Teen pregnancies: Why they happen

In the Young Adult Fertility Study (YAFS) done by the University of the Philippines Demographic and Research Development Foundation in 2002, it is alarming that four out of 10 (38 percent) of our country’s young adults, 15 to 24 years old, are already in a live-in arrangement. Twenty-six percent of our country’s youth are already engaging in pre-marital sex and there is a rising number of teenagers who are in childbearing stage. In a country of 85 million people where half of Filipinos are 21 years old and under, one-third of young women, 20 to 24, have already given birth to their first child before reaching their 21st birthday. Only 19 percent of the youth use contraception.

Teen-age pregnancies are on the rise greatly because people simply don’t get enough information about their reproductive system and are unempowered with knowledge on contraception. Read up on the small misconceptions that lead to bigger problems.

Just This Once

Many couples don’t realize that a single act of intercourse can result in a pregnancy if the woman happens to be ovulating on that day. An egg is fertilizable only 24 hours in one month and the sperm lives only for 72 hours. It is amazing how many unwanted pregnancies have resulted from unplanned meetings. In our country, eggs and sperms are allowed to meet pretty loosely, resulting in a population of 85 million people.

No Contact, No Pregnancy

Many couples think that if the woman remains a virgin, as long as the hymen remains intact, she cannot get pregnant. There have been instances of documented pregnancies arising from intimacies where the man, not wanting to devirginize the woman, deposits the sperm only on the external genitalia thinking it can’t result in a pregnancy. The sperms are capable of swimming up the vaginal canal and up the cervix to reach the egg in the fallopian tube if the woman is fertile on that day.

Orgasm Equals Fertilization

I was surprised to learn some men think pregnancy only occurs if the man and the woman have simultaneous orgasms. That is a fallacy. As long as the sperm is allowed to meet the egg at the time the woman is ovulating, she can be impregnated regardless of whether she enjoyed the act or not.

Coitus Interruptus Is Safe

Some men think that if they withdraw immediately before orgasm, the woman cannot become pregnant. The truth is that during contact, a pre-ejaculatory fluid is released which can cause pregnancy even if the man manages to withdraw prior to ejaculation. So don’t count on this as contraception because you are bound to get into trouble.

Contact During Mens, No Pregnancy

Just because a woman is menstruating is no assurance she is protected from pregnancy. Some women have irregular or prolonged menses due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding so it’s difficult to predict when an egg might be released. Some women bleed at the middle of their menstrual cycle, around day 13, 14 or 15 from day 1 of menses. This can actually be ovulatory bleeding and can coincide with the release of the egg so the woman is actually fertile. Avoid throwing all cares to the wind when you are not sure of safe days.

Condom Use Is Always Protective

If the man wears the condom only when he is about to ejaculate, the pre-ejaculatory fluid released before condom application can cause pregnancy. If he does not withdraw after orgasm, and grows limp while with the condom, the sperm can leak from the sides of the rubber, thereby causing pregnancy. The condom can always rupture especially if the woman is not well-lubricated and therefore, not a fail-proof contraceptive.

Women Know Their Safe Period

Women who don’t know if their cycles are shorter than 27 days or if they have irregular periods should not use the rhythm method at all. Worse, some women base their safe period from the last day of their menses rather than on the first day. To find the unsafe period, note the days of your shortest cycle, e.g., 27 days. Subtract 18 from that number, 27 less 18 equals 9. On the ninth day of the cycle, that is the start of your fertile day and you must use contraception. Now, take the longest cycle, e.g., 32 days. Subtract 11 from it, so 32 less 11 equals 21. Therefore, your unsafe days are from day 9 to 21 of your cycle. It is safe to have contact between day 0 and 8 and day 22 till menses come.

Sex Equals Love

Some single women are pressured into having sex by partners who demand it is an expression of love. His desire to have sex with you stems from his raging hormones and should not constitute a proof of love. If he loves you enough, he will respect your desire not to be pressured into sex. Remember, a single act can result in acquiring a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy, so keep your head on your shoulders.

Having a baby can be one of the most rewarding experiences that can fulfill one’s womanhood. But the experience should not be wasted by having an unwelcome baby. Remember that the only fail-proof method of avoiding pregnancy is abstinence. Make responsible choices in your relationships and never lose your head in your inflamed passion.

(Dr. Rebecca B. Singson is a Fellow of the Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society currently holding clinics at Rm. 381, Makati Medical Center, 892-7879; and at Rm. 202-203, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, 771-9204 and 771-9206; or e-mail obmd@ surfshop.net.ph.)