- MACKIE ACADEMY - SHARE PROGRAMME S exual H ealth A nd R elationships E ducation Safe, happy and responsible

Lesson 7 Sexual Activity, Pregnancy and Contraception.

Janine is 15 and Eddie is 17. They have been going out together for about two months. The first time that they had sex was at a party when both of them had been drinking. Janine did not worry about pregnancy that time, especially as it had hurt and she hadn’t liked it much. It is quite possible to get pregnant the first time a girl has sex. She does not have to enjoy sex [or have an orgasm] to get pregnant. Use of alcohol or some illegal drugs can affect a couple’s ability to make good decisions. 1. Could she have got pregnant the first time?

They had sex a couple more times. Eddie said it would be OK, because he would be careful and pull out before he came. Anyway, he joked, we always have to do it standing up. She could get pregnant, either from pre-ejaculate, which is released just before a man comes, or because he doesn’t pull out in time. Even if he doesn’t penetrate at all, there is a small risk of pregnancy from ejaculate around the vaginal opening. She could get pregnant whatever position they use for sex. 2. Is she safe from pregnancy if he says he will pull out before he comes? 3. Could she get pregnant if they always had sex standing up?

Then she had a period. Only a light one, but what a relief. Janine and Eddie have taken big risks. Janine may or may not be pregnant. Some people go on having light periods in early pregnancy. 4. Could Janine be pregnant even if she had a light period?

Janine thought perhaps she had been lucky. Eddie suggested they should try condoms. If Eddie uses condoms with a kite mark [or a CE mark, which is the European equivalent of the kite mark] on the packaging, they will considerably reduce the risk of pregnancy [and of STI’s]. A kite marks shows that they have been tested to ensure safety. 5. Is there any risk at all of pregnancy if Eddie uses condoms? However, even if he uses them correctly and carefully every time they have sex, there is still a small risk of pregnancy. Alcohol and some illegal drugs increase the likelihood that risks will be taken.

They try condoms. Eddie says it’s like having a bath in your wellies..... And they’re expensive. Condoms are available free from family planning/youth clinics and GUM clinics. 6. Can you get condoms free?

Eddie suggests that Janine should go on the pill – then she can be sure she won’t get pregnant. There is a very small risk of pregnancy if a woman is on the pill, especially if she is sick or has severe diarrhoea, or is taking certain types of antibiotics or other medication. 7. If Janine goes on the pill, can she be absolutely sure she will not get pregnant? It is a good idea for sexually active young people [in a heterosexual relationship] to use both the pill and condoms for protection.

Janine hasn’t gone on the pill. She is worried that the doctor may tell her mum. If a girl goes to a family planning/youth clinic she will be listened to, advised and treated in confidence even if she is under 16. Doctors will not break her confidence themselves. They may refuse treatment to a girl under 16 until she has told her parents if they feel that she does not fully understand what she is doing. 8. Is a doctor allowed to tell her mum?

Next time they have sex, Janine is midway through her monthly cycle. Eddie isn’t as careful as he said he’d be. A woman is most fertile around the time of ovulation [the time when a new egg is produced]. This normally takes place around two weeks before the next period i.e. Half way through the menstrual cycle. However, there are several factors that make this unpredictable – her next period may be early or late, or she may ovulate twice in the month. 9. Is this a high risk time for Janine to get pregnant? This is the ‘normal’ time for a woman to be most fertile. Period MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Janine is worried that she might be pregnant – she and Eddie took a big risk. She asks her friend about the ‘morning after pill’. Her friend says that’s no good because you have to take it the next morning. 10. Is that true? THE MORNING AFTER PILL is a very misleading term for emergency contraception, which is available from a GP or clinic up to 72 hours [three days] after having unprotected sex, though the sooner it is taken the more effective it is likely to be. It can also be bought by over- 16 year olds from a pharmacy. The treatment is usually a high dose of the pill, taken as two tablets. EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION is for emergencies and should not be used regularly.

Janine and Eddie have now been going out together for about six months. Nobody ever expected it to last that long, but Janie still worries that they should use some form of contraception. Eddie isn’t always careful these days, partly because he is getting a bit fed up with Janine. She keeps saying she feels sick and she is too tired to go out. 11. Could she be pregnant? Feeling sick, especially in the mornings, and feeling tired are both possible signs of pregnancy. Other signs are weight gain, breast tenderness and needing to urinate more frequently.

Janine and Eddie break up. She is really low, and sits indoors watching TV and stuffing herself with chocolates and crisps to cheer herself up. She starts to put on weight. Her friend notices that she has put on weight and says she better have a pregnancy test. Janine says she can’t be pregnant and, anyway, you can’t get a pregnancy test done without going to the doctor. 12. Can you buy a pregnancy testing kit? You can buy a pregnancy testing kit from a pharmacy or from a supermarket. They will show an accurate result very soon after conception.

Her friend says she can go to a family planning/young people’s clinic. They will probably give her a test just to make sure and fix her up with contraception. 13. Is that true? Any family planning / youth clinic or GP will carry out a pregnancy test. They will also offer information and advice, and prescribe contraception if appropriate. The service is free and confidential Do you think Janine is pregnant?

Imagine you are Janine. The clinic has just confirmed that you are pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you want to happen?

Imagine you are Eddie. Janine has just told you she is pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you want to happen?

Imagine you are a group of Janine’s friends. You have heard that she is pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you encourage her to do?

Imagine you are a group of Eddie’s friends. You have heard that Janine is pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you encourage him to do?

Imagine you are Janine’s mum. Janine has just told you she is pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you encourage her to do?

Imagine you are Eddie’s mum and dad. Eddie has just told you Janine is pregnant.  How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you encourage him to do?