be a less fertile time. However, Plan B is generally safe for everyone, and could be beneficial. (Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation.) Plan B is available over the counter at most pharmacies for women 17 and older. Teens under 17 require a prescription. It costs around $45 at most stores.

If you need Plan B and can’t afford it, Family Planning clinics offer Plan B at little to no cost, based on household size & income.

If you are living in Pennsylvania, there are laws about HIV testing. Depending on your area, prenatal HIV testing may not be a routine test. Prior to HIV testing, the doctor/nurse must explain the test to you and obtain your approval for it. There is a specific consent form required for HIV testing. If your doctor didn’t explain the HIV test or have you sign a consent form specifically for HIV, then you most likely were not tested. For more information, call your OB/GYN and discuss your concerns.

There is no way to tell the exact date that conception occurred.

Its hard to tell what happened. Was it time for your period to start? If so, sometimes sexual activity (which can cause the uterus to contract) can cause you to have some spotting. It is also a possibility that this finger irritated your cervix/vagina and cause some spotting.

If you started your new pack of birth control pills on time, you most likely were/are still protected from pregnancy. If you wanted more peace of mind, wait a full 7 days for the “new” pack of pills to become effective. When using your pills correctly and consistently, you are protected during your hormone free week.

The Plan B may cause you to experience some irregular spotting or bleeding during this next pill cycle. Your next period may be a little earlier or later than usual. It may be lighter or spottier than usual. Continue taking your pills every day, and your period will return to normal in the next month or two.

The DepoProvera injection is effective within 24 hours after the first injection. If your unprotected intercourse was at least 24 hours after your first injection, then pregnancy is very unlikely.

The Depo injection is effective for up to 13 weeks. If you are late for your injection, it is best to use a back up method like condoms or abstinence. It is important to continue your injections on time to maintain your birth control.

There is still a risk of pregnancy, but you significantly reduced your risk by taking Plan B in such a timely manner. You should be okay. However, If you skip your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

When condoms break during sexual intercourse, it is usually because they were used incorrectly. Did he make sure that there were no air pockets inside the condom after he rolled it on but prior to sexual intercourse. He should pinch the tip of the condom between his thumb and forefinger while he rolls the condom onto the erect penis. He should also smooth out the sides of the condom to ensure there are no air pockets. Did you use an oil-based lubricant with the latex condom? Oil damages condoms and can cause them to break. If additional lubrication is needed, use saliva or a water based lubricant. Did you check the expiration date of the condom to make sure that the condom had not expired?

You may want to start using a hormonal method of birth control for extra protection. If you are interested in trying the pill or the shot, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you live too far away, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

If you are having unprotected sex, pregnancy and STDs are possible. If you are on a hormonal method of birth control and have been using your method correctly, pregnancy is unlikely. If you consistently and correctly use condoms, STDs are less likely than if you haven’t been using condoms.

On the other hand, the light colored blood that you found on your tissue may just mean that your period is about to begin.

If you are interested in free STD testing, please call one of our offices for an appointment. We offer free testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. We can also perform an exam to look for any signs of genital herpes or genital warts, and take a vaginal smear to look for signs of trich, BV, or yeast. If you live too far away, look on the internet or in your phone book for an office that provides similar services.

If you would like to start a method of birth control, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office that is closest to you.

Back pain, vaginal irritation, and abdominal pain are not symptoms of early pregnancy, but they could be signs of some type of infection. Vaginal discharge can be normal, but if you have an abnormal amount of it or if it has a strong odor or an unusual color or texture, it might be an infection. If these symptoms continue or worsen, please contact one of our offices for an infection check appointment. If you live too far away, contact the closest Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office to you.

Since the condom broke during sex, pre-ejaculatory fluid may have leaked out of the penis while it was inside the vagina. This fluid can contain sperm. If you are worried about pregnancy, use the morning after pill. Plan B can be used up to 120 hours after unprotected sex (though the sooner you use it, the better it works). It is available without a prescription in most drug stores for individuals 17 and older. It costs about $50. If you live near one of our offices, call us right away for an appointment. Our fees are based on household size and income. Plan B is free for anyone under the age of 18. Fees for women 18 or older are based on household size and income. Most individuals qualify for free or reduced fee services. The most you would pay for Plan B at one of our offices is $30.  We can also talk with you about all of your contraceptive options.

A woman experiencing her first pregnancy normally does not feel any movement until the 18-20th week of pregnancy. If you’ve been pregnant before, you might notice movement as early as 13 weeks. Either way, if you had conceived mid-December, you would not be feeling any movement yet.

Since you had a period in January (even though it was a little lighter than normal), pregnancy is unlikely. If you’re worried though, take a pregnancy test. That is really the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant,

As I’m sure you know, withdrawal is not a reliable method of birth control. If you do not wish to experience an unintended pregnancy, use condoms or another reliable method of birth control. For more information about all of your contraceptive options or to schedule a pregnancy test appointment, please contact one of our offices. If you do not live in our service area, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

It sounds as if you had sex during her period, and in that case, pregnancy is unlikely. If I understand you correctly, she bled for five days, and then she thought her period ended so you had sex, and then her period resumed for a few days longer. This can sometimes happen. A woman’s flow slows to the point that she believes it has ended, but then a little later, she has more bleeding.

If she skips her next period, have her take a pregnancy test. But again, pregnancy is unlikely.

Withdrawal, however, is not a reliable method of birth control. If you do not wish to experience an unintended pregnancy, use condoms or another reliable method of birth control. For more information about all of your contraceptive options, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you do not live in our service area, contact the Family Planning or Planned Parenthood office closest to you.

Pregnancy is possible at any time when you are having sexual intercourse, even if you are using your pill perfectly. Remember that no birth control method is 100% effective. However, the pill becomes effective after you take a full week’s worth of pills. As long as the intercourse occurred after you took your first seven pills, you should be protected.

Pregnancy is possible at any time when you are having sexual intercourse, even if you are using your pill perfectly. Remember that no birth control method is 100% effective. However, the pill becomes effective after you take a full week’s worth of pills. As long as the intercourse occurred after you took your first seven pills, you should be protected.

Whenever you start any type of birth control pill, you can expect some menstrual irregularities during the first three months of use. The brown spotting that you mentioned is normal. With Camrese, you should be having four periods a year – one every three months. However, some women do experience some breakthrough bleeding between their periods every now and then even past the first three months. Just be sure to take your pill at the same time every day.

As long as you were on the pill for a full week before you had sex with your boyfriend, you were protected by the pill. If you had sex prior to this, you would not have been protected.

Regarding the spotting: This is normal especially since you started the pill mid-cycle. Whenever you start or restart the pill, you can expect some menstrual irregularities during the first three months of use. Menstrual irregularities include bleeding or spotting between periods, a missed period, lighter than normal periods, and fewer days of bleeding.

If you did have sex during the first seven days of your pill, and you don’t have a period by your second cycle, take a pregnancy test.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. If you did not take your birth control pills for 7 days, then you were not protected from pregnancy. Once you have stopped taking the pills, the protection is gone. There is no carry over protection.

At this point, wait for your next period. If it is more than one week late, take a pregnancy test. In the meantime, if you are not planning a pregnancy, do not have unprotected sex. If your period does occur as usual, you should be able to restart your pills.

The few days prior to your period is usually your least fertile time. Since your period came a few days after the intercourse, pregnancy is unlikely.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. The chance of pregnancy depends on whether the intercourse takes place during your partner’s fertile or less fertile time.

Keep in mind that abstinence is the only 100% effective method of birth control. There are many ways other than sexual intercourse to show intimacy in a relationship. Mutual masturbation is a way to pleasure one another without having the concern about pregnancy.

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, to be used in the event of method failure (condom breaking, forgetting pills) or failure to use a method. It is only effective for that particular incident of unprotected intercourse. It is not a reliable long term method of birth control.  Plan B is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. It prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It does not terminate or harm an already existing pregnancy. Frequent, repeated  use of Plan B can disrupt monthly cycles and eventually increase the risk of pregnancy.

You and your partner may want to discuss her starting a reliable long term method of birth control, like the birth control pills, patch, or DepoProvera injection. These methods, when used correctly & consistently can be 96% to 99.9% effective, depending on the method. If your partner is using her birth control method correctly, then Plan B would not be necessary. You could continue using condoms, as they are a good back up method, and would offer double protection.

We always encourage teens to have an open honest relationship with their parents when it comes to sexual health. In Pennsylvania, minors (you stated you both were young) do not need parental consent for reproductive health care or birth control. The health care provider would review your partner’s medical history and discuss this with her. Gynecological exams are not usually done on women under 21 unless there is a problem. Your partner would receive counseling about birth control, and would be provided with her method of choice.

If you are interested, please call for an appointment. Family Planning clinics offer free STD testing to men & women. Gynecological exams and birth control are offered at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Generally speaking, sex during pregnancy is okay, as long as it is comfortable for your partner.

If the pregnancy is considered high risk for certain reasons, there is a risk of preterm labor, or a risk of miscarriage, sexual activity may be discouraged.

If you have any concerns, discuss these with your partner’s ob/gyn doctor.

If you had a period after the Plan B, it is unlikely that you are pregnant. Plan B may make your period come earlier or later than usual. Your period may be lighter or spottier than usual.  It should return to normal next month. Your “baby bump” may be due to bloating, gas or recent weight gain.

While the Plan B is very effective, especially when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, it is not 100%. Plan B prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It does not terminate an already existing pregnancy, nor does it harm an existing pregnancy. If you have be having unprotected sex, and became pregnant prior to this incident, taking Plan B would not make any difference.

For more information and peace of mind, you may want to perform a home pregnancy test.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. In order to be most effective, condoms must be placed on the erect penis prior to insertion into the vagina.

During arousal it is common for the penis to leak pre-ejaculatory fluid. This fluid (pre cum) may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

Plan B is considered safe for use during breastfeeding. While estrogen and progestin do pass through breast milk, the amount is not significant enough to cause any harm. Plan B should not cause any change in the quality or quantity of your breast milk supply.

If you are breastfeeding every 2-4 hours, it is unlikely, but not impossible, that you would ovulate. You may want to discuss this further with your ob/gyn doctor and consider starting a long term method of birth control.  

The herpes medication will not affect the result of your pregnancy test.

If you’ve never had sex before, then there should be no risk of sexually transmitted infections. It is not possible to be infected through casual every day (non sexual) touching.

Vaginal discharge is normal. This discharge helps to maintain the vaginal pH level and prevent infections. The color and amount of discharge varies, depending on your cycle.

In the middle of your menstrual cycle, when you are most likely to be fertile, vaginal discharge is thin, clear and increased in amount. During the time right before your period, when you are least fertile, discharge tends to be thicker, creamier and white in color, and less in amount. This white discharge may dry yellow on your panties or pad. During your period, bright red to brown bleeding/discharge is normal.

Younger women tend to have more vaginal discharge, while older women (near menopause) tend to have less discharge. This is due to the decrease in estrogen levels as we age.

Abnormal vaginal discharge may be a symptom of a vaginal infection. Some infections, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, may be sexuallly transmitted. Other infections, like yeast and bacterial vaginosis are not. Vaginal discharge that is be yellow, green or gray and has a foul odor may indicate an STD. 

Yeast infections are characterized by thick, white, cottage cheese like discharge. There is usually no odor. Commonly, there is irritation and intense itching in and around the vaginal area. Over the counter antifungal medications (Monistat, Clotrimazole) are very effective at curing these infections.

Bacterial vaginosis usually causes thin, white milky discharge. The discharge tends to have a “fishy” odor that may be more pronounced after intercourse. There may be burning with urination or in the vaginal area. BV is diagnosed during an infection check by looking at the vaginal discharge under a microscope. It is cured by a 7 day course of antibiotics.

Neither yeast nor bacterial vaginosis are sexually transmitted, and you do not need to be sexually active for these to occur. They are caused by a disruption in the pH balance of the vagina.

If you feel that your vaginal discharge is abnormal, schedule an appointment with your doctor for an infection check.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly & consistently, the chance of pregnancy is unlikely. You do not need to take Plan B. Continue to take your pills every day. Keep in mind that condoms are a good back up birth control method to use along with the pills.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly and consistently, the risk of pregnancy is very low.

Many women require several hormone free days before a withdrawal bleed occurs. Simply put, most women do not begin their periods on the first day of the placebo (sugar) pills. It is not uncommon for bleeding to begin as late as the 4th or 5th day of the placebos. The birth control pills work by thinnning the uterine lining, thus making periods lighter and shorter. Sometimes, though, the uterine lining is so thin that little to no bleeding may occur. 

If you have little to no bleeding this cycle, begin a new pack of pills on time,. Continue to take the pills every day. You should have more of a normal period with your next cycle.

If you have been taking your birth control correctly and consistently for the past 4 months, the risk of pregnancy is low.

Frequent urination can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, so you may want to call your doctor for an appointment. The doctor will probably request a urine sample to be tested for infection. Antibiotics are used to treat these infections.

Moodiness could be due to several factors. Stress, change in diet or sleep patterns, birth control pills can cause mood changes. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can cause increased moodiness the week before and the week of your period.

If your moodiness continues, discuss your concerns with your health care provider.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly and consistently, then you are still protected during the 7 day hormone free (sugar pills) week. Be sure to begin a new pack on time, as scheduled and continue to take your pills on a daily basis.

The pills work by thinning the uterine lining; this is why the pills helps to shorten and lighten your period. Some months, period bleeding may be very light. This is okay.

If you have not been a good pill taker, still begin a new pack on time. Try to be diligent about taking the pill every day, at the same time. If your next period does not come as usual, do a pregnancy test.

You cannot become pregnant from having your partner finger you.

As long as you correctly completed your treatment for the infection, the chlamydia should be cured.

It is highly unlikely that you would be infected with any infections from the vaginal ultrasound probe. Since you had IVF, I assume you are being followed by a board certified obstetrician, and  being seen at an accredited hospital. Reputable hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices follow strict guidelines for washing and sterilizing this type of equipment. Yes, they are sterilized between patients. Usually, new sterilizing agent (usually liquid) is used for each probe, then the probes are rinsed or wiped well. It is doubtful that any chemical would remain on the probe.

I understand your concern about your pregnancy and your desire to protect your baby. Continue to take good care of yourself and keep in touch with your doctor. Good luck!

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. It does not matter how far the penis went inside the vagina. It does not matter whether or not ejaculation occurred. There is some evidence that pre-ejaculatory fluid can contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

As for your partner’s virginity, that is an individual desicion. Many women do not bleed with their first intercourse, therefore it is not a good sign to confirm virginity. Some people think that any penile penetration of the vagina  is sex. Others may feel that ejaculation must occur to make it be “sex”.

If you and your partner are going to continue an intimate relationship, discuss your values, expectations and concerns, including who will be responsible for birth control. Discussing these things beforehand can make your relationship and sexual intimacy better.

The DepoProvera injection is effective 24 hours after you receive it. It is effective for up to 13 weeks, at which time, you are due for another injection. If it was a week since you had your shot, you are protected from pregnancy. The Depo shot statistics states that it is 99.9% effective as long as you receive your shots on time.

As long as you have been using your birth control method correctly and consistently, then pregnancy is very unlikely.

The Depo shot is effective within 24 hours after receiving the shot, and lasts for up to 13 weeks. The birth control pills, patch, ring are effective after 7 days of continuous use. If you are taking these methods correctly, you are covered during your period, just be sure to begin a new pack/ring/patch on time.

If you threw up 1 hour after taking your pills, it probably was due to their effect. When the antibiotics are absorbed by the gut, this can cause nausea and sometimes vomiting. Most likely the antibiotics were still effective at treating the chlamydia.

Many women will develop vaginal yeast infections after taking antibiotics. Yeast infections typically cause the vaginal area to become red, irritated and itchy. Add the chemical changes of your menstrual period, and that can lead to a lot of irritation.

You may want to try an over-the-counter yeast medication like Monistat or Clotrimazole. These are vaginal medications are okay to use during your period, just don’t wear a tampon during this cycle.

If your irritation does not resolve after your period or after using the yeast medication, consider scheduling an appointment for an infection check.

Yes, the best way to know about a pregnancy would be to wait until your next period. Most pregnancy tests will not be positive until you are, at the earliest, about 4 weeks along.

An ovum (egg) is fertilized in the fallopian tube. It takes approximately 7-10 days for the fertilized egg to travel down the tube and into the uterus. There, it may take another 10-14 days to implant into the uterine lining. It is not until after the fertilized egg is well implanted in the uterus that one would be able to detect HcG (pregnancy hormone) in the urine. The pregnancy hormone level begins at low concentration in the urine, then becomes higher in the early months of pregnancy. This is why you can do a pregnancy test too early and obtain a false negative. The first morning urine is usually the best one to test, because it would be the most concentrated.

Keep in mind, though, that being without birth control pills is an adjustment for your body. Your next period may be earlier or later than you would expect. It can take your body 1-3 months after discontinuing the pills to return to regular monthly periods.

It would be best to wait until your next period is more than 1 week late. In the meantime, do not have unprotected intercourse. If your period doesn’t occur, do a pregnancy test.  If your period occurs, it is safe to restart your birth control pills, the Sunday after your period starts. If your period does not occur but your pregnancy test is negative, wait another week and repeat the test. If it is negative, call your doctor or clinic for further instructions especially if you’re interested in restarting the birth control pills. If it’s positive, you may want to call a clinic for options counseling.  

If you are correctly using a hormonal method of birth control (pill, patch, ring, shot, implanon, or mirena IUD), and you have been using it for at least seven days before the incident occurred, pregnancy is highly unlikely. When used perfectly, hormonal methods of birth control are over 99% effective. They work by preventing ovulation (the monthly release of an egg). Without an egg, there is nothing for the sperm to fertilize.

Yes, take your regular birth control pills as scheduled. Also be sure to make up the two pills that you missed. The best way to do this is to take two pills a day until you are caught up, and then resume the one pill daily schedule.

Because you will have a large amount of hormones in your system, you can expect some menstrual irregularities (missed period, bleeding or spotting in between periods, lighter than normal period, etc.). You may also experience some breast tenderness, moodiness, fatigue, and nausea. Taking your pill on a full stomach should help with the nausea.

Yes, sometimes acne does become worse before it gets better with pill use. If you can hang in there, give it three more months. If your complexiondoes not start to improve by the fifth month, contact the provider who prescribed the pill for you. They may want to try a pill change.

If you are pregnant, your test should have yeilded a positive result by now. It is possible that you may have had some faulty tests or that you performed the test incorrectly or read the result wrong. Urine pregnancy tests measure hCg. In some women, the hormone does not build up enough to register on a urine pregnancy test, and blood testing is needed.

You mentioned that your periods are irregular. It is also possible that you are simply experiencing more of this irregularity. Since it has been almost four months since your last period, it is probably time to be evaluated by a medical professional. Contact your regular medical care provider for an appointment.

It’s difficult to say without examining you. If you live near our service area,m contact one of our offices for an appointment. We have an all female staff of Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners who have been specially trained in reproductive health. Our fees are based on household size and income. Many individuals qualify for free or reduced fee services.

If you live outside our service area, look on the web or in your phonebook for the closest Family Planning Clinic or Planned Parenthood.

If you have been having normal periods, pregnancy is highly unlikely. The pill is a very effective method of birth control. When you miss a pill, just be sure to make it up correctly. Take it as soon as you remember and then take your next pill at the regular time.

More than likely you have experienced some weight gain due to inactivity. You may also be experiencing some bloating. If you miss a period, take a pregnancy test, but again, pregnancy is not likely in your case.

Yes, there is still a chance that you may have been infected and may have transmitted the infection to your partner.  The medication usually cures the infection within five days of completing the treatment, but in some individuals it may take longer. That is why we tell people to wait a full seven days after treatment before having sex. Contact the medical provider that treated you. They may want to screen and treat your partner, and may have further instruction for you.

Pregnancy is unlikely if you used condoms consistently and correctly. However, even when used perfectly, condoms can fail. Condoms are more liekly to fail when they are used incorrectly.

There are many different factors that can affect menstrual cycles. Increased stress, illness, a change in weight, exercise or diet, and new medications can all cause changes in the menstrual cycle.

Wait another week. If you still don’t get your period, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or get a positive result.

If you are interested in starting a hormonal method of birth control or would like more information on correct condom use, please contact one of our offices for an appointment.

It probably just means that you got your period during sex. If the sex was rougher than usual, it may have caused a little bleeding, but it was most likely coincidental that the bleeding began while you were engaging in sex.

The presence of blood just after intercourse has no bearng on your risk of pregnancy, However, since you had unprotected intercourse, pregnancy is possible. If something like this should happen again, you can use Plan B (the morning after pill) to reduce your risk of pregnancy. Plan B should be used within 72 hhours of unprotected sex, and is available at most drug stores without a prescription for women 17 or older.

If you skip your next period, take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or get a positive result. In the meantime, if you do not wish to become pregnant, please use a method of birth control.

Free condoms are available at all of our offices. If you would like to discuss all of your contraceptive options, please make an appointment at one of our clinics. Family Planning Plus offers reproductive health exams (pap tests and breast exams), sexually transmitted disease testing, pregnancy testing, and birth control information and supplies. Fees for services are based on household size and income. Many individuals qualify for free or reduced fee services.

Contact the medical provider who trated you for further instruction.

You cannot get pregnant from being fingered. The amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid on his finger was most likely very small, and the likelihood that sperm would live on his finger is low. Sperm are more likely to survive in a warm, moist environment, like the vagina.

Having your boyfriend ejaculate inside of you during your period should not affect your period. You may notice your bleeding is thinner, lighter in color or has more mucus in it after intercourse. Semen mixed with menstrual fluid will cause these changes for a day or two.

If you and your partner are having unprotected intercourse (assuming you’re not on a long term method of birth control), you are at risk for pregnancy.  Theoretically, you should be least fertile during your period. However, if a woman has short cycles, she may ovulate early, while still having period bleeding.

If you’re interested in starting a long term method of birth control (like the pill, shot, patch, etc.), Family Planning clinics offer gynecological exams and birth control a little to no cost, depending on household size & income. Please call to schedule an appointment.

Anytime you have sex, especially unprotected sex, there is always the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Sexually transmitted infections like HIV are found in bodily fluids, so if he did not ejaculate inside you, the risk is probably less.

You may want to consider having a STD screening. Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings for men and women.

I’m not sure I understand your timeline here.

If you received your DepoProvera injection within 2 weeks after giving birth, it was effective within 24 hours. The injection is effective for up to 12 to 13 weeks. If you did not return for your next injection, then you are not protected. If your bleeding occurred after your “missed” shot, then yes, you could get pregnant.

If you’re not sure, do a home pregnancy test. If you wish to continue the Depo as your method of birth control, call your doctor or clinic to be restarted on it. In the meantime, abstain from sex or used condoms to prevent pregnancy.

Receiving treatment for a chlamydia infection does not make you immune to becoming infected in the future. However, it cannot just come back on its own. You must be exposed to it again. Whenever you are exposed to chlamydia by having sex with an infected partner, you are at risk for reinfection and will need to be treated again. Women who have had chlamydia multiple times are at increased risk for infertility. The best way to prevent infection is by abstaining from all forms of sexual contact. However, if you do choose to have sex, you can reduce your risk by using condoms correctly and consistently.

It would be best to wait until after you are healthy again. Some antibiotics are harmful during pregnancy. You should also:

• quit smoking (if you smoke) and avoid second hand smoke.
• start taking an over-the-counter pre-natal vitamin that includes 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid
• stop drinking alcohol.
• eat a balanced diet and aim for a healthy weight. (Some women should gain weight before attempting pregnancy while others might benefit from losing weight before becoming pregnant.)
• schedule a pre-pregnancy appointment with your doctor to make sure you are healthy.

Best of luck!

Pregnancy is unlikely since the sex occurred just before and just after your period. The patch begins working after using it for seven full days. You should have used a condom in addition to the patch for the first seven days. Since you did not, pregnancy is possible. Since you just started a hormonal method, you may notice some menstrual irregularities during the first few months of use. This could include a missed period. If you miss two periods in a row, take a pregnancy test. Keep using your patch as directed. Though it is best not to use unnecessary medications during pregnancy, research shows no increased risk of birth defects for women who become pregnant while using a hormonal method.

Pregnancy is possible. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a percentage. Since she took a two week break from the pill, the two of you should have waited until she took a full week of pills before having sex. It also depends on if and when she ovulated prior to restarting the pill. If it has been less than 72 hours since the intercourse, you may want to purchase Plan B (the morning after pill). She should take the pill as soon as possible. If either of you are 17 or older, you can get it over thecounter at most drug stores (you may have to show ID to prove your age. It costs about $50. Our offices also offer Plan B at a reduced price. Some individuals qualify for free services and supplies.

Pregnancy is possible but unlikely since the intercourse occurred just before your period. If your period was normal, I would not be concerned. However, if this had occurred in the middle of your cycle, pregnancy would be more likely even though he did not ejaculate inside the vagina. Withdrawal (pulling out) is not a reliable method of birth control. Pre-ejaculatory fluid can leak out of the penis prior to ejaculation. This fluid may contain sperm which could fertilize an agg. Unless you are attempting pregnancy, either abstain or use a method of birth control. Free condoms are available at all of our offices. If you think you might like to try a hormonal method (pill, shot), contact one of our offices for an appointment. Many individuals qualify for free or reduced fee services.

Usually, with any type of vaginal or cervical smear, it is recommended that women do not douch, use tampons, have sexual intercourse, or insert anything inside the vagina for 48 hours prior to the test.

Approximately 85% of all couples who have unprotected sex regularly will experience a pregnancy within a year’s time. You may be extremely lucky and may have coincidently timed your interludes when she is not ovulating. Women with irregular periods do not usually ovulate every month so fertility may be a concern when you do decide to start a family. You may have a lower than average sperm count. Testing is the only way to know for sure. When you and your partner decide to start trying to conceive, you may want to consult an infertility specialist. Until then, you may not want to risk an unintended pregnancy. You and your partner should discuss your contraceptive options and choose a method that’s best for the two of you. Your luck may run out.

It’s difficult to say without more information. Are you using a hormonal method of birth control? If not, you could become pregnant. Some women spot durind implantation. However, if it has been only three days since the unprotected sex, then it is a bit early for implantation.

If you do not wish to be pregnant but want to continue to have sex, please use a reliable method of birth control. Free condoms are available at all of our offices. If you wish to start a hormonal method of birth control, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. Family Planning provides reproductive health exams, sexually transmitted infection testing, and birth control. Many individuals qualify for free or reduced fee services.

As long as there was no penis-vagina contact without a condom and as long as the condom did not break or come off inside of you, pregnancy is highly unlikely.

Most vaginal discharge is normal. Normal discharge should have a slight odor and should never cause itching or burning. However, if your discharge causes itching or burning, has a strong or fishy odor, is an abnormal color (such as brown, gray, or green), or has a strange texture (frothy, foamy, or lumpy), you may have a vaginal infection. Not all vaginal infections are sexually transmitted. Two common infections that occur among women are bacterial vaginosis (BV – an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina)  and candidiasis (yeast).  Medication is usually needed to get rid of the symptoms.

If your discharge appears to be abnormal, please contact one of our offices for an infection check appointment. If you do not live nearby, contact your regular medical provider or locate the closest family planning or Planned Parenthood clinic.

Unfortunately, I am unable to give you a percentage regarding your chance of pregnancy. There are a lot of variables when it comes to conceiving. Some of these factors include your age, your weight, and how long you have been trying to get pregnant.

As long as you are normally fertile and your partner has a normal sperm count, you have a 15-25% chance of becoming pregnant each ovulatory cycle.  However, a woman’s ability to conceive decreases after age 30. About 40% of couples attempting pregnancy will become pregnant within the first three months, 70% within the first six months, and 85% within the year.

Your best chance to get pregnant is if you make love regularly, two to three times a week, every week, every month, and once every day during your 6 fertile days (day of ovulation and the 5 preceding days). Generally, the healthier you are, the better your chance of achieving pregnancy and having a healthy baby. Here are some tips:

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you are underweight, you may not ovulate regularly. If you are overweight or obese, you may have medical problems during your pregnancy.
• Do not smoke; avoid second-hand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy can lead to premature births and low birth weight babies. Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to have asthma, bronchitis, and related lung conditions. If you smoke, quit now – before you become pregnant.
• Do not drink alcohol. Drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome which can cause facial deformities and developmental delays.
• Begin taking an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin that includes 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. Studies have shown that when folic acid is taken prior to and during early pregnancy, babies are less likely to be born with neural tube defects (defects of the brain and spine).
• If you are using illegal drugs, avoid pregnancy and seek help. Babies born to addicts are often addicts themselves. Addiction is extremely painful and dangerous to infants.
• Discuss any over-the-counter and prescription medicines with your health care provider to see if they are safe to use during pregnancy.
• If you were using the pill or another hormonal method, you switch to condoms or another barrier method for three months before attempting pregnancy. Although the hormones are very quickly passed from your system, this time period will allow you to resume regular menstrual cycles so a pregnancy can be dated.  Some clinicians also feel this allows the uterine lining to thicken and provide a better site for the placenta to implant and grow.
• Eat a well balanced diet that contains whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and low-fat dairy.

Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!

Plan B (the morning after pill) causes the same side effects in women of all ages. Some of the most common side effects are nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, menstrual changes, dizziness, and breast tenderness. Usually, Plan B brings on some unexpected bleeding that is similar to a regular period. However, it usually goes away by the time of your next period which may be heavier or lighter than usual.  Your next period may also come earlier or later than is normal for you. It doesn’t normally affect a second period. Is it possible that the first period you experienced was simply some unexpected bleeding caused by your Plan B use? If that is the case, I wouldn’t worry. However, if that was not the case, you may want to contact your medical care provider and explain your situation to him or her.

Pregnancy is unlikely with a flaccid penis because the presence of pre-ejaculatory fluid is less likely. However, if he is sexually excited and was recently erect, pre-ejaculatory fluid may be present inside the tip of the penis and may leak out. It is much safer to use condoms for any penis-vagina contact. Free condoms are available at all of our offices. If you are interested in starting a hormonal method of birth control, contact one of our offices for an appointment.

Yes.

Yes, your period cycle will change since you started the pill. If your pill pack consists of 28 pills (21 hormone pills and seven placebo pills), you can expect your period to start on your third or fourth placebo pill day. However, since you just started your pills, your body has to get used to the new hormone levels. During the first few months of pill use, menstrual irregularities are common. You may have some bleeding or spotting in between periods and you may even skip a period. You can expect less bleeding and fewer days of bleeding with your periods now that you’re on the pill. Continue to take your pills at the same time everyday. If you miss two periods in a row, take a pregnancy test.

If the sexual intercourse occurred during the first seven days after your Implanon insertion, Plan B use would have been recommended. Since you used the morning after pill within 24 hours of the condom breaking, you would have received its maximum protective effects. However, if the sex occurred more than seven days after having Implanon inserted, Plan B was not necessary. Implanon is extremely effective and provides continual protection against pregnancy for three years after insertion. Less than one woman out of 100 becomes pregnant during the first year of use. Condoms should be used in addition to Implanon during the first week. 

Menstrual irregularities are very common with both Implanon use and Plan B use. The spotting you are experiencing is normal. However, if you are concerned about pregnancy, wait 4-5 weeks and then take a preganncy test.

Pregnancy is unlikely in the scenario you described. However, whenever the uncovered penis is inserted into the vagina, pre-ejaculatory fluid can leak out of the penis. This fluid may or may not contain sperm. If it does contain sperm, pregnancy is possible. The fluid is much less likely to contain sperm if he urinates before having sex. It would be safer to use the condom from the very beginning. As long as you are having normal periods though, pregnancy is extremely unlikely.

If you are interested in using a longer term method of birth control (like the pill or the shot), please contact one of our offices for an appointment.

If you’ve had sexual intercourse, pregnancy is a possibility. However, late periods can be caused by a number of different things including illness, medication use, a change in diet, increased stress, a change in schedules, and/or weight gain or loss. If you are nearing menopause, you may be in perimenopause which causes menstrual irregularities. Late or skipped periods are also possible when starting a new method of hormonal birth control.

If pregnancy is possible, take a pregnancy test. If you have not been sexually active and none of the above applies to you, contact your medical care provider. He or she may want to run some tests.

You should be fine. To be on the safe side, you may want to use condoms in addition to the pill for the next 1-2 weeks. Keep taking your pills though. Get back on track and continue to take them daily around the same time each day. You may experience some bleeding or spotting in between your periods. This is normal whenever you miss pills, take them late, or in your case, take them early.

If you have any further questions, contact the medical provider who prescribed your pills.

Yes, if you had sexual intercourse just before or during the week of and week after your missed pills, pregnancy is very possible. The pill works by releasing a steady dose of hormones into your system. These hormone levels are very similar to those produced by the body when it is pregnant. Since your body thinks it’s pregnant, you stop ovulating (releasing an egg every month). As long as you keep taking your pills, you don’t ovulate. However, when you miss a pill by 24 hours or more, the hormone levels change and the contraceptive effect of the pill may stop working. This makes it much more likely that you will ovulate. The more pills you miss, the more likely it is for you to ovulate (regardless of your menstrual cycle timing). Having missed seven pills in a row, ovulation was extremely likely to have occurred.

Just because you ovulated though does not mean that the egg was fertilized and that it successfully implanted in the uterus. The bleeding you experienced may simply be a side effect of missing so many pills. However, it could also be implantation bleeding. Wait a few weeks and take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or receive a positive pregnancy test.

You might want to consider changing to a different method of birth control that you don’t have to remember to use so often. Depo-Provera injections provide continual protection for three months at a time. You just have to remember to get your shot every three months. Implanon is an implant that is inserted under the skin of your upper arm and works for three years. The Mirena IUD is inserted into the uterus and works for five years. For more information about your birth control options, or to schedule a pregnancy test, contact one of our offices for an appointment.

Pregnancy is unlikely if you immediately pulled out after you noticed the condom had broken and given the timing of her cycle. If your girlfriend normally has a 28 day menstrual cycle (from first day of her period to first day of next period), she would ovulate approximately 14 days after the beginning of her period. There is a chance that pre-seminal fluid may have entered her vagina when the condom broke, but the fluid may not have contained any motile sperm (sperm capable of moving and fertilizing an egg). If your girlfriend skips her next period, she should take a pregnancy test just to be sure. 

In the future, if this should happen again, you may want to consider using the morning after pill (Plan B). Plan B is available over the counter for individuals 17 and older at most drug stores, and works by delaying ovulation, reducing the risk that pregnancy will occur. It does not work for individuals who are already pregnant so it is not considered an abortifacient (something that would cause an abortion). It is not designed to be used as a regular method of birth control and should only be used in the event of contraceptive failure (a condom breaking) or when no contraception is used. We also have Plan B available at all of our offices for a reduced cost. Some individuals even qualify for free services and supplies.

If your girlfriend is interested in starting a longer term method of birth control and you would like more information, please contact one of our offices for an appointment.

If you are on a 28 day pill pack with 21 hormone pills and seven placebo pills, you can usually expect your period to start around day 3 or 4 of your placebo pills (your third or fourth pill during the last week). If this is your first pack of pills, remember that you may have side effects during your first three months of pill use. These side effects include menstrual irregularites (bleeding or spotting between periods, decreased bleeding and fewer days of bleeding during your period, or even a missed period), breast tenderness, nausea, moodiness, complexion changes, etc.).

Missing one or more pills by 24 hours or more does decrease the effectiveness of the pill. When you miss pills, it changes your hormone levels , increasing the likelihood of ovulation. However, you did make the pills up so that helps. Withdrawal is not an effective method of birth control as sperm can be present in pre-ejaculatory fluid, but at least your partner did not ejaculate inside the vagina.

Missing pills can cause menstrual irregularities so don’t be surprised if you start bleeding or spotting  before your period is due. Your next period may be different from what it normally is like. However, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test. If you frequently miss pills, you may want to consider switching to another method of birth control. If you would like more information about your contraceptive options, please contact one of our offices.

It depends on when you took the pregnancy tests. If you have had a period since the incident, pregnancy is unlikely. Also, if you took your first pregnancy test at least 4-5 weeks after the incident, pregnancy is unlikely. Repeat the test every two weeks until you have a period or you test positive for pregnancy.

Withdrawal is not a reliable method of birth control. Please think about starting a regular method of birth control (like condoms, the pill, or the shot) if you continue to have sexual intercourse. If you live within our service area, contact one of our offices for an appointment.

Yes, there is still a chance that you may become pregnant. However, since you took the Plan B pill, your risk of pregnancy is much lower. The sooner you use Plan B after unprotected sex, the more effective it is. Since your periods are irregular, wait 4-5 weeks after the unprotected sex, and then take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

I’m not sure I understand your question. BV stands for bacterial vaginosis. It is simply an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Though it can be spread between female partners, BV cannot be transmitted to a male partner. Sexual intercourse may aggravate or worsen BV symptoms (burning, itching, pain) and may cause reinfection. It would be best to wait until you have finished all of your medication.

If you are having the urine test for chlamydia & gonorrhea, then the Monistat vaginal cream will not affect the results. If you are having a cervical swab for those infections, then we would recommend not using the vaginal cream for 24 hours prior to your visit.

Both the urine test and the cervical swab are very accurate at detecting chlamydia & gonorrhea. If you are having complaints of abnormal vaginal discharge, the clinician is more likely to do a cervical swab. This way, he/she can also obtain vaginal discharge on a Q-tip, and look at it under a microscope to diagnose some common infections. Vaginal medications obscure the vaginal cells, making microscopy difficult.

If you are scheduled for STD testing and you are using a vaginal medication, keep your appointment. Just let your clinician know you will need a urine test.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly and consistently, then the chance of pregnancy is unlikely. Continue to take your pills everyday to achieve the most effectiveness.

If you have not been consistent with daily pill taking, this can decrease their effectiveness. Irregular pill use increases the risk of pregnancy. If this is the case, wait until your period is more than 1 week late. If it does not occur, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

The DepoProvera injection is effective within 24 hours. If your sexual activity was 24 hours after your shot, you were protected. The risk of pregnancy is unlikely. When you continue to receive your Depo shots on time, it is usually 99.9% effective.

A woman’s cycle is very individual and can be affected by several things. You may be having irregular spotting due to a hormonal imbalance. Everyday things like stress, illness, and a change in diet, exercise or sleep can cause this imbalance. It may cause irregular spotting, or cause your periods to come early, late or sometimes, not at all.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Some women may have spotting due to implantation of a pregnancy in the uterine lining. If your next period is more that 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home in a clinic.

Spotting specifically and only after intercourse can be benign, meaning nothing is wrong. However, it could  be a sign of a vaginal infection, like bacterial vaginosis, yeast, or chlamydia. If the spotting continues, schedule an infection check. Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings. Vaginal infection checks are offered at little to no cost depending on household size & income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy. If you missed 4 birth control pills, then you are not protected from pregnancy. If you are not planning to become pregnant, it would be wise to use a back-up method of birth control such as abstinence or condoms until your next period.

Treatment for chlamydia can take 3-5, possibly up to 7 days to be effective. This is why it is recommended to abstain from intercourse for 7-10 days after treatment.  If you and your partner were both treated, is is unlikely that you would reinfect each other.

You and your partner may want to consider having a repeat chlamydia test in 6-8 weeks to make sure it has completely resolved. If you wish to restarted your pills, notify your doctor for further instructions.

If you have been having unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy. If this is the case, wait until your period is more than 1 week late. If it has not occurred, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

If you are on the birth control pills, bleeding should occur sometime within the last 7 days of your pill pack (sugar or placebo pills). Your period (a more accurate term would be withdrawal bleed) occurs due to the withdrawal, or lack of, hormones. It may take several days for your body to react to this change. Some women begin bleeding on the first day of their placebo pills, while other women may not begin bleeding until the 4th or 5th day.

If you have further concerns, please discuss these with your doctor or clinic.

If you and your boyfriend are having unprotected intercourse, then, yes,  there is the chance of pregnancy. The timing of orgasm /ejaculation does not affect the risk of pregnancy.

The birth control pill cycle is set up to have you taking 21 days of hormone pills, then 7 days of hormone free pills. The hormone free pills are also referred to as “sugar” pills or “placebo” pills. 

 Since the pills work to thin the uterine lining, period bleeding may become shorter and lighter. The reason why women who are on the pills have a period is because of the lack of hormones during that last week. This “withdrawal bleed” can begin anytime within those 7 days. How long it takes for bleeding to occur is individual. Some women start bleeding on the second pill, some may start as late as the 4th or 5th pill. Any bleeding during the hormone free week is considered a period. Additionally, it is not uncommon for consistent pill users to skip a period every so often.

If you have taken your pills correctly and consistently, then your risk of pregnancy is low. Wait a few more days to see if you start bleeding. Continue taking your pills and be sure to begin a new pill pack on time. Your period should show up with the next cycle.

If you have not been consistent in taking your pills everyday, this can decrease their effectiveness. If you do not have any bleeding, and this is the case, you may want to do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. However, the level of this risk can depend on where you are at in your menstrual cycle. If you have regular 28 days cycles, your least fertile time would be the few days immediately prior to and during your period. Therefore, the chance of pregnancy is unlikely.

Correct & consistent condom use can be an effective method of preventing pregnancy. You may also want to consider starting a long term method of birth control like the pills, shot, patch, etc.  Family Planning Plus clinics offer free gynecological exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income.

Thank you very much for your positve comment.  We are glad you find our website informative and helpful.  

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a definite answer about that. Most antibiotics for gonorrhea take at least 3 to 5, sometimes up to 7 days to be completely effective. The safest thing would be to abstain from intercourse for 7 days.  If you absolutely cannot avoid intercourse, condom use is highly recommended. However, since condoms are not 100%, there is still the possibility of exposing and infecting your partner.

You may want to consider being retested in 6-8 weeks to make sure the gonorrhea is completely gone.

If you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy, even if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many women with PCOS ovulate irregularly, therefore it is difficult to determine fertility. PCOS usually causes irregular periods characterized by  long menstrual cycles. Women may have 40 or more days between periods. They make go months without have any bleeding at all.

Repeat the pregnancy test in two weeks. If it is still negative, and you have not had any unprotected sex within that time period, then you most likely are not pregnant.

If you are not planning a pregnancy, it is important to correctly and consistently use a reliable method of birth control.  Consider scheduling an exam with a doctor to evaluate your irregular periods and/or begin a long term method of birth control (pills, shot, etc.).

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Plan B may cause your periods to occur earlier or later than usual. Your bleeding may be lighter, heavier or spottier than usual. Since you had period like bleeding in January, it is unlikely that you are pregnant.

If you are not planning a pregnancy, you may want to consider starting a long term birth control method like the pill, Depo shot, patch, etc.  Correct and consistent condom use can also be an effective method of preventing pregnancy.

Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings. Gynecological exams and birth control are offerred at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

If you have been taking your birth control pills correctly & consistently, then pregnancy is unlikely. Additionally, if your pregnancy test is negative, it is unlikely you are pregnant. It can take up to 3 months or longer for you body to become adjusted to taking the pill. During this adjustment time, your period may come early, late, or sometimes, not at all. You may also experience some mild side effects from starting the pill. Common complaints are breast tenderness, nausea, and tiredness. These usually resolve after 3 months. Continue taking your pills every day as directed. Your period should return on a regular basis by your 3rd  or 4th pack of pills.

If you continue to not have bleeding during your placebo (sugar) pills, notify your doctor. You may need a change your type of birth control pill.

If you had a yeast infection, you should have taken an anti-fungal medication. Diflucan (Fluconazole) is the one time, one dose pill most commonly used for yeast infections. If you had a bacterial infection, like bacterial vaginosis, then antibiotics are used for treatment.

Many antibiotics will decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. It is recommend that you use a back-up method of birth control (like abstinence or condoms) for the time you’re on the antibiotic and for at least 7 days after you finish the medication. There is no evidence that anti-fungal medications interfere with birth control pills’ effectiveness.

If you took an anti-fungal, and you have been taking your pills correctly & consistently, then pregnancy is unlikely. It can take your body as long as 3 months to become adjusted to being on the pill. During this adjustment time, periods may come early, late or sometimes, not at all. Continue taking your pills as directed. Your period should become regular by your 3rd pack of pills.

If you need peace of mind now, do a home pregnancy test. If it is negative, continue your birth control pills. If you miss 2 periods in a row, notify your doctor. You may need to change pills to allow for more of a bleed during the hormone free week. If your pregnancy test is positive, discontinue your pills. Call your doctor or clinic to discuss your options.

Whenever you restart the pill, you can expect some side effects for the first few months until your body gets used to the new hormone levels again. These side effects include menstrual irregularities (bleeding or spotting in between periods, decreased bleeding, periods of shorter duration, a missed period), breast tenderness or soreness, nausea, fatigue, moodiness, etc). You may simply be experiencing these side effects.

 The pill becomes effective after you take a full week of pills, and remains effective as long as you are taking your pills on time. If you had sexual intercourse during the first week after you restarted the pills, you were not protected. Also, when you miss a pill, the risk of pregnancy increases. When used perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. Therefore, even if you have been taking your pills perfectly, you can still become pregnant. However, if you had sex during your first week of hormone pills or if you have missed pills, your risk is a bit higher.

 The only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. If you live near one of our offices, call us for an appointment. If you prefer, you can purchase a home pregnancy testing kit at a pharmacy. For best results, use first morning urine and follow the directions precisely. If you have difficulty remembering to take your pills, you may want to think about switching to  a different method.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Even if you didn’t ejaculate inside, you may have leaked some pre-ejaculatory fluid into this woman’s vagina. Pre-ejaculatory fluid (precum) may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

If you had unprotected intercourse and the woman did have two normal periods after that, then she did not get pregnant from that incident. This is assuming that you did not have any further unprotected intercourse with this person. The majority of women miss their next period and continue to not have periods until the pregnancy is terminated by either abortion or delivery. While abnormal spotting can occur in early pregnancy, it is not common, and does not occur on a regular basis.

If paternity of this pregnancy needs to be established, for either personal or legal reasons, you may want to consider a paternity test in the future.

If you both were treated at the same time, and have not had sex with anyone else, you do not have to worry about reinfection. If you are noticing some abnormal dischage, you may have a vaginal infection. Vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and yeast are common after antibiotic therapy. These infections are not sexually transmitted and occur when the normal vaginal pH becomes imbalanced.

The only way for you and your partner to know if the chlamydia is cured is to be retested. You will want to wait at least 6-8 weeks to be retested.

If you continue to have abnormal vaginal discharge, you may want to schedule an appointment for an infection check. Family Planning Clinics offer free STD screenings. Vaginal infection checks are offered at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

HPV stands for the human papilloma virus. There are two main types of HPV: low-risk types and high-risk types. The majority of people who get HPV have no signs or symptoms and clear the virus on their own without any ill effects. This may be true for you too.

However, some people with low-risk types of HPV can get genital warts.  If your doctor informed you of your HPV infection after he found warts during an examination, then you have a low-risk type. Warts are treatable but they can recur. When warts are present, be sure to abstain from all sexual contact as they are highly contagious.

If you are female, your doctor may have performed an HPV Digene test and informed you of your HPV infection when he or she received the results of the test. In that case, you have a high-risk type of HPV. It is extremely important for you to have regular pap tests. If you have an abnormal pap, do not ignore it. Talk with your doctor about his or her recommendations regarding proper follow-up. 

HPV is extremely common. Over 50% of all people will have had some type of HPV at some point in their lives. Though it is not curable, most people clear the virus on their own within a few years, and never have any problems because of it.  Just be sure to consult with your doctor about the proper follow-up for you. If you would like more information about HPV, please contact one of our offices.

When you miss or are late with 2 or more pills, irregular bleeding is very common. Your bleeding may be persistent until your body again becomes regulated to being on the pills. Continue to take your birth control pills. Try to take them correctly and consistently. Your bleeding should subside and your cycle return to normal within a month or two. Keep in mind that taking your pills incorrectly can decrease their effectiveness, increasing the possibility of pregnancy. You may want to use abstinence or condoms as a back up method of birth control for the rest of this pill pack.

As long as there was no lapse in taking a pill on a daily basis, then the risk of pregnancy is unlikely. So, if you finished the cycle of Tricyclen, had a period, then started the Camrese on schedule, you should be okay.

The DepoProvera shot is effective within 24 hours. It is effective for up to 13 weeks. If you had intercourse AFTER you received your Depo shot, then you are protected and pregnancy is very unlikely. Irregular bleeding and spotting can be common while on Depo, especially during the first year. After several injections, you should have little to no bleeding.

Taking Plan B was a good choice. It can help prevent pregnancy in this type of situation, so the risk of pregnancy is probably very low. Continue taking your regular birth control pills as scheduled. You may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding during this month. Your period may come a little earlier or later than usual. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Your period should return to normal within then next month or two.

If your partner feels that her moods swings are affecting her daily life and causing stress in your relationship, she should discuss this with her doctor. Sometimes a change in pills can decrease moodiness.

Discuss your concern for your relationship with your partner. There may be other things going on in her life right now that are causing her more stress, thus making her more sensitive and moody.

The only way to know if your girlfriend is pregnant is to have her perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

If you have not had any unprotected intercourse during the past month, then it is unlikely that you are pregnant. Several things, like stress, illness, change in diet, exercise or sleep patterns, can alter your cycle. This can make your period come earlier or later than usual, or sometimes, not at all. If your period is more than 1 week late, you may want to perform a home pregnancy test.

Anytime unprotected unprotected intercourse occurs, there is the risk of pregnancy. At this time, all you can do is wait. If your partner’s period is more than 1 week late, have her perform a pregnancy test. 

If you are having unprotected intercourse and are not planning a pregnancy, then Plan B would be a good option. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is not a long term method of birth control. It is most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, studies show that it is effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 day) after unprotected sex.

You may want to consider starting a long term method of birth control such as the pill, shot, patch, etc.  Family Planning clinics offer Plan B, gynecological exams and birth control for little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

If you are not taking your pills, you are no longer protected from pregnancy. There is no “carry over” effect. If you have not been taking the pills for 2 weeks, there is the risk of pregnancy if you are having unprotected intercourse.

After discontinuing birth control pills, it may take some time for your body to become adjusted. It may take 1 to 3 months for your periods to return on a monthly basis. Until then, it is common to have some irregular spotting or bleeding. It is unlikely that you got pregnant and had a miscarriage within the past 2 weeks. Keep in mind, women ovulate before they have a bleed, so, even if your periods have not become regular, you can still become pregnant.

Plan B can cause your period to be lighter, heavier or spottier than normal. Your period should return to normal with your next cycle. If you feel you are having pregnancy symptoms or continue to be concerned, perform a home pregnancy test.

No, you cannot reinfect yourself.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It can delay ovulation by about 3-4 days, thus allowing time for the sperm to die off and come out of the vagina. (Sperm can live up to 3 days inside the vagina).

Typically, during a period is when a woman has the least likely risk of pregnancy. However, this can depend on the length of her cycles. If a woman has very short cycles (less than 21 days between periods), then she could possibly ovulate during the time of bleeding. Most women have cycles that are normal, with periods occurring about every 26-28 days. In those women, the chance of pregnancy during a period is low, so Plan B would not prevent pregnancy.

Plan B is relatively safe for everyone. If taking it would make you and your partner feel less anxious, there would be no harm in taking it. Your partner may notice that her next period comes a little earlier or later than usual. It may be a little spottier or heavier than usual. Plan B is not a long term method of birth control.

Keep in mind, condoms, when used correctly & consistently, can be very effective at preventing pregnancy.

If your partner made up the missed pill, and continued to take her next pill on schedule, then the chance of pregnancy is low. It is important that she continues to take her pills correctly & consistently to achieve the best effectiveness.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Condoms can be very effective at preventing pregnacy when used correctly and consistently. Condoms should be placed on the penis when it is erect (hard) and prior to entering into the vagina. Prior to ejaculation, many men leak a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre-cum). This fluid can contain sperm, which can result in pregnancy. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant even if your partner does not “come” inside of you (without a condom).

After first intercourse, some women may have a little spotting or brownish discharge. If there is no foul odor, then i’ts probably nothing of concern. If you find you are still tight, a safer way of relaxing the vagina would be to use your fingers or his fingers, lubricated with saliva or a vaginal lubricant. This could be done as part of foreplay.

Continue using condoms correctly and consistently. You may want to consider beginning a long term method of birth control like the pills, patch, shot, etc.

If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Family Planning clinics offer pregnancy tests, gynecological exams and birth control at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy. If you are not taking your pills, you are not protected from pregnancy, as there is no “carry over” effect.

Stopping your birth control pills in the middle of a pack can cause irregularity in your cycle. Without the hormones from the pills, your body will have to readjust to return to its pre-pill cycle. How long it takes your body to have a bleed is individual. It may take 1 to 3 months after discontinuing the pill for your periods to return on a regular basis. Keep in mind, women have a monthly bleed only because the ovum (egg) is not fertilized during that month’s fertile time. You will ovulate before you have a bleed, making it almost impossible to know when your fertile time is. It is possible to become pregnant before having a regular period.

If you don’t have a period within the next 2-3 weeks, perform a pregnancy test. If you are interested in restarting your birth control pills, call your doctor or clinic for information on how to do this.

If you did not complete the entire course of medication, it may not be completely effective at curing the yeast infection. You may notice an initial subsidence in symptoms. You may again notice the symptoms returning within the next week or two. If this occurs, purchase an over-the-counter treatment (Monistat, Clotriamazole) for yeast infection. Many brands have 1, 3 and 7 day treatments, and cost varies among brands and stores. The length of treatment depends on your convenience, however, 7 days treatments do tend to work better.

As long as you have been taking your pills correctly and consistently for at least 7 days, you would be protected from pregnancy. Plan B is not necessary.

Anytime a man and woman have sex, there is the risk of pregnancy. Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can be a very effective method of preventing pregnancy. Condoms must be applied on the penis before insertion into the vagina.

If you and your partner used the condom correctly, and there were no visible leaks or tears in it, then chances of pregnancy are probably very low. However, if he put his penis inside prior to putting on the condom, then yes, some pre-ejaculatory fluid may have leaked out. This fluid may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

Continue using condoms for every act of sexual intercourse. You may want to consider starting a long term method of birth control like pills, the Depo shot, etc. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

Family Planning Plus clinics offer pregnancy tests, gynecological exams and birth control for little to no cost, depending on household size and income. Please call to schedule an appointment.

No, it does not necessarily mean that your boyfriend “gave” it to you.  Herpes is a virus. Herpes Simplex type 1 (HSV1) is very common. It is the type of herpes responsible for cold sores. Most people are positive for HSV1. Most of us are exposed and infected as children….by our parents, other family members,  or friends. One can be exposed to herpes by kissing or eating after an infected individual. In the past, HSV1 was typically thought of as occurring “above the belt”.

Herpes Simplex type 2 (HSV2), most commonly known as genital herpes, is also a virus. It occurs in approximately 1 in 4 sexually active individuals, so it, too, is common. HSV2 commonly produces sores in the genital area.  The sores usually start out as blisters, then “pop” and drain yellow discharge. After that, sores will crust over and heal. Genital herpes, much like a cold sore on  your lip, can be very painful. In the past, HSV2 was considered to occur “below the belt”.

Okay, some reminders about viruses. You can be exposed to a virus and not become infected. You can be infected with a virus and not have any symptoms. Viruses can lay dormant (asleep) in your body and never cause a problem. If something (illness, stress, pregnancy) occurs that decreases the immune system, that herpes virus can be activated. Once the virus “wakes” up, it can cause symptoms. This is why some folks test positive for herpes but have never had any kind of sores, lips or otherwise. Their immune system is functioning properly, keeping the virus at bay. When the HSV is active and causing sores, it is referred to as an “outbreak”.  Outbreaks can be frequent or infrequent. They can last for 3  to 14 days. 

Because the herpes virus can live dormant in the body forever, it is impossible to tell when you were infected or who infected you, especially if you had previous partners. (If you were a virgin and your boyfriend was your first sexual partner, then, yes, it was him.).  Your boyfriend may or may not be infected with HSV. He may be infected but have no symptoms. If he is positive, he may not know who infected him. So, very hard to “blame” when it comes to the virus infections. Even if you are not having an outbreak, it is still possible to shed the virus, thus exposing your partner. How much exposure any single person needs in order to be infected is unknown.

Of the two types, HSV1 is usually the milder type, with outbreaks typically being less frequent and less severe. HSV2 can occur more frequently, and for obvious reasons, be more uncomfortable. The frequency and severity of outbreaks, however, does depend on an individual’s immune system.

Remember before when I said  HSV1 was typically “above the belt ” and  HSV2 was “below the belt”? With the increase in oral sex, we are seeing more outbreaks of HSV1 in the genital area. If you have a cold sore and perform oral sex, it is possible to infect your partner. HSV2 is not usually known to cause cold sores. Valtrex or Acyclovir is effective at treating herpes infections. These medications can be taken only when needed or on a daily basis, depending on the frequency of outbreaks. There is no cure for herpes.

HSV2 does not cause infertility, nor does it shorten lifespan. People who have HSV can have normal, active sex lives. It is advised to abstain from sex during an outbreak, and to use condoms during sexual activity to protect your partner. Telling a partner about HSV infection can be embarrassing and difficult, but having open, honest communication is important in relationships.

The only way to tell what type of HSV you are infected with is by having a blood test done for HSV1 and HSV2 antibodies. If you have any further questions or concerns, it may help to discuss these with your doctor or clinic. 

Birth control pills are effective after 7 days of daily use. Continue to take your pills correctly and consistently to obtain the most effectiveness.

Sexually transmitted infections due not decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill. It is possible to become pregnant while you have a sexually transmitted infection. However, if you were given antibiotics to treat the infection…..some antibiotics do interfere with birth control pills. We recommend that all pill users use a back up method the week they’re on the antibiotic and for the week after the antibiotic in order to prevent pregnancy.

Another cause of pill failure is not taking pills consistently. For some women, even missing 1 or 2 pills can lower the therapeutic level in the body enough to allow a break thru ovualtion.

The DepoProvera shot is effective for up to 13 weeks. If your injection was due December 30, you are no longer protected. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is a chance of pregnancy. Since you don’t know when or how long it will take your body to ovulate and have a period,  you don’t when a fertile time would be. You will ovulate before having a bleed. Some women ovulate right away after discontinuing the Depo shot, some women may take several months.

Keep in mind, a urine pregnancy test only shows positive at around 4-5 weeks (at the earliest) of pregnancy. So, if you have gotten pregnant in the past 21 days, it would probably be too soon for a urine test to be positive. Your symptoms may be due to your body adjusting to not being on the Depo, and your own cycle is beginning to start. It may just be PMS. Wait another week or two, if your period still hasn’t retuned, then repeat the pregnancy test. Keep in mind, it may take 3-9 months for your period to return on a normal monthly basis after discontinuing the shot. However, it is possible to become pregnant during this time.

In the mean time, if you are not planning to get pregnant, do not have unprotected intercourse. Use condoms, or return to you doctor/clinic to discuss another form of long term birth control. 

You do not need to take Plan B. Just continue taking your birth control pills as scheduled. Occasionally taking your pill a few hours late won’t make much difference in their effectiveness.

Depending on where your partner is at in her cycle, the risk of pregnancy could be high.When a condom mishap occurs, taking emergency contraception is a good option. Showering after unprotected sex has no benefit, as the sperm have already made it into the uterus. 

Emergency contraception (Plan B, One step), helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It contains progestin, a hormone found in birth control pills. ECPs contain a larger dose of progestin than regular birth control pills.  It does not contain estrogen, so it is relatively safe for everyone. ECPs are most effective when taken within 24 hours after intercourse. However, studies also show that they can be effective even when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.

Plan B can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies by women 17 and older. Teens under 17 require a prescription. It costs around $45, depending on the pharmacy.

If your partner takes Plan B, she may experience some irregular spotting during this next cycle. Her next period may be a little earlier or later than usual. Her bleeding may be spottier than usual.
Either way, if your partner’s next peiod is more than 1 week late, she should perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic.
Family Planning clinics offer Plan B and pregnancy testing at little to no cost, depending on age, household size and income.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the chance of pregnancy. The amount of time the intercourse lasted does not affect pregnancy risk. 

Prior to ejaculation, men will leak a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid from the penis. This fluid (precum) may contain sperm and result in pregnancy.

If your next period is more than one week late, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic.

Birth control pills are effective after 7 days of daily use. After a month, if you are continuing to take your pills correctly and consistently, then it is very unlikely that you would get pregnant.

Remember that certain antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of your pills. It is best to either abstain from sex or use codoms the week you’re on the antibiotics and the week after.

Irregular bleeding and spotting can be normal. It can occur due to stress, illness, or some medications. Most women experience irregularity in their bleeding at some time in their lives. If your partner is on the birth control pill, make sure she is taking the pills correctly and consistently. Missing pills or taking them late will cause spotting, as well as decreasing the effectiveness of the pills. Some irregular bleeding / spotting is common while taking the DepoProvera shot.

However, persistent spotting / bleeding, especially after intercourse, may be a sign of a vaginal infection. If this continues, advise your partner to have an infection check. Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings. Vaginal infection checks are offerred at little to no cost, depending on household size and income.

The DepoProvera shot is effective for about 13 weeks. Once the due date for the next shot has passed, consider yourself unprotected. After discontinuing the shot, some women have a period right away, some take several months to have a period. Chances are that you will ovulate before you have a bleed. Therefore, it is possible to get pregnant without having a period.

Consider restarting the shot, or starting another long term method of birth control. Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can be very effective. If you are interested in having a pregnancy test or restarting the shot, Family Planning clinics offer both. Please call to schedule an appointment.

If you take your birth control pills correctly and consistently,it is unlikely that you would get pregnant.

If you are taking your pills correctly & consistently, then spotting/ break thru bleeding does not mean they are less effective at preventing pregnancy. It does, however, mean that they are not regulating your cycle as they should be. If this is a persistent problem, meaning you are having break thru bleeding during your hormone pills for more than 3 months in a row, call you healthcare provider. You may need a change in pills to achieve good cycle control and eliminate that irregular bleeding.

It is highly unlikely that you were infected with HIV or anything else during the blood withdrawal. It is the state health department’s policy to use a sterile needle and new blood container for each patient. Additionally, universal precautions, like wearing gloves and disposing of used needles, are used.

It takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the HIV antibodies to be detected in your blood.  Therefore, if you were recently infected prior to your test, it could be too soon for the antibodies to reach a level high enough to be detected.

At Family Planning Clinics, we recommend that a person have two HIV tests, especially if he/she has risk factors for this. We advise clients to return for a second HIV test in approximately 3-6 months after the first. In that waiting period, though, it is very important to either abstain from sex or practice safe sex to avoid infection. 

Most likely, the visit to the health clinic and your getting sick is a coincidence. Common colds and viruses can cause a wide range of sick symptoms, including sore throat, fatigue, swollen glands, etc. Make sure you are taking good care of yourself. Eating right and getting enough sleep are two important things that can help keep you healthy.

If you have further concerns, please call the state health clinic for more information.

Zithromax (or Azithromycin) is a one dose treatment for chlamydia. It is packaged in many different ways. The CDC recommended dose for chlamydia treatment is Zithromax (Azithromycin) 1 gram (1000 milligrams) by mouth ,for one dose, one time.

Most pharmacies carry 500mg tablets of Zithromax. Therefore, the treatment would consist of (2) 500mg tablets. Some pharmacies have the 1000mg tablets, thus providing a one tablet, one dose treatment. Zithromax tablets are usually, but not always, pink. However, due to the increased use of generic drugs, color may vary depending upon the manufacturer and pharmacy. Zithromax is also packaged as a powder. The powder is mixed with water and then taken.  All forms are effective.

Condoms, when used correctly & consistently, can be a very effective method of birth control. If your partner did not ejaculate, or ejaculated outside of you, then pregnancy risk is very low. Even if your partner ejaculated inside you (inside the condom), and there is no evidence of the condom breaking or leaking, the risk is very low. Additionally, if your cycles are regular, and you are sure you’re near your period, then you should be out of your fertile time.  If there was no problem with the condom, Plan B is not necessary.

Gonorrhea usually does not harm the fetus during pregnancy. The important thing is that you were diagnosed and treated. Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea are more harmful to the baby at the time of delivery. If you are infected at the time you deliver, the baby could be infected as he/she passes through the birth canal. Babies exposed to these infections at delivery are at increased risk for eye and respiratory infections.

It is important that your current partner (if you have one) also be treated. If your partner is not treated and you have sex with him, you can be reinfected. The safe thing is to abstain from sex until your partner has completed his medication. If there is a possibility that you have been reinfected, please tell your doctor.

Prenatal care includes testing for chlamydia & gonorrhea at the first prenatal visit, and again later in pregnancy. Continue receiving regular prenatal care and taking good care of yourself and your pregnancy. This includes stopping smoking, refraining from alcohol and drug use, and healthy eating.

If you have more questions, please discuss these with your ob doctor.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, there is the risk of pregnancy. Birth control pills are effective after 7 days of daily use. Once you stop the pill, you are no longer protected from pregnancy….there is no “carry over” effect. When you stop and start hormones (any birth control pill, Plan B) frequently within a short amount of time, it is bound to alter your cycle.

Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Additionally, Plan B may make your period occur a little earlier or later than usual.

Breast and nipple tenderness can be a symptom of pregnancy. It can be common in women who are just starting or re-starting birth control pills. It may also be a symptom of a soon to come period. 

Continue taking the OrthoTriCyclen daily. Wait until after you have completed all of the placebo (sugar/green) pills in your pack.  If you do not have a period, perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic.

If you take your pill correctly & consistently most of the time, a late or missed pill once in a while probably won’t decrease the effectiveness that much. It is best to make up (take) the missed pill as soon as possible.

If this is the case, chances of pregnancy are low.

Yes, your friend could have gotten pregnant. It is possible to become pregnant while you are infected with an STD.

Infertility is more likely to occur when a woman has had sexually transmitted infections (like chlamydia & gonorrhea) multiple times. Multiple infections may cause scaring of the fallopian tubes. This blocks the passage of the ovum (egg) to the uterus.

If your friend is more than 1 week late with her next period, she should perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in a clinic. Family Planning clinics offer pregnancy testing at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Normal vaginal discharge can vary, depending on the time of your cycle. During ovulation, when you’re most fertile, the discharge is thin,clear and a larger amount. Closer to your period, when you’re less fertile, vaginal discharge tends to be a thicker,creamier white. It may dry yellow on your panties or pad. Normal vaginal discharge should not smell bad. The amount of discharge depends on hormones; younger women tend to have more discharge.

STDs, like Trich, chlamydia and gonorrhea sometimes have no symptoms. Other times, they can cause changes in the discharge. STDs may cause discharge to appear yellow, green or gray, and have a foul odor. Other vaginal infections, like yeast and bacterial vaginosis are not sexually transmitted, but may also cause changes in discharge. Yeast infection is characterized by white, thick, cottage cheese like vaginal discharge. It usually causes intense itching in the vaginal area. Bacterial vaginosis may appear as a thin, milky, white discharge. BV typically causes the discharge to have a “fishy” odor, which may be more noticable after intercourse. BV may cause burning in the vaginal area or upon urination. Vaginal infections can be cured with medication.

If the above applies to your discharge, you should schedule an appointment for an infection check. Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings to men and women. Infection checks are also offerred at little to no cost, depending on household size & income.

Plan B is most effective when taken within 24 hours after intercourse, but is effective even when taken up to 120 hours (5 days)after unprotected intercourse. Since you were able to take in within 27 hours, it should be very effective. However, nothing is absolute when it comes to unprotected sex and pregnancy.

After taking Plan B, you might experience some irregular spotting or bleeding over the next month. Your period may come a little earlier, later, or be spottier than normal. If you don’t have a period within 4weeks, do a pregnancy, either at home or at a clinic.

If you need a pregnancy test, Family Planning clinics offer these at little to no cost to you. Please call to schedule an appointment.

As long as you have been using your birth control method correctly, pregnancy is unlikely. It is unclear from your question what type of birth control you have been using. However, when you start any hormonal birth control method, you may notice some menstrual irregularities during the first few months of use. These irregularities may include spotting, bleeding between periods, and even a missed period. If you are still worried, you can take a pregnancy test in 2-3 weeks.

Just to be on the safe side, we would recommend that you use the morning after pill (Plan B). The sensation you described does sound as if he may have ejaculated inside of you. Regardless of whether or not this may have happened, pre-ejaculatory fluid may have leaked out of his penis beforehand. This fluid may contain sperm which can cause pregnancy.

The morning after pill helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is available for purchase over the counter at most pharmacies by women 17 and older. Teens under 17 require a prescription. The cost is around $50, depending on the pharmacy. ECPs are most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse/method failure, but studies show that it may be effective  even when taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after.

Family Planning Plus offers Plan B at all of our offices. It is free for anyone under the age of 18. Fees for individuals 18 or older are based on household size and income. Some women qualify for free services, some for reduced fee services, and some may need to pay full fee.  Fees for Plan B range from no cost to $30. Please call one of our offices for an appointment if you live nearby. If we are open, we will be able to see you the same day for emergency contraception (Plan B). If you are interested in starting a regular method of birth control, we can provide you with information about all of your contraceptive options and help you choose a method that’s best for you.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Pregnancy just two weeks after a termination is unlikely, but it is possible.

If you had unprotected intercourse and have not started a long term method of birth control (pill, shot, patch), then taking Plan B would be a good option. Plan B is most effective when take within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse. However, studies show it can be effective when taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Your body is probably still adjusting to not being pregnant anymore, and it may take a while for your hormones to return to their pre-pregnancy state. Keep in mind, you will ovulate before having a period bleed. Thus, it is possible for you to get pregnant again after your termination, without having had your period. It is important for you to use a reliable form of birth control until your body adjusts and your period returns.

If you do not have a period within 4-6 weeks after your termination, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic. Consider starting a long term method of birth control.

Family Planning clinics offer pregnancy testing, STD screening, gyn exams and birth control at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. If you’re interested, please call to schedule an appointment.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is a risk of pregnancy. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. Your next period may be a little earlier or later; it may also be a little spottier or heavier. This is common after use of emergency contraception. That you masturbated and scratched yourself with your fingernail has no effect on your risk of pregnancy.

If your period is more than 2 weeks late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a family planning clinic. Family Planning clinics offer pregnancy tests, STD screenings, gynecological exams and birth control at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. Please call for an appointment if necessary.

There is no evidence that says Plan B could cause tingling or itching in the vaginal area. Itching is a common sign of either irritation or yeast infection.

If the vaginal itching continues or becomes worse, you could try an over the counter yeast medication like Monistat or Clotrimazole. These medications treat yeast and offer relief from vaginal itching.

If your vaginal itching continues despite using an OTC medication, follow up with your doctor or clinic for an infection check. Keep in mind that Plan B may cause you to have some irregular spotting or bleeding throughout your next menstrual cycle. This is common and is self correcting within a month or two.

If you need an infection check, Family Planning clinics offer these at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. Please call for an appointment if necessary.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse there is a chance of pregnancy. However, since you had intercourse two days before your period started, it is unlikely that you are pregnant.

Your partner’s antibiotic use would not cause you to get a yeast infection. Yeast infections are common in women.  Several things can alter your vaginal pH….your medications, having a period, sex, illness. When the vaginal pH becomes unbalanced, an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria can occur. Common vaginal infections like yeast and bacterial vaginosis are not sexually transmitted.

Symptoms of a yeast infection are thick, white, cottage cheese like vaginal discharge and itching or burning in the vaginal area. Bacterial vaginosis is usually characterized by a thin white, milky discharge and “fishy” odor, which may become worse after intercourse.

Over the counter yeast medications (Monistat, etc.) are available at many pharmacies and stores. They are available as a 3 or 7 day treatment. Bacterial vaginosis requires a prescription for an antibiotic.

If you are having abnormal vaginal discharge, you should be seen by your doctor or clinic for an infection check. Family Planning Plus offers infection checks at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. Please call for an appointment if necessary.

Sexually transmitted infections usually do not prevent you from having a period.  Sometimes vaginal infections can cause irregular spotting or bleeding after intercourse.

Clear to white vaginal discharge with no odor is normal. You may notice that the discharge dries yellow on your panties or pad. This is normal and helps maintain vaginal pH at the correct level.

If you are having yellow or green discharge with a foul odor, this is not normal. This can be indicative of an STD.  Other vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or yeast, may cause a change in discharge, but are not sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by thin, white, milky vaginal discharge that has a “fishy” odor. This odor may be more noticeable after intercourse. Yeast infections usually cause thick, white, cottage cheese like discharge, along with intense itching in the vaginal area. Medications are available to treat most vaginal infections.

If you continue to have abnormal vaginal discharge, you should schedule an infection check and/or STD screening. Family Planning clinics offer both at little or no cost. Please call for an appointment if necessary.

A lot of friction occurs during intercourse. You could be having some irritation from this. If your partner was having bleeding or some vaginal discharge, this may have made the irritation worse, and caused some redness. “Jock itch” is common in men. Jock itch is actually a yeast infection which can occur in the groin, on the penis, scrotum and/or inner thighs. It is characterized usually by a shiny, sometimes reddened rash, and itching.  It is not an STD. 

You might want to try an over the counter medication for jock itch. Anti-fungal medications for this condition are available at pharmacies and department stores. Anti-fungals are very effective, but it is important to use the cream/spray for the recommended time (usually 7 days). .

If your rash continues after using medication, becomes worse, or you begin having pain or blisters, you should be seen by your family physician or family planning clinic. Family Planning Plus offers free STD screening for men and women. Please call for an appointment if necessary.

When used correctly & consistently, condoms are very effective at preventing pregnancy.  If you used a condom every time, the chances that you are pregnancy is low. However, only abstinence is 100% effective.

Things like stress, illness, medications, even a change in activity level, can alter your periods, making them come early, late or not at all. Additionally, you have a history of having an irregular cycle. Women who have irregular cycles can have periods that are as close together as 21 days or as far apart as 40 days. Some women may skip periods. This does make keeping track of your period more difficult. Wait until your period is more than 1 week late. After this, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at a clinic. If your pregnancy test is negative, then wait until the next month. If you miss two periods in a row, you may want to consider making an appointment for a gynecological exam.

Family Planning clinics offer gyn exams, birth control and STD screening at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. Please call for an appointment.

Anytime you have unprotected sex or a method failure (like a broken condom), there is a risk of pregnancy. If you were having your period, or just ended it, you are less likely to be fertile at that time. During mid-cycle, which is usually when you’re ovulating, chances of pregnancy are higher.

If your partner pulled out right away, before he ejaculated, it is unlikely that any sperm leaked into your vagina. If you are not on a long term birth control method like the pill, shot, etc., and you want more peace of mind, you might consider taking emergency contraception. Emergency contraceptive pills help prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is available for purchase over the counter at most pharmacies by women 17 and older. Teens under 17 require a prescription. The cost is around $45, depending on the pharmacy. ECPs are most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse/method failure, but studies show that it may be effective  even when taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after.

If you are interested in ECPs or a long term method of birth control, Family Planning clinics offer these at little or no cost, depending on your household size & income. Please call for an appointment.

If you were taking your pills correctly and consistently, it is unlikely that you would have gotten pregnant. Continue to take your pills everyday, and begin a new pack on time. Keep in mind that things like illness and some medications will alter your cycle, making it come early, late or not at all. If you do not have a period during your next cycle of placebo (sugar) pills, do a pregnancy test.

If you need a pregnancy test, Family Planning clinics offer these at little to no cost, depending on household size and income. Please call for an appointment.

No, those pills are for you only. You should take them as directed. Be sure to finish all of the pills. Do not have sex with anyone (including your partner) during your treatment and for seven days after you finish the medicine. If you fail to follow these instructions, you could become reinfected. You should contact your doctor to request medication for your partner as well.  If your partner cannot afford a trip to the doctor and you live in our service area, have your partner contact one of our offices for an appointment for a free STD screening.  Your partner should specify that he or she has been exposed to trich, and we will be able to provide him/her with treatment.

Whenever you have unprotected sex, pregnancy is always possible. If you do not wish to be pregnant, please use some type of birth control. Free condoms are available at all of our offices. If you are interested in started a hormonal method of birth control (like the pill or the shot), please call one of our offices for an appointment. If you are a PA resident between the ages of 18 and 44, lack medical insurance, and meet income guidelines, you may be eligible for free birth control through the state MA waiver program (SelectPlan for Women). We can apply for you at your first appointment.

In the meantime, either abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms. If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test.

Some women may experience irregular spotting or bleeding after taking Plan B.  You may notice some irregular spotting throughout your next cycle, this is normal. Your next period may be a little earlier or later than normal. It may be spottier or heavier than normal. These are all common after Plan B use. If your next period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test.

If you are not on a long term method of birth control and not using condoms, you may want to consider starting one (pills, shot, ring, patch). Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. If you are interested in starting  birth control or need a pregnancy test, Family Planning clinics offer these at little to no cost, depending on your household size and income.

It is possible that your partner didn’t know he was urinating. During sex a lot of pressure is put on the bladder (in men & women). This may cause one to need to urinate right after sex. Since it can take several minutes for an orgasm sensation for completely fade, your partner may have been confused about what he was feeling. He may not have felt the urge to urinate or known he was urinating until it was “too late”. 

What can happen to you? Whether its intercourse or urinating inside your vagina, having unprotected sex puts you at risk for vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis, yeast), as well as sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, if you are not on a long term method of birth control, you are also at risk for pregnancy. 

You may want to consider having an STD screening done. Family Planning clinics offer free STD screenings for men and women. Testing includes blood work for HIV & syphilis, and a urine sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Infection checks are also available. Please call one of our clinics for an appointment.

Yes, you could become pregnant. Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is the risk of pregnancy. Since you last Depo shot was in September, you are no longer protected by it. It can take 3-6 months for your period to return on a regular basis. When you ovulate will depend on your body.  However, you will ovulate before having a bleed. Due to this, you could get pregnant without having a period. After discontinuing the Depo shot, some women become pregnant right away, others may take up to 2 years.

Depending on when this occurred, emergency contraception is an option. Emergency contraception (Plan B, etc.) helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is not to be used as a regular, long term method of birth control. ECPs are most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, but studies show they may be effective when taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected intercourse.  ECPs may be purchased over the counter at many pharmacies. You must be 17 or older to buy them, under age 17 requires a prescription. The cost is about $45 or more, depending on the pharmacy.

Your bleeding after intercourse may be due to irritation of the cervix from sex, a vaginal infection or it may be due to no problem at all–just spotting. If this spotting after intercourse continues or if you don’t have a period, its a good idea to have a pregnancy test and/or infection check.

If you are interested in getting emergency contraception, a pregnancy test or infection check, our Family Planning Plus clinics offer all of these at little to not cost, depending on your household size and income. Please call one of our clinics for an appointment.

Anytime you have unprotected sex or a method failure, there is the risk of pregnancy. Depending on when this incident occurred, emergency contraception (like Plan B) would be a good option. Emergency contraceptives are a one time dose of  levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel is a progestin that is in many birth control pills. The Plan B (and others) contain a larger dose than a single birth control pill. It prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation. ECPs do not cause a termination nor do they harm an already existing pregnancy. The sooner after unprotected sex that you take them, the more effective they are. However, research shows that they may be effective even when taken 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected intercourse.

Emergency contraceptives may be purchased over-the-counter at many pharmacies by women age 17 and older. Teens under 17 require a prescription. Emergency contraceptives usually cost around $45 or more, depending on the pharmacy. You may want to consider starting a long term method of birth control (pill, shot, patch, etc.).

If you are in need of emergency contraception and are unable to afford it, Family Planning Plus clinics do offer this. Plan B is available at little to no cost, depending on your age, household size and household income. Please call one of our clinics for an appointment.

Currently the only methods of birth control available for men are abstinence or condoms. There is ongoing research into both a male birth control pill and a male birth control shot. Who knows, maybe in the future? 

Just continue to take your pills as you normally would. Do not skip any pills. Because you received an extra large dose of hormones during this pack (since you took Plan B), you may notice some temporary nausea and some changes with your bleeding patterns. You may have some bleeding in between your periods, and/or your next period may be lighter with fewer days of bleeding. You may miss your next period altogether. Keep taking your regular birth control pills everyday. If you miss two periods in row, take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy is extremely unlikely though.

 The likelihood of pregnancy from the incident you described is extremely low. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any statistics regarding pregnancy occurring from pre-ejaculatory fluid (the fluid that leaks out of the penis prior to ejaculation). The studies that have been done have mostly examined whether or not there is any motile sperm (sperm capable of moving and fertilizing an egg) in this fluid. Some of these studies have determined that there is no motile sperm and some have found that there is. Therefore, to be on the safe side we would recommend that you use the morning after pill within 72 hours of the incident.

If you and your boyfriend are going to continue to be intimate, please use a method of birth control from now on. Condoms can be purchased almost anywhere. We offer free condoms at all of our offices. If you are interested in starting a hormonal method of birth control (like the pill), call one of our offices for an appointment.

Your contraception should be effective, especially if you did not miss any pills by 24 hours or more in the previous cycle. We do recommend that you take your pills at the same time everyday (or at least within a three hour period everyday) from now on.

Please keep in mind that like all birth control methods, Plan B does not always work. Therefore, you may or may not be pregnant. However, the Plan B that you took earlier that day will reduce your risk of pregnancy from the incident that occurred later in the day. If you plan to continue to have sex, please consider using a regular method of birth control. Plan B should only be used in an emergency for one act of unprotected sex. Regular methods of birth control (like the pill or the shot) are much more effective with continued acts of intercourse. Please contact one of our offices for an appointment.

In the meantime, either abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms. If you skip your next period, take a pregnancy test.

No, it would not affect the results of your pregnancy test. However, the test could not tell you if you became pregnant from the sex that occurred three hours earlier. It would only tell you if you were already pregnant.

As long as you are taking your pills correctly (around the same time everyday) and as long as you started a new pill pack on time, the pill provides adequate protection against pregnancy, even during your placebo pill week. Pregnancy is unlikely and the morning after pill is unnecessary.

However, if you were supposed to start a new pill pack on Sunday and you didn’t, pregnancy is a bit more likely since you’ve extended your hormone-free period. In that case, use the morning after pill within 72 hours of the unprotected sex to reduce your risk of pregnancy.

Lower back pain can be caused by a number of different things, from a pulled muscle to a kidney infection. If the pain is so bad that you sometimes have trouble standing up, you should be evaluated by a medical professional. Contact your doctor right away.

If you do not wish to be pregnant, please do not continue to have unprotected sex. Use a method of birth control.  To reduce your risk of STDs, use condoms as well. Contact one of our offices if you would like to start a method of birth control. If you are worried that you may have contracted a sexually transmitted infection, call one of our offices for a free screening.

As long as you and your partner have not had sex with anyone else and as long as you were both treated at the same time, you should be fine. You both may want to consider being retested for chlamydia in 6-8 weeks just to be on the safe side.

You may have some type of vaginal infection that may or may not have been sexually transmitted. Please contact one of our offices for an infection check appointment. We can also run a pregnancy test at the same time. If you live outside of our service area, contact your regular medical provider or locate a Family Planning office in your area. Amenorrhea (lack of menstrual bleeding) can occur for a number of different reasons. You really should be evaluated by a medical professional.

If your girlfriend takes her pill regularly (within a three hour time period every day) and if she started a new pack on time, there was no need for her to use the morning after pill. The pill provides adequate protection against pregnancy even during the placebo pills (the last week of pills when a period normally occurs). Pregnancy is highly unlikely because:

• your girlfriend is on the pill
• she also used the morning after pill
• you did not ejaculate inside the vagina
• the incident occurred just after she had her period

Because of the extra large dose of hormones your girlfriend received when she used the morning after pill, she may experience some menstrual irregularites. She may have some mid-cycle bleeding (bleeding during her hormone pills), she may have a much lighter period than she usually does, she may bleed fewer days during her next period, or she may miss her next period entirely. If she does miss her period, have her take a pregnancy test, just to be sure.

The likelihood of pregnancy from the incident you described is extremely low. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a percentage as I was unable to find any statistics regarding pregnancy occurring from pre-ejaculatory fluid. The studies that have been done have mostly examined whether or not there is any motile sperm (sperm capable of moving and fertilizing an egg) in this fluid. Some of these studies have determined that there is no motile sperm and some have found that there is. Therefore, to be on the safe side we would recommend that you use the morning after pill within 72 hours of the incident. Since it is too late to do that, simply wait until your next period is due. If you miss it, take a pregnancy test. But again, pregnancy is unlikely.

If you and your boyfriend are going to continue to be intimate, please use a method of birth control from now on. Condoms can be purchased almost anywhere and are often free at some clinics. If you are interested in hormonal birth control (like the pill), find the nearest Family Planning or Planned Parenthood and contact them for an appointment. You do not need parental consent to receive contraception in California.

Regarding abortion, a parental consent law does exist in California. However, the law is currently enjoined in the court system and is not being enforced. A first trimester abortion (an abortion performed during the first three months of pregnancy) can cost anywhere from $300 to $950. Rather than having to deal with an unintended pregnancy and making a very difficult decision, please start using birth control or abstain from sexual contact.

If you are using your birth control pills correctly and consistently, and have been taking them for at least 7 days, then pregnancy is unlikely.

Abdominal/ pelvic cramping may be due to several things. It may be caused by intestinal issues like gas or stool passing through the colon. It may be due to gynecological  issues such as pre-menstrual cramping or vaginal infections (yeast, bacterial vaginosis, STDs). Some women have pelvic cramping because of a bladder or urinary tract infection.

If your cramping continues, becomes worse, or you have discomfort with urination, consider having an infection check. Our clinics offer these at little to no cost, depending on your household size & income. Call one of our clinics to schedule an appointment.

The most effective way to visualize a pregnancy in the early stages is by a trans-vaginal ultrasound (TVS). This is done by inserting the ultrasound probe into the vagina and visualizing the uterus through the vagina. An pelvic ultrasound (putting the probe over the lower part of the abdomen) is less accurate at diagnosing an early pregnancy, but may be effective a detecting an ectopic pregnancy.

When a woman has a positive pregnancy test, it is important to identify the location of the pregnancy. The fertilized egg (zygote) may be correctly implanted in the uterus, or it may have implanted in the fallopian tube.  Implantation in the fallopian tube is called an “ectopic pregnancy”. If the pregnancy is allowed to grow within the tube, it will cause the fallopian tube to rupture. This is a medical emergency which requires surgery.

If your ultrsound did not visualize a pregnancy in either your fallopian tube(s) or your uterus, then no, you should not be pregnant. However, if you continue to have positive pregnancy tests, or feel that you are having pregnancy symptoms, discuss this with your ob/gyn provider.

If done accurately, most home pregnancy tests are very reliable. If you have not have any unprotected intercourse, then the risk of pregnancy is decreased.

Things like stress, illness, medications, lack of sleep can alter your cycle, making them come early, late or sometimes, not at all. Continue to use condoms with every act of intercourse. If you do not have a period next month, and your pregnancy tests remain negative, consider making an appointment with your doctor or one of our clinics for a gyn exam. If you’re interested, call one of our clinic sites to schedule an appointment.

If you are using your birth control method correctly & consistently, then you are protected and pregnancy is unlikely. The chance that sperm would be transferred into your vagina by his/your hand is also very unlikely.

The yeast infection pill with not alter the effectiveness of the Plan B. Do keep in mind that you may experience some irregular bleeding or spotting during your next cycle–this can be common after taking Plan B.

If your period is more than 1 week late, do a pregnancy test, either at home or at one of our clinics.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, there is the risk of pregnancy. Your risk depends on several factors:

If you are using a long term birth control method (pill, shot, patch, ring) correctly & consistently, then you were protected, and should not have gotten pregnant.

If you were having or just ending your period, then the risk of pregnancy is lower, because you are less fertile at that time. However, if you were in the middle of your cycle, around ovulation time, then this would make the risk of pregnancy higher.

Prior to ejaculation, most men leak a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid from their penises. This fluid (pre-cum) may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy. This is one of the reasons why the withdrawal (“pull-out”) method is ineffective.

Consider using condoms and starting a long term method of birth control. If your period is more than 1 week late, you may want to perform a pregnancy test, either at home or at one of our clinics. If you are interested in starting birth control or need a pregnancy test, call one of our clinics for an appointment.

It takes at least 7 days for the birth control pills to become effective. The timing of your girlfriend’s cycle would determine whether pregnancy risk is “high” or “low”. If she is having or just ending her period, then the likelihood of pregnancy is low. If she is in the middle of her cycle, then she may be fertile, which makes the likelihood of pregnancy higher.

Even if you didn’t ejaculate inside your partner, some amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre-cum) usually leaks out–this is something that guys can’t control. This fluid may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

Advise your partner to continue taking her pills correctly & consistently. Using condoms is a good back up method with the pill.  If your partner does not get her period during her placebo (sugar) pills, she may want to perform a pregnancy test, either at home or in one of our clinics.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, you need to be concerned about being infected with an STD. Having unprotected sex with multiple partners increases the risk / chances of being infected.  Using condoms and limiting the number of sexual partners you have are two ways to reduce your risks.

If you are not practicing “safe sex”, you might consider having an STD screening. At our clinics, STD screening is free. It’s easy–a blood draw to test for HIV and syphilis, and a urine sample to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you’re interested, call one of our clinics to schedule an appointment.

It does take at least 7 days for the birth control pill to be effective. However, if you started your pills during your period (on Thursday), and had sex the following Sunday, your risk of pregnancy would be very low.

Continue taking your pills consistently & correctly. If you do not get a period during your placebo (sugar) pill week, you may want to do a pregnancy test, either at home or our clinic, for peace of mind.

Menstrual periods can be late for a number of different reasons, including stress and anxiety. Wait another week. If you still don’t get your period, take a pregnancy test. When used correctly, condoms are approximately 98-99% effective. Condoms are more likely to fail when:

• you fail to use the condom from start to finish. The condom should be rolled onto the erect penis prior to any vagina-penis contact.
• you use an oil-based lubricant with a latex condom. Oil weakens latex.
• you use an expired condom. Always check the expiration date on the condom package before using.
• they are stored improperly. Extreme temperatures damage condoms. Store condoms at room temperature in a sharps-free environment.
• they slip off inside the vagina during removal. The male should hold onto the base or rim of the condom while removing the penis from the vagina.
• they break. Most commonly, condoms break because of an air pocket inside the condom. Always pinch the reservoir tip of the condom while rolling the condom on to avoid extra air in the tip. Be sure there are no air pockets in the sides of the condom prior to sex.

If you have never had sexual intercourse….that means that a penis has never been in your vagina, then you do not need to worry about being pregnant.

If you are on the birth control pills and have taken them everyday, it can be normal to skip a period once in a while. One of the ways the pills work is by thinning the build-up of the uterine lining. Some months the build-up of uterine tissue is so thin that there is nothing to “bleed” out. (Remember the uterine lining builds up with blood vessel rich tissue every month, in preparation for a pregnancy. When no pregnancy occurs, the tissue dies off and comes out the vagina.) Start a new pill pack on time, and continue to take your pills every day. You’ll probably have some bleeding with your next cycle.

If you are on the Depo shot, then you would be expected to not have a period. The Depo shot also thins the uterine lining. Because the Depo shot is good for 3 months, you have no monthly withdrawal of hormones like one does on the pill. This is why the Depo shot makes your periods stop. (Periods return when you stop the Depo).

If you have further questions or concerns, call one of our clinics or your doctor.

Not very likely. Since you urinated prior to sex, it is unlikely that there was much, if any, sperm mixed in with the pre-ejaculatory fluid that may have spilled into the vagina when your condom broke.  Also if your girlfriend started the pill with her period, it is doubtful that she would have ovulated.

Yes, you may be pregnant. The only way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test. Call one of our offices for an appointment or purchase a home pregnancy test at the drug store. If you are pregnant, the earlier you know, the better.  Early prenatal care and taking good care of yourself during pregnancy can improve your chances of having a healthy baby. If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, earlier procedures are safer.  Just in case you aren’t pregnant, do not have unprotected sex again.  Either abstain from sex or use condoms.

Pregnancy is always a possibility when a male and a female have sex. However, you did take the morning after pill within 72 hours of the unprotected sex so you did reduce your risk. It’s also good that you started regular birth control pills. Remember that they do not become effective until you take a full week’s worth of pills. Until then, be sure to use condoms or abstain from sex. During your first three months of pill use, you can expect menstrual irregularities (a missed period, breakthrough or mid-cycle bleeding), breast tenderness, nausea, and moodiness. These side effects are also symptoms of early pregnancy.  If you are worried about the possibility of pregnancy, take a pregnancy test after you finish your first pack of pills.

Whenever you miss birth control pills, especially when you miss more than one, you can expect changes in your bleeding patterns. This is because your body is experiencing hormonal fluctuations due to the missed pills. Your period was lighter this time because you had some mid-cycle bleeding. Since you did have some bleeding during your placebo (sugar) pills, pregnancy is unlikely.

Unless you have been keeping strict & accurate records of your cycle, it is almost impossible to know the exact day you got pregnant. Sperm are able to survive for 3 days in the vagina. Then the egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and takes about 7 days to travel down into the uterus.
If you have further concerns about your dates, discuss them with your OB doctor or midwife during your prenatal visit.

Most STDs will show up within a week or two. Your discomfort may be due to stretching and friction of the tissue since it was your first time. However, reddness and itching can be symptoms of a yeast infection. You may want to try an over-the-counter yeast medication. If this does not relieve your discomfort, see your ob/gyn for an infection check.

Remember to not have sex while you are using any vaginal medication. When using condoms, an OTC vaginal lubricant (like KY) can help make intercourse more comfortable.

Yes, pregnancy is possible because of pre-ejaculatory fluid. This fluid leaks out of the penis during intercourse but prior to ejaculation (cumming). Pre-ejaculatory fluid can contain sperm and thus, could cause a pregnancy if the sex occurred around the time of ovulation (when an egg is released). If you have missed a period, take a pregnancy test. If you plan to continue to have sex, be sure to use a method of birth control. Contact one of our offices and make an appointment. We can perform a pregnancy test (if indicated) and help you choose a type of birth control that’s best for you.

Probably nothing. Of course, if he has a sexually transmitted infection, you could become infected. If you are concerned about an infection, having a vaginal swab for chlmydia and gonorrhea would be a good idea. 

Women without a uterus cannot get pregnancy /carry a child.  There would be nothing for the fertilized egg (zygote) to attach to. I am assuming that you lack a uterus due to a total or partial hysterectomy; you may or may not have your ovaries or fallopian tubes. If you also have no ovaries, you would be considered post-menopausal (meaning your periods have ended and you are no longer fertile). If you have your ovaries,they may still be slightly functional hormone wise, depending on your age. This can help ease your transition into menopause.

If your uterus was removed due to a female cancer, then it is important that you continue to have yearly gyn exams for vaginal pap tests. Having a history of uterine or other female cancer may make you at risk for vaginal cancer. If your uterus was removed for a reason other than cancer, then you only need 1 follow up pap test. If this is normal, you no longer need to continue paps. You do, however, need to continue your yearly gyn visits for a breast exam and pelvic exam.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept unused packs of pills.

Relax.

If you are pregnant, the home pregnancy tests should be showing positive by now. When first starting the Depo shot it is very common to have irregular spotting and/or bleeding. It may take your body 3-9 months to become adjusted to being on Depo.

After continued use of the Depo shot, you should have little or no period bleeding. 80% of all women using the Depo shot stop having periods within one year of use. The reason for this is that the shot doesn’t allow the uterine lining to build up each month. If there’s no lining building up and dying off, there’s nothing to bleed out. This is a benefit of the Depo shot that many women enjoy. When you receive your shots on time, Depo’s effectiveness is about 99.9%.

Thats a good question. If you had sex with someone who has a STD, no, its not a definite that you will be infected. It is possible to be exposed but not infected.

Think of it this way: you are in a room with two of your friends. You have a cold. You shake hands and talk with both of them. Friend A comes down with a cold a week later, Friend B stays healthy. Confusing? Sure.

According to Contraceptive Technology, the risk of becoming  infected depends on: having intercourse with an infected person, the transmissibility of the particular infection, and the gender of the infected person.  Women are more likely than men to become infected with an STD  from a single sex act. Women can also have more long term consequences from STD infection (pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnance, pelvic pain, cervical cancer).

Sexually transmitted infections are most common in people under age 25. According to the most recent CDC statistics, in 2010 there were 1.3 million new cases of chlamydia, with 50% of these being people ages 15-24. Thats an infection rate of 1 in 4 people.

There were 300,000 new cases of gonorrhea. About 50% of all sexually active people will acquire HPV infection. Currently approximately 20 million people in the US already are infected….and may not even know it.

For even more STD stats, including those on HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.

No one can say what the specific risk for you is with any one sex act. It is wise to approach each sex act as it is: a chance to be infected.  Using condoms can decrease your risk of infection. As they say, “its better to be safe than sorry” .

Contact the medical care provider who prescribed your antibiotics right away and explain your situation. Your doctor knows which type of infection you are being treated for and can better advise you.

Yes, pregnancy is definitely possible. If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test. In the meantime, if you do not wish to be pregnant, either abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms. If you’d like to restart a hormonal method of birth control, talk to your regular medical care provider or contact one of our offices for an appointment. If you are seeking pregnancy, ask your doctor for preconceptual counseling. Research has shown that the care you take yourself before becoming pregnant can directly affect the outcome of your pregnancy.

Yes, that is perfectly normal. While on the pill, women can expect less bleeding and fewer days of bleeding during their periods. This is especially true during the first three months of pill use as your body is adjusting to the new hormone levels. It is not uncommon for women to experience breakthrough bleeding (bleeding or spotting in between periods), a missed period, or an early or late period. Once your body becomes used to the new levels (after about three months of pill use), your menstrual periods should become very regular. However, your periods should continue to be lighter with fewer days of bleeding.  Any bleeding or spotting during your last week of pills should be considered your period.

Breast tenderness or soreness during the first three months of pill use is another very common side effect.  That too is completely normal, but should subside after a few months.

ABSOLUTELY! But I’m glad people are asking questions. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know!

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.  It is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning.

The cause of BV is not fully understood. The vagina normally contains mostly “good” bacteria, and fewer “harmful” bacteria. BV develops when there is an increase in harmful bacteria.

Not much is known about how women get BV, and any woman can get it, including those who have never had sex.  However, some activities or behaviors can upset the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina and put women at increased risk. A few of these activities include douching, having a new sexual partner, and/or having multiple sexual partners. Also, sometimes women will get BV after taking a course of antibiotics or medication (medications can sometimes affect the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina).

We do know that women cannot get BV from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or from touching objects around them.

There’s not a lot you can do to prevent the infection. Proper hygiene may help, including wiping from front to back during a bowel movement. Since douching can cause BV, it would follow that not douching can help to prevent it. Also, sexual abstinence or limiting the number of your sexual partners can reduce your risk.  

If you do get BV, be sure to use all of the medicine prescribed for you, even if the signs and symptoms go away.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm

If you take your pills correctly and consistently, then they are effective after 7 days. You would be protected and the risk of pregnancy is low.

Keep in mind that it can take your body up to 3 months to become adjusted to the pill cycle. In the beginning, periods may come a little early, a little late or not at all. Continue to take your pills every day, and begin a new pack as scheduled. If you don’t have a period on your second month of the green pills, call the clinic to schedule a pregnancy test.

Stomach pain is a vague term. To determine the cause of the pain, it is important to know when it started, where in the abdomen the pain is, and the nature of the pain (sharp, dull, etc). Abdomenal pain may be due to a gynecological (“female”) problem or due to a gastro-intestinal problem. Such things as a stomach virus, gas, constipation, or heartburn can cause discomfort.  Female issues, like PMS or vaginal infections may be the cause of discomfort.

If your partner continues to have stomach pain, she should follow up with her family doctor for evaluation. If her pain would become more severe, especially with  the presence of  fever, vomiting or diarrhea, then a visit to the nearest emergency room is recommended.

If you have been taking your pills correctly and consistently, then you are protected during your period week. You started your new pack of pills on time. The chance of pregnancy is unlikely.

If your birth control method is the pill, patch or ring, it is effective after 7 days. The DepoProvera shot is effective 24 hours after injection. Just be sure that you are using your method correctly and consistently, and you should be fine.

Any time you have intercourse there is a risk of pregnancy. Condoms, when used correctly & consistently, can be very effective. With perfect use, condoms can be 98% effective, with typical use, about 85% effective. Some reasons why condoms fail are: not using one, not using a new one for each sex act, using a condom incorrectly, and the condom breaking or slipping off. The condom slipping off the penis either during intercourse or upon removal of the penis from the vagina is the most common cause of condom failure.

While nausea can be a symptom of pregnancy, don’t get upset over 1 or 2 episodes. You may be coming down with a stomach virus. Many things can alter your cycle–illness, lack of sleep, stress. Wait until your period is more than 1 week late. If its still hasn’t happened, do a pregnancy test.

As long as you have take your pills correctly and consistently, you should not need to worry about pregnancy. When first starting your pills, it is common for your period to start a little before or a little after your placebo (sugar) pills. It can take up to 3 months for your body to become adjusted to the pill cycle. Most women who are on the pill don’t begin bleeding until day 4 or later of the placebo pills. Any bleeding/spotting that occurs during the last pill week is considered to be a period.

Start your new pack of pills on time, and continue to take them every day, around the same time. If you do not have a period will your second pill pack, call the clinic/ doctor.  They may want to perform a pregnancy test, just to rule that out, or you may need a change in your pills.

No, it is highly unlikely she would be pregnant.

If she takes her birth control pills everyday (even though she may have been off by a few hours here or there), we would not have recommended Plan B. She is already getting a sufficient amount of hormones from her regular birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Since she used Plan B, she can expect some menstrual irregularities due to the extra large dose of hormones. Her period may be early, late, or spotty (meaning she may bleed for a few days, stop for a day or so, and then bleed some more). She may even miss her next period if the hormones prevent her uterine lining from building up.

She should continue to take her regular birth control pills at the same time everyday (or at least within a three hour time period everyday). If she does miss her period, wait three weeks. If she doesn’t have any bleeding by that time, have her take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

If it has been at least seven days since you finished your treatment, you should be cured and your partner could not have gotten your infection (if you had one).

If your partner had an STD, that is a different story.

First, different types of sexually transmitted infections are treated with different types of antibiotics/medications. If your partner had an infection that is not treated with the type of medication you were given, then your treatment would have no effect on the infection.

If your partner had the same type of infection for which you were treated, it really depends on where you were in your treatment.  Also, if your partner did have the same type of infection, your partner should have been treated also.

Contact the medical office that treated you. They will ask you appropriate questions to determine whether 1) you need to be tested again, 2) you need additional treatment, and 3) your partner needs treatment.

Anytime the penis enters the vagina without the use of a birth control method, there is a risk of pregnancy. Sometimes guys will leak a small amount of pre-ejaculatory fluid into the vagina. This fluid can contain sperm and cause a pregnancy.

Taking Plan B was the right thing to do. Plan B helps prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. After taking Plan B , you may notice a change in your cycle. You may experience some irregular spotting. Your period may be a little earlier or later than usual, and it may be spottier. This is common. Your body will readjust itself over the next month or two.

If you are interested in starting a reliable, long term birth control method, please call one of our clinics for an appointment.

If you did not take your birth control pills for a week, you were not protected by them. The pills are only effective while you are taking them.

Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can be very effective at preventing pregnancy. With typical use, condoms are about 85% effective.

However, even with a condom, there can be a chance of pregnancy.  If you’re interested in restarting your pills, and are unsure about how to do this, give your clinic a call for instructions. Otherwise, continue using condoms with every act of intercourse and look for your period when its due.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse there is the risk of pregnancy. If the condom slips off, consider that sperm may leak out of the condom and into the vagina. Sperm may survive in the vagina for up to 3 days. A pregnancy may occur.

The light spotting you experienced may have been the result of sexual intercourse, irritation from the condom being left in or just spotting.

If your period started yesterday, and it is “acting” like a normal period,  then there is very little chance that you are pregnant.

If you have take at least 7 days of your birth control pills, your protection is effective. You do not need to take Plan B. Continue taking your birth controls pills daily.

We encourage our pill-users to take their pills everyday within a three hour time period for maximum effectiveness. If you are late taking your pill by an hour or two, you need not worry.  The pill becomes effective after you take a full week’s worth of pills. Therefore, the sexual intercourse that occurred two and a half weeks into your pills was protected and pregnancy would be highly unlikely.

Plan B is an emergency contraceptive that works by delaying ovulation. It is not effective for multiple acts of intercourse on multiple days. The Plan B would have been effective for the first act of unprotected intercourse. However, it would not be effective for the subsequent ones. Because it delays ovulation-making it not happen for 3-4 days- it is possible to get pregnant several days afterwards if you continue to have unprotected intercourse.

Withdrawal method or “pulling out” is not a reliable method since some fluid comes out of the penis prior to ejaculation. This pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre-cum) may contain sperm, which could result in pregnancy.

If you do not have a period within 2-3 weeks, do a pregnancy test. Please consider using a long term reliable form of birth control. If you are interested in this, discuss it with your doctor or call one of our Family Planning clinics for an appointment.

Yes, there is a risk of pregnancy when the condom slips off and is left in the vagina. When this happens, there is no way to tell how much, if any, semen has spilled out into the vagina. Sperm are able to live in the vagina for up to 3 days. Slipping is the most common cause of condom failure and can occur when the condom is too big and/or not held while the penis is exiting the vagina.

If you are on a long term method of birth control (pills, shot, patch, etc) and you use this method correctly and consistently, then you don’t need to worry.

If you are not on a long term method, then taking Plan B would be a good option. Emergency contraceptives (Plan B, Plan B one step, etc.) help prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation. They can be bought over the counter at most pharmacies or at Family Planning clinics.  ECPs are most effective when taken within 24 hours after unprotected intercourse, but can be effective when taken as long as 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.

Prior to ejaculation, pre-seminal fluid can leak out of the penis (during intercourse). Your partner would not necessarily notice this. Pre-seminal fluid can contain sperm. To be on the safe side, you may want to use Plan B.  Plan B consists of one dose of levonorgestrel (a type of hormone that is used in regular birth control pills), is extremely safe to use, and can be taken up to 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex to reduce the risk of pregnancy.  The sooner you take it, the better it works.  According to the manufacturer, approximately 7 out of 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B.

If you are under 18 years old, Plan B is free at all of our offices. If you are 18 or older, fees are based on household size and income. If your income is low enough, you may be eligible for free services.  The most you would pay for Plan B at one of our offices is $30. Please call one of our offices for an appointment. We will be able to see you the same day as long as we are open.

Unfortunately our offices are not always open, and the sooner after unprotected sex that you use Plan B, the better it works. If you are 17 or older, you can also get Plan B without a prescription at most drug stores for $50-60. Call ahead to make sure they have it in stock.

Many girls do experience some pain and bleeding the first time they have sex. Hopefully, your partner knew it was your first time and was gentle. In the future, either abstain or insist that he use a condom. You do not want to risk unintended pregnancy. If you are interested in starting a hormonal method of birth control like the pill, please contact one of our offices for an appointment. All of our services are strictly confidential. Though we do encourage our young patients under 18 to talk with their parents about their decision to use our services, we cannot inform their parents of their visit. Minors are guaranteed the right to privacy regarding reproductive health. 

Regarding your period going off balance, menstrual irregularities can occur for many different reasons including stress. If you miss your next period though, be sure to take a pregnancy test.

If you are pregnant, I would expect the uterus to be enlarged. This is due to the growing pregnancy inside of it. Usually, a doctor is able to feel a change in the size (enlargement)of your uterus at around 8-10 weeks gestation.

If you are not currently pregnant, and have an enlarged uterus, ask you doctor about this. Things that can cause uterine enlargement are previous pregnancies/childbirth, fibroids, and tumors. If you’ve already had a child or children, then it is common for the uterus to be larger than normal. Keep in mind, too, that there is a range of normal when talking about the size of a uterus. A uterus can be “small” normal or “large” normal depending on the individual. Again, discuss this with your OB/GYN provider to alleviate any concerns that you have.

The male condom, if used without spermicide, has an effectiveness rate of 85% with typical use. What this means:  among all couples that use condoms, 15 out of 100 become pregnant in 1 year. The most common reason for failure, besides not using a condom every time, is that the condom breaks, or partially or completely slips off the penis. Slippage is a more common occurrance and happens when the condoms is too large or not held onto when exiting the vagina. It is almost impossible to tell how much, if any semen leaked in to your vagina. If semen leaked on just the outside of the entrance to your vagina, then risk of pregnancy is low.

If you are not taking a long term type of birth control (pill, shot, patch,etc.), then Plan B would be a good option. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation. It is taken after unprotected intercouse (or contraceptive failure, like in this case). It is most effective when taken within 24 hours. However, research has shown that ECPs can be used up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex, but are less effective.

ECPs are sold over the counter for use by women 17 and older. Under 17 requires a prescription. It can be found at most pharmacies and costs between $40 and $50. Family Planning Plus clinics offer Plan B for under $40. Cost is determined by household size & income. Many people qualify for reduced fee or free services. Just call one of the clinics to schedule an appointment.

Unless she actually saw the birth control pill when she vomited, I would not be too worried. Since she vomited an hour after she took her pill, the pill was probably absorbed by then. If she did see the pill when she vomited, she should contact the medical provider who prescribed her pill. They may give her a replacement pill and further instruction.

The only way to know if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. The pull out method is not a reliable method of birth control since pre-ejaculate (fluid that leaks out of the penis prior to ejaculation) can contain sperm. If you do not wish to be pregnant, abstain from sexual intercourse or use a reliable method of birth control. Contact one of our offices for an appointment. We can perform a pregnancy test and discuss your birth control options with you. All of our services are strictly confidential.

The pill is considered effective after one full week of pills. You should be protected.

Yes, pregnancy is a definite possibility. If your period is more than a week late, take a pregnancy test. Just because you’ve had unprotected sex in the past and have not experienced a pregnancy does not mean that you can’t become pregnant now. If your test is negative and you do not want to become pregnant, please use a reliable method of birth control. Contact one of our clinics for an appointment. If you wish, we can perform a pregnancy test and discuss your contraceptive options with you. We also have free condoms available at all of our offices.

If you have been taking your birth control pills as directed, have not missed any pills or taken them late, and as long as the sexual intercourse occurred at least one week after you finished your antibiotic treatment, pregnancy is highly unlikely. Illness and use of certain medications can cause menstrual irregularities (including a missed or late period).  Since you did miss a period though, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side.

You may notice some irregular spotting during this cycle of pills. Your period may be earlier or later. You may notice that your period is spotty– a day or two of bleeding, then off a day, then bleeding again. This would not be unusual. Continue to take your birth control pill every day and your period will get adjusted within the next month or two.

If you’ve been on the pills for 2 weeks, your birth control is effective. Your pill method, combined with the withdrawal method, means that the chance of pregnancy is very unlikely.

Pregnancy is unlikely since ejaculation did not occur. However, if pre-seminal fluid leaked out of his penis while he was inside and if that fluid contained sperm, pregnancy is definitely possible. Your breast tenderness may just mean that your period is about to begin. Breast tenderness is also a very early sign of pregnancy though, and it can occur as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. If you do not get your period in the meantime, take a pregnancy test three weeks from now. If negative, repeat the test every two weeks until you either get your period or have a positive result. Do not risk unintended pregnancy again. Either use a condom or start a hormonal method of birth control. Please contact one of our clinics for an appointment. We can discuss all of your birth control options with you.

Anytime you have unprotected sex, pregnancy is possible.  However, as long as it was a normal period (e.g., same number of days, same amount of bleeding), pregnancy is unlikely. Menstrual irregularities (including early periods) can be caused by a number of different things including certain medications, illness, and stress.

If your Depo shot was due December 27, consider yourself no longer protected against pregnancy. Many women do not have a period right away after discontinuing the shot. It may take up to 6 months for your period to come back on a regular monthly basis.

While breast tenderness is an early symptom of pregnancy, it can also be a symptom that your period will be starting soon. If you are concerned, a pregnancy test may put your mind at ease.

As for the getting kicked in the stomach. The uterus is well protected by layers of skin, fat tissue and muscle. A pregnancy would be well protected, especially in the early weeks, so its not likely that it would do any damage.

If you are using your patches correctly and consistently, then you are still protected during your period/patch off week. You do not need to take Plan B. Just make sure you restart your patches as scheduled.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is a risk of pregnancy. Even if your partner didn’t ejaculate inside of you, there is the possibility that some pre-ejaculate fluid (pre-cum) leaked out of his penis inside of you. This fluid can contain sperm.

You didn’t mention if you are using any long term birth control (pill, shot, patch). If you are, and you’re using this method correctly, then you were protected. Sometimes things like stress, illness and lack of sleep can make periods early or late. Wait until your period is more than 1 week late. If it still doesn’t appear, do a pregnancy test.

You might consider starting a reliable long term method of birth control. If you’re interested, just call one of our clinics for an appointment.

If you  forget your pills on a regular basis, then yes, you are increasing your risk of pregnancy. In order for the pills to give you effective, reliable birth control, it is important to take the pills correctly and consistently. If you forget a pill, make it up. It is also important to begin a new pack of pills on time.

Forgetting a pill now and then (and making it up) shouldn’t have that much affect on the effectiveness. If you miss more than 2 pills in a row, definitely use a back up method like condoms for the rest of the pill pack.

Yes, once you stop taking the birth control pills, you are not protected from pregnancy.

I don’t understand exactly what your question is. You don’t say why you took the metronidazole. However, the medication would have no adverse effect on ejaculation or the condom. If you are taking the medication for treatment of an infection, it is important to complete the entire course of antibiotic for treatment to be successful.

As long as you have been using your patches consistently and correctly, yes, your protection is still effective during you period week (week without a patch). Just remember to replace your patch when its due. You do not need to take Plan B, and chance of pregnancy is unlikely.

This is not unusual. Many people, men and women, are more easily aroused and sexually sensitive after abstaining for a time. This can result in ejaculation happening sooner than you wish. Some men find that masturbating on the days that they don’t have sex with their partners is helpful. 

Masturbation is a very personal behavior; you don’t have to share/tell your partner about this. However, do discuss your concerns with your partner. Together you may come up with some ideas to help things last longer.

Yes, you are still protected. Having diarrhea usually does not affect the effectiveness of your birth control pills.

Yes, some antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. We recommend using a back-up method (like condoms) or abstaining from sex during the time you’re on the antibiotics and for 7 days after the antibiotics.

If you had sex during the time you were on the antibiotics but didn’t use condoms, then Plan B was a good option, and certainly didn’t hurt. However, since you took Plan B, you may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding throughout your current pill pack. Continue to take your birth control pills consistently and correctly, and your body will get back to normal within the next cycle.

It is not necessary to stop pill use when switching pills. It is best to finish the current pack, have a period, then begin the “new” pills as usual. If you did not restart the birth control pills, and had sex without a condom, then you were not protected from pregnancy. Pill protection is effective only as long as your taking the pills It doesn’t last for an extended period of time past the last pill.

At this point, you don’t know how long it will take your body to ovulate on its own. Some women release an egg within a week or two, some take longer to ovulate. Yes, it is possible that you could become pregnant within a week after stopping your pills. If you don’t have a period within the next 3 weeks or so, do a pregnancy test.

If you have been having unprotected sex, then yes, you could be pregnant. Keep in mind that things like stress, illness, and lack of sleep can alter your cycle, making your period be early or late. This is why its best to wait until your period is at least 1 week late before doing a pregnancy test.

First, how long were you taking your pills before having unprotected sex? If you took at least 7 days of birth control pills, then your protection was effective. If you continued to take your pills correctly during that month, you were protected during the multiple acts of intercourse.

Second, if you were a new pill user, it takes about 2-3 months for your body to get adjusted to being on the pill. During this time, you may experience some spotting.

Third, a benefit of taking the pill is that it should make your period lighter and shorter. The fact that you had bleeding a little before and during your placebo pills is normal. Being on the pill, you may find that your period bleeding does not become “heavy”.  It is not necessary to have heavy bleeding during your period (the placebo pills) in order to begin a new pack. If you do not begin a new pack of pills, you are no longer protected from pregnancy. You know what that means: condoms or abstaining to prevent pregnancy.

If you are interested in restarting you birth control pills, please call your doctor or the clinic for information on when to do this.

Your risk of pregnancy is very low. Some antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. The levels of hormones from the pill may not be effective enough to prevent ovulation, so, yes, some women can have a “break thru” ovulation while taking antibiotics.

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is a risk of pregnancy. Pre-ejaculate does contain sperm, so that’s why its important, when using condoms, for the condom to be in place before the penis enters the vagina. Some men are able to “hold back” their ejaculation long enough to pull out, however, they are not able to prevent pre-ejaculate fluid (pre-cum) from leaking out of the penis. This is one of the reasons why the “pull-out” method fails.

Having sex in water (swimming pool, jacuzzi, shower) does not decrease the risk of pregnancy. If the penis comes in the vagina (without a condom), pregnancy may ensue.

You don’t mention whether or not you are on any type of long term birth control ( pills, shot, nuvaring). If you are on birth control and using it correctly, then the chance of pregnancy of unlikely.

If your period is more than a week late, do a pregnancy test or call the clinic for an appointment to have a test done.

Emergency contraceptive pills are not an effective method of prolonged or long term birth control. The way these pills prevent pregnancy is by delaying ovulation. Hopefully, when the unprotected intercourse occurs, ovulation hasn’t occurred. Sperm can survive in the vagina for up to 3 days. ECPs can help delay ovulation by 3-4 days, thus allowing time for the sperm to die off. ECPs do not cause an abortion nor do they affect an already existing pregnancy.

So, to answer your question: yes, there is the risk of pregnancy even if you took the emergency contraception. If your period is more than one week late, do a pregnancy test. Depending on your result, you may want to call your doctor for more information on  birth control or other options.

Several factors must be considered when determining fertility. Some of these are your age, weight, physical health, and menstrual history. As we get older, fertility decreases, especially after age 40.

If you have been having unprotected intercourse for a year without a pregnancy, it is time to be evaluated by an ob/gyn doctor or a fertility specialist. In the meantime, here are some suggestions:

Stop smoking- some studies show that smoking makes it harder to get pregnant

Eat right and exercise. Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight can make conception more difficult.

Keep a log of your periods. This will help you track when you are most likely to ovualate.

Have sex 3 times per week. Having sex too frequently may decrease your partner’s sperm count. Having sex every 2-3 days or daily during your fertile days allows a man’s sperm count to build up.

Decrease your stress. Worrying about getting pregnant while dealing with other life stressors can cause periods to be irregular.

It is just as important for your partner to be healthy as it is for you! Good luck!

If you are on the Depo Provera or DepoSubQ Provera injection and had your shot on November 14, 2011, then your protection is effective for approximately 12 to 13 weeks. Therefore, you were protected on December 28.

Your next shot would be due the end of January.

Family Planning clinics, in conjunction with the PA Dept of Health, offers free STD screenings. This screening tests for the 4 STDs that are reportable according to PA state health law. These are: HIV, syphillis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. HIV & syphillis testing is done by a blood draw in your arm. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing can be done thru either a urine sample or cervical swab (in women).  Typically, the results take about 7 to 10 days. There is an HIV test which does give a result in 15 minutes, however, our clinic does not offer that. The county health department may be able to refer you to a clinic in the area that does offer that.

It is impossible to “test for everything”.  At this time, there is no general test for HPV, and a person may be infected with HPV without showing signs.  Herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes) may be detected through a blood test. Other STDs that are tested through blood are Hepatitis B and C.

If you are interested in having STD testing, please call one of our clinics to set up an appointment. The Lewisburg clinic  also offers Herpes and Hepatitis testing at a discounted cost.

Yes, I recommend calling your gyn doctor for further instructions. In the meantime, continue taking your pills on a daily basis.

It is very unlikely that you would be infected with HIV.

However, if you are concerned about HIV or other STDs, the clinics do offer free STD screening to men and women of all ages. Call one of the clinics for an appointment.

Many things can alter the timing of your period. Things like stress, illness, and medications can make your period come sooner, later or not at all. If you’ve been having unprotected intercourse, then there is a possibility of pregnancy. If you’re on the pill, its not uncommon to skip a period now and then. When on the Depo shot, periods should stop after a few months.

When doing a pregnancy test, it is important to perform it correctly. The first urine in the morning is best to test because it usually contains a higher level of HcG (pregnancy hormone). Check the expiration date and review the directions on the correct way to read the result. Since you had a negative after a positive, its unlikely you are pregnant. However, since you had two different results, call one of the clinics and make an appointment for a pregnancy test, just to make sure.

As long as your girlfriend was taking her birth control pills correctly, her birth control is still effective during her period (ie: the last week of her pill pack). Starting her new pill pack on time continued the protection. The chance of pregnancy is unlikely.

Pre-ejaculate can contain sperm, so pregnancy is possible. Pregnancy would be more likely, however, if he had ejaculated inside the vagina. Most pregnant women do not show symptoms of nausea or morning sickness until the sixth week of pregnancy so it is unlikely that your nausea is related to pregnancy. More than likely, you are just ill.  If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test.

In the meantime, if you plan to continue to have sex, do not rely on withdrawal for pregnancy prevention. Use condoms or start using a hormonal method of birth control. Please contact one of our clinics for an appointment. We can discuss all of your contraceptive options and help you choose one that’s best for you.

I’m not quite sure I understand your question.  If you are saying that your period started during sexual intercourse with your partner (even though it was due the next day) and then stopped and restarted two days later, the probability of pregnancy is very low. If that is not what you are saying, please call one of our offices to explain the incident in question.

Breast tenderness and moodiness are pregnancy symptoms but they are also premenstrual symptoms. You may just be getting your period. If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test.  In the meantime, if you do not wish to be pregnant, do not continue to have unprotected sex. Please call one of our offices to set up an appointment to start birth control.

Pregnancy is possible. However, unlike other hormonal contraceptive methods, the contraceptive effects of the Depo-Provera shot may not wear off for many months after stopping its use. This means that it may take several months for ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) to occur. Most women, approximately 80%, have their normal fertility returned within one year after stopping injections. There is no indication that the “shot” causes decreased fertility past two years.

That being said, some women become pregnant the very next month after stopping the shot. If you have had a period since stopping the shot, wait until your next period is due.  If you miss it, take a pregnancy test. If you haven’t had a period since stopping the shot, wait one month after the unprotected sex and then take a pregnancy test. Good luck!

If you do not wish to be pregnant, please contact one of our

If you have consistently and correctly taken your birth control pills, the likelihood of pregnancy is low. Many things can alter the timing of our periods: stress, lack of sleep, illness, making periods come earlier, later, or not at all. Your body may need a month or two to reset itself.

Continue taking your pills on a daily basis. If you have no period during the next pack of pills, do a pregnancy test. If your period is consistently late (occurring during the first 7 days of the new pill pack) over the next few months, make an appointment to discuss this with your health care provider. You may just need a change in pills.

Hopefully, you continued to take your birth control pills on a daily basis while on the antibiotic. Some antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of your pills. Your intercourse was 6 days after the completion of your antibiotic, so the likelihood of pregnancy is low.

Keep in mind that things like stress, illness, and medications can alter your cycle, making it earlier, later or absent. If your period came late, there is no need for concern. If you have not gotten a period, take a pregnancy test now. If it is negative, continue your pills as usual. Your body may need a month or two to get back on track, and you should have a period during your next week of sugar pills.

Any time you have unprotected intercourse, there is a risk of pregnancy.

You state that your last period was in June, and no period in July. What about August thru December? If you’ve not have a period for 6 months, have you done a pregnancy test? If you are pregnant (from June), you would be “showing” by now and feeling fetal movement. If you’ve been consistently having unprotected intercourse, then you could have gotten pregnant at another point in time.

There are circumstances when women may have hormonal imbalances which prevent them from getting periods.

Nausea is a common side effect when first starting the birth control pills. You started mid May and stopped mid June.  One month is not enough time for your body to get adjusted to being on the pill. Usually any side effects go away after the 3rd month.

Please call one of our clinics to schedule a pregnancy test. If you are interested in restarting birth control, we can also discuss that.

It was not clear from your question what type of pill you took. If you took Plan B or the morning after pill, then yes, it will reduce your risk of pregnancy and you took it at an opportune time that will increase its effectiveness. If you are on regular birth control pills, if you have been taking them at the same time everyday, and if it has been over a week since you started taking the pill, then yes, it is effective. The timing between sexual intercourse and when you take your birth control pill does not matter. You just need to take it at the same time everyday so you’re getting a continual steady dose of hormones. If it was just one lone regular birth control pill and you did not take any other pills prior to that one, then no, it is not effective.

Any time a couple has unprotected intercourse, there is always a risk of pregnancy.

To address your questions:

Being high or intoxicated usually does not decrease fertility. It does, as you are aware, increase risky behavior (like not using protection).

No, it is not for sure that you’re pregnant, but its not for sure that you’re not. If you don’t get your period within a week or two of when its due, do a pregnancy test.

Urinating after intercourse does not provide any protection from pregnancy. Urine comes out of the urethra, which drains the bladder. The vagina is the entrance to the uterus. The urethra and vagina are two separate “tubes”.  Therefore, “peeing” after sex does not “flush out” sperm.

It is best to consistently use a reliable form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. If you are interested in getting on birth control, please call one of our clinics. Using reliable birth control can really decrease your stress when accidents happen.

It was not clear from your question whether you are currently using birth control pills or whether you recently stopped using them.  If you are currently using them, the contraceptive effect of birth control pills doesn’t just wear off (as long as you are using them correctly – taking them at the same time everyday).  However, your body may have changed and now needs a different type of pill to maintain regular menstrual cycles. If this is the case, contact the medical provider who prescribed your pill and describe your menstrual irregularities.  

If you recently stopped the pill, the contraceptive effect wears off almost immediately in most individuals. You may ovulate the very next month after stopping. Once you stop using the pill, your menstrual cycles almost always revert to the way they were before you used the pill.

Depending on where you were at in your menstrual cycle, there is a risk of pregnancy.  If you started your pills the Sunday after your period, then your risk of pregnancy is lower. If you started them in the middle of your cycle, then the risk is greater. Birth control pills take approximately 7 days until they are effective.

Continue taking your pills, every day, at the same time. If you don’t get your period by the end of your “sugar” pills, do a pregnancy test.

Menstrual changes can occur for a number of different reasons.  Early menstrual periods are usually caused by imbalanced hormonal levels.  Hormone levels change for many reasons – pregnancy is just one. Illnesses and certain medications can sometimes change hormone levels. Anxiety and other forms of emotional daily stress can also affect the timing of periods. 

 However, since your period was lighter than normal, I would take a preganncy test just to be on the safe side. I am assuming that you used a condom during the sexual intercourse on December 15. Condoms are effective if they are used correctly. Did you use the condom from start to finish (was the penis covered before there was any contact at all with the vagina)? Was the condom intact at the end of intercourse and did he immediately remove the penis from the vagina after ejaculation by holding onto the rim or base of the condom while removing? Sometimes semen can leak out of the top of the condom if the penis is not immediately removed. Sometimes it can come off inside the woman during removal if the condom is not held in place. Did he check the expiration date of the condom? If he used a latex condom, did you use any oil-based lubricant during intercourse? Any type of oil can damage latex, causing holes and breakages.

If you would like more information on correct condom use or other methods of birth control or if you would like to make an appointment for a pregnancy test, please give one of our offices a call. Good luck.

Yes, pregnancy is possible. When you missed three consecutive days of pills, your hormone levels may have changed enough for ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) to occur. The fact that you did have some bleeding is promising though, as the majority of women do not have bleeding during pregnancy. Take a pregnancy test right way. If negative, wait three weeks and then repeat the test.  In the meantime, do not stop taking your birth control pills (unless you are pregnant). Hopefully, you made your pills up correctly by taking two pills a day until you were caught up. If you frequently forget to take pills, you may want to consider switching to a different method of birth control.  If you would like more information about your contraceptive options, feel free to contact one of our offices.

The likelihood that you are pregnant is extremely low.  Use of Plan B can cause many different types of menstrual irregularities including the type of bleeding that you described. If you normally have 28 day cycles (from beginning of one period to the beginning of the next), your next period will probably come approximately 28 days after the beginning of the second episode of bleeding that you experienced.  However, it could come earlier or later as well. Please remember that Plan B should not be used as a regular method of birth control as it is intended to be used for emergencies only. If you plan to continue to have sexual intercourse, please contact one of our offices for an appointment to start some type of regular birth control.

Anytime a couple has unprotected intercourse there is always a chance of pregnancy, but the risk can depend on where you’re at in your cycle.

 ”A cycle” is considered to be from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. Say a woman has regular 28 day menstrual cycles, her “fertile time” would start around day 10, with the peak being ovulation, typically on day 14.  So, this woman’s fertile days would be days 10 to 14. After day 16, the egg is usually gone, and pregnancy is less likely.  However, several things can “screw up” your cycle (stress, lack of sleep, illness, medications), making them shorter or longer thus altering your ovulation date. Keep in mind, too, that sperm can survive in the vagina for up to 3 days. 

Day 1 of your cycle would have been December 13th. For a 28 day cycle then, ovulation time would be around December 25th. Theoritically, having unprotected intercourse 6 days after ovulation should decrease your risk of pregnancy. If you do not get your next period on time, do a pregnancy test. 

If you & your partner are not planning a pregnancy, it is best to consistently use a reliable form of birth control. If you have further questions or need a pregnancy test or birth control, please call one of our clinics.

Yes, pregnancy is possible. If you have missed your period, contact one of our offices for a pregnancy test appointment. If you prefer, you can purchase an over-the-counter pregnancy test from a drug store.  For best results, follow the instructions completely, use first morning urine, and do not drink any fluids before your test. In the meantime, do not stop taking your birth control pills (unless you test positive for pregnancy).

Pregnancy is a possibility but unlikely if you have been taking your pills correctly (at the same time everyday).  The only way to be certain that you are not pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Occasionally, for one reason or another, women experience a change in their periods while on birth control. Sometimes, a simple pill change solves the problem. Menstrual changes can also occur for other reasons though. Contact the medical provider who prescribed your pill and describe your last two periods. They may want to perform some tests and/or recommend a pill change.

As long as this was not your first pack of pills, and as long as you are taking your pills everyday (within a three hour time period) and have not missed any pills, there is no need to take Plan B. Your regular birth control pills provide adequate protection against pregnancy. If this was your first pack of pills and the sexual intercourse occurred before you took a full week’s worth of pills, contact the medical provider who prescribed your pill for further instruction.

If you are receiving the DepoProvera injection, it is effective in 24 hoursafter the first shot, and your birth control protection is good for up to 13 weeks. If you received your shot on November 14, 2011, you should be protected until the end of January.

The Depo shot is 99.9% effective. So birth control wise, you were protected. Keep in mind that the shot does not protect against STDs, so its always a good idea to use a condom. 

If you can’t remember the exact due date of you next shot, call the clinic.

If it has been less than 72 hours since the unprotected sex, Plan B should be used since the condom failed to protect you. It is not clear what type of birth control you were using. However, most hormonal birth control methods stop working as soon as you stop using them so you may or may not have ovulated. If you are under 18 years old, Plan B is free at all of our offices. If you are 18 or older, fees are based on household size and income. If your income is low enough, you may be eligible for free services.  The most you would pay for Plan B at one of our offices is $30. Unfortunately our offices are not always open, and the sooner after unprotected sex that you use Plan B, the better it works. If you are 17 or older, you can also get Plan B without a prescription at most drug stores for $50-60. Call ahead to make sure they have it in stock. If you don’t have the money, ask your partner or borrow it from a friend. Better to pay $60 now than risk an unintended pregnancy.

If you no longer have medical insurance, you may be eligible for an MA waiver program called SelectPlan for Women. It offers free birth control and preventive reproductive health care.  We can check your eligibility and help you apply. Then you’ll be able to restart the method you had to stop or you can start a new method of your choice. Please contact one of our offices for more information about SelectPlan.

If your girlfriend takes the morning after pill (Plan B) within 72 hours of unprotected sex, she can reduce her risk of pregnancy. If it is too late for Plan B, the only thing you can do is wait and see. If she misses her next period, have her take a pregnancy test. If negative, have her repeat the pregnancy test every two weeks until she either gets her period or has a positive result.  If positive, you two will have some decisions to make.

In the meantime, don’t further risk an unintended pregnancy. Either abstain from sexual intercourse or use condoms. Free condoms are available at all of our offices.  Just drop by and ask for them. If you and your girlfriend are planning to continue to have sex, please let your girlfriend know that we are available if she’d like to make an appointment to start a hormonal method of birth control (like the pill). Everything is confidential. If she is under 18, her visit is free. Also, minors (individuals under 18 years old) are guaranteed confidential reproductive health care. This means if she doesn’t want her parents to know about her visit with us, we, by law, cannot inform her parents.  We will, however, encourage her to talk with her parents about her decision to utilize our services. If she is 18 or older, fees for services are based on household size and income. If she lives in Pennsylvania, she may still be eligible for free birth control and reproductive care through an MA waiver program (SelectPlan for Women). Please give us a call.

Because you missed a pill, you are at an increased risk for pregnancy.  However, your risk is only slightly increased since you only missed one pill and you made it up correctly. Keep taking your pills as directed and do not miss any more pills in your pack. The only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test if you miss your next period. If you frequently miss pills, you may want to consider a method change.

Pregnancy is always a possibility when two people engage in sexual intercourse, though the risk is significantly decreased when birth control is used.  By having your girlfriend take Plan B after the condom failure, you definitely reduced her pregnancy risk. 

Bleeding during pregnancy is possible but not very common. Implantation bleeding can occur in the very beginning of a pregnancy though it is usually much lighter and of less duration than a regular period – more like spotting. Since your girlfriend has not yet had a period since stopping her birth control, she may not have ovulated yet either. However, she will ovulate approximately two weeks before her next period, which could occur at any time. Right now, her cycles can be described as irregular, and may remain irregular for a bit longer because of the Plan B use. But as soon as your girlfriend’s hormones return to their pre-birth control level, her cycles should go back to the way they were prior to having used birth control.

Wait a month after the condom failure incident.  If she still hasn’t had a period, have her take a pregnancy test. Repeat the test every two weeks until she either has a period or a positive result. In the meantime, the two of you might want to consider other contraceptive options. If you are interested, we can provide you with information about all of your contraceptive options. Just call one of our offices.

If your last injection was on November 14, there is no need to take the morning after pill. Just be sure to get your next shot by February 5. You did not have unprotected sex with your partner since you were on the Depo shot at the time of the sexual intercourse. Your shot protects you from pregnancy, though it provides no protection against sexually transmitted infections. To reduce your risk of infection, use condoms in addition to your shot. As long as you are getting your shots on time, you will be protected against pregnancy and hence, the morning after pill is not needed.

Pregnancy is always a possibility, but unlikely, since the bleeding you experienced lasted longer than a normal period.  Use of Plan B can cause menstrual irregularities including an early period, a late period, spotting, etc. That is probably what you experienced.  Of course, if you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be sure. In the meantime, please use a regular method of birth control if you decide to continue to have sex. Please contact one of our offices to set up an appointment to discuss your birth control options. Until your appointment, use condoms.  We have free condoms available at all of our offices. Just drop in and ask for them.

If you were on the pill for two full weeks and did not miss any pills when you had sex with your boyfriend, then it was not necessary to take the morning after pill. You were protected by the regular birth control pill from pregnancy even though he ejaculated inside.  The pill begins to suppress ovulation (stop an egg from being released from the ovary) after you take one full week of birth control pills.  You probably missed your period because you took extra hormones (the morning after pill) on top of the hormones you were already getting from the regular birth control pill.  This most likely overloaded your system with hormones which prevented your endometrium (the lining of your womb) from filling up with blood, and so therefore, there was no blood to be released.

 Also, during the first three months of pill use, menstrual irregularities (including a missed period and bleeding in between periods) are a common side effect. Your body has to get used to the new hormone levels. After about three months of pill use, your body becomes accustomed to the new levels and the side effects usually go away.

Pregnancy is always a possibility because methods can fail, however, it is extremely unlikely in your case. Keep taking your birth control pills.  If you don’t have any bleeding by the end of the inactive (placebo or sugar) pills in your second pack of birth control, take a pregnancy test.

Menstrual irregularities can occur for a number of different reasons. Pregnancy is just one possibility.  Irregular periods can be caused by hormonal imbalances or changes due to hormonal contraceptive use or other reasons, perimenopause, infection (sexually transmitted diseases and other infections), use of certain medications, and other more serious conditions.   Treatment of menstrual irregularities, when necessary, varies and is tailored to the individual case, the underlying cause, the severity of symptoms, and the presence of any complications.  If you are concerned or if your bleeding is heavier or more painful than usual, contact your medical care provider for an appointment.

The effectiveness of the pill is based on a year of use and your ability to take them correctly. If you are taking your pill at the same time everyday and you do not miss any pills or take them late, your risk of pregnancy for the year is less than 1%, regardless of how frequently you engaged in sex. If, however, you miss pills or take them late occasionally, your risk of pregnancy increases.

Yes, it is possible that you ovulated since you did not take at least one full week of birth control pills prior to the sexual intercourse. You need to take a full week of pills in order for the hormone level to reach a point that suppresses ovulation. The fact that you were also taking antibiotics during your first week of birth control pills is besides the point.  Keep taking your pills. Wait at least one full month after restarting the pill, and then take a pregnancy test.  Repeat the test every two weeks until you get a period or you have a positive test result.  Of course, if your result does come back positive, you will need to stop the pill. Good luck.

Since your partner did not ejaculate at all and since you would have had at least six or seven birth control pills in your system if they were made up correctly by Saturday when the incident occurred, we would not recommend using Plan B.

If you made up your pills correctly, you should have taken Sunday’s & Monday’s pills on Wednesday, Tuesday’s & Wednesday’s pills on Thursday, Thursday’s and Friday’s pills on Friday, and Saturday’s pill on Saturday.  If you did not make up your pills this way, please contact the medical provider who prescribed your pills for their recommendation.

Yes, Plan B would be even more effective for the intercourse that occurred 20 minutes after you took the pill. Of course, Plan B is not 100% effective, and pregnancy is always a possibility. Plan B works just like regular birth control pills by preventing ovulation, interfering with fertilization, and possibly preventing implantation.  Plan B delivers a much larger dose of hormones than regular birth control pills and hence, begins to work much faster. The hormones in Plan B and regular birth control pills are similar to hormones that are produced during pregnancy.   The brain sees these hormone shifts and recognizes it as a pregnancy.  The brain then sends a message back down to the ovaries to suppress ovulation as eggs are no longer needed because of the perceived pregnancy.  As long as the brain continues to see these hormone levels, ovulation does not occur.  Plan B temporarily prevents ovulation since the hormones are delivered in one large dose instead of a continual steady stream.  Eventually, hormone levels return to normal and the contraceptive effect wears off.  Women using regular birth control pills theoretically never ovulate while taking pills as they are receiving a steady dose of hormones.

Plan B should not be used as a regular method of birth control as it is designed to be used in an emergency only.  If you plan to continue to have sex, please consider using a more reliable method. If you are interested in learning more about your contraceptive options, please call one of our offices for an appointment.

Whenever two people have intercourse, there is always a risk of pregnancy even when using a regular method of birth control perfectly.  However, as long as you do not use Plan B frequently, your risk is very slim and there is no need to take Plan B again.  Plan B works just like regular birth control pills by preventing ovulation, interfering with fertilization, and possibly preventing implantation.  Plan B delivers a much larger dose of hormones than regular birth control pills and hence, begins to work much faster. The hormones in Plan B and regular birth control pills are similar to hormones that are produced during pregnancy.   The brain sees these hormone shifts and recognizes it as a pregnancy.  The brain then sends a message back down to the ovaries to suppress ovulation as eggs are no longer needed because of the perceived pregnancy.  As long as the brain continues to see these hormone levels, ovulation does not occur.  Plan B temporarily prevents ovulation since the hormones are delivered in one large dose instead of a continual steady stream.  Eventually, hormone levels return to normal and the contraceptive effect wears off.  Women using regular birth control pills theoretically never ovulate while taking pills as they are receiving a steady dose of hormones.

Plan B should not be used as a regular method of birth control as it is designed to be used in an emergency only.  If you plan to continue to have sex, please consider using a more reliable method. If you are interested in learning more about your contraceptive options, please call one of our offices for an appointment.

It is unlikely that your girlfriend’s nausea and vomiting is being caused by a pregnancy that was conceived one week ago. Morning sickness does not usually occur until the 6th week of pregnancy. Most likely, she was simply ill. The cramping she is experiencing now may be a sign that her period is about to begin.

However, even when a man does not ejaculate inside the vagina, pregnancy is still possible because of pre-seminal fluid (also called pre-ejaculate).  Pre-seminal fluid leaks out of the penis prior to ejaculation.  Sometimes this fluid contains sperm that is left in the urethra from a previous ejaculation.  If a man urinates between ejaculations before having sex again, it will help clear the urethra of sperm and may increase the effectiveness of withdrawal.  Therefore, if you urinated between your last ejaculation and the incident that you described, the risk of pregnancy is slim.

If you would like information about more reliable birth control options, please contact one of our offices. We can also provide you with condoms.

Yes, pregnancy is definitely possible.  We would recommend that you use Plan B within 72 hours of the unprotected sex. If you are 17 or older, Plan B is available over the counter at most drug stores. It usually costs $50-60 though. You have to ask the pharmacist for Plan B as it is located behind the counter.  You may need to show ID to prove your age. If you are under 17 years old, you will need a prescription from a medical provider to get Plan B from a drug store.  We also have Plan B at all of our offices, and you do not need a prescription from another doctor regardless of your age. If you are under 18 years old, you can receive Plan B for free. Those 18 or older may need to pay a fee (dependent on household size and income) for the medication. Our highest fee for Plan B is $30. Please call one of our offices for an appointment. We will be able to see you the same day as long as we are open.

Having sex during a period does not usually result in a pregnancy, as long as the bleeding you experienced was truly your period.  However, everyone is unique and anything is possible. Withdrawal (the pull out method) is not an effective method of birth control for two reasons. First, pre-seminal fluid can leak out of the penis prior to ejaculation.  Pre-seminal fluid sometimes contains sperm. Second, sometimes it is difficult for a guy to remove the penis from the vagina before he begins to ejaculate and some of the semen is deposited inside the vagina. To be on the safe side, you may want to use Plan B within 72 hours of the unprotected sex. Remember that Plan B should only be used in the event of an emergency.  If you are going to continue to have sex, please consider using a more reliable method of birth control.  You can call one of our offices for an appointment.  We would be happy to discuss your options.

If you are not using a hormonal method of birth control, pregnancy is possible. We would recommend that you use Plan B within 72 hours of the unprotected sex.  If he said he ejaculated a little bit inside of you, that is not the same thing as pre-seminal fluid or pre-cum.  Pre-seminal fluid may or may not contain sperm; it leaks out of the penis prior to ejaculation.  Semen (the fluid that comes out of the penis during ejaculation or when a guy cums) definitely contains sperm (unless the individual is sterile). Please call one of our offices for an appointment for Plan B.  We can also talk with you about your birth control options. We will be able to see you the same day.

Take Plan B as soon as possible. When you are able to get your new pack of pills, take two pills a day until you are caught up.  Then resume the one pill daily schedule. Nausea is a possibility since you will be getting a large dose of hormones.  Do not take any of your pills on an empty stomach.  Since you are two days late with your regular birth control pills, use a back-up method (like condoms) in addition to the pill or abstain from sexual intercourse for the next two weeks.  Your next period may come earlier than usual, later than usual or it may be spotty. If you miss your next period, take a pregnancy test.  Repeat the pregnancy test every two weeks until you either get your period or have a positive result.  Good luck.

The non-oxynol 9 in the condom would provide some protection against pregnancy, but we would recommend that you use Plan B as soon as possible to reduce your risk even further (provided you are not using a hormonal method of birth control like the pill or the shot). Plan B consists of one dose of levonorgestrel (a type of hormone that is used in regular birth control pills), is extremely safe to use, and can be taken up to 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex to reduce the risk of pregnancy.  The sooner you take it, the better it works.  According to the manufacturer, approximately 7 out of 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B.  If you are 17 or older, Plan B is available over the counter at most drug stores for about $50-$60.  Call the drug store ahead of time to make sure they have it in stock.  If you are under age 17, Plan B is only available by prescription in drug stores.  Females of any age can receive Plan B at Family Planning Plus.  If you are under 18 years old, are income eligible, or have ACCESS, there is no cost for Plan B at Family Planning.  There is a sliding fee scale for anyone over 17.  We do take walk-ins for Plan B because of the time constraint.  However, please call our office beforehand to make sure that we are open.

Your doctor is correct.  Taking just one birth control pill daily for seven days does not build up enough hormones in your system fast enough to prevent pregnancy at the time that you needed it (just before and for a few days after you took your first pill). In the future, use Plan B after unprotected s