Eighteen & Scared
Question
Hi.
I’m Jessica, an 18 yr old. I really have a problem i don’t know what to do!!! Well this is what happened, me and my boyfriend we had sex used a condom but it busted, I was on the patch ortho evra I put it on the morning that this happened and I took it off that same night b/c it gave me a rash(redness)!! But now I don’t know if I could be pregnant. I had my period the week before and after we had sex the next day I was bleeding and I had cramps really bad. I don’t know if i just had an early period or what it was but I’m scared. I don’t know what to do now!!!! Could I be pregnant or is it just something normal that happens??? The bleeding stopped the next day and came back 2 days after that, I really don’t know what to do please help me……. Should i take a test or should i just wait???
Please write back, thank you!
Answer
Last Updated: June 14, 2013
You most likely bled because of discontinuing the patch. Discontinuing the patch, even at an early time, can cause an artificial period, just as going off the patch at the end of the cycle at the scheduled time. There is a low possibility of pregnancy in your situation, but it is not zero. A pregnancy test will not detect pregnancy until two weeks after the intercourse from the broken condom. I would abstain in the interval until you get the test.
As you have experienced, there is no 100% effective birth control, and in your situation the thought of pregnancy is causing much anxiety. You may consider reducing this source of stress in your life by continuing to abstain from sex until you are married. And then you might consider using natural family planning which will not give you side effects and works in harmony with your natural cycle.
Dr. Mary Davenport
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