Question:
Hello,
I’m sixteen. Two weeks ago, I had unprotected intercourse with my boyfriend. We are 100% sure that we were more cautious than necessary, but after a week, I started getting paranoid that I might be pregnant. I’ve noticed bloating, but my boyfriend convinced me that it’s normal and that I usually bloat without noticing it. I just feel a bit different, as if something is pressing on my stomach. I’m supposed to get my period on the 28th (in three days). I’m suspecting that I’m just getting cramps because of that. I also think that my breasts are a bit bigger, and one of them is a bit more droopy than the other. I don’t know if it’s been like this before, but if it hasn’t, is it just cause of my menstrual cycle? My stomach also hurts in the morning or at night, but I never feel the urge to throw up or any kind of sickness. I’m suspecting that my stomach hurts and I have digestion issues out of anxiety for being so paranoid. Still, I’m just scared and don’t really know what to do, and I’m not able to tell my mother or get a pregnancy test. My breasts tend to feel a bit more sensitive than usual. Could that also be due to my menstrual cycle? I think it happened once before.
I just need some advice, if that’s okay. Thank you a lot.
Answer:
Caution doesn’t prevent pregnancy with unprotected sex. The odds are 1 out of 20 of becoming pregnant each time you have sex [David Spiegelhalter, “Sex: What are the chances?“, BBC, 14 March 2012].
I suspect most of your symptoms are due to anxiety, but pregnancy can only be ruled out with a pregnancy test. You can obtain an over-the-counter test at a local pharmacy or drugstore. I know you are embarrassed that you’ve been sinning, but this isn’t something you should hide from your parents.
While you are focused on your fears of being pregnant, you should also be concerned that you are sinning. Sin always causes problems in life.