Pregnancy / Question
Published: May 20, 2000
Dear TeenHealthFX,
My boyfriend and I want to have sex. I was wondering at what point in the month is the best time to do it with the lowest percent chance of getting pregnant.
Signed: Sex & The Best Time To Reduce Pregnancy
Dear Sex & The Best Time To Reduce Pregnancy,
This is an often-asked question that is a very good one.
It is often said that there are more fertile and less fertile times of the month, like right before your period or right after. Let TeenHealthFX dispel the myths and untruths about this subject.
If you are having sex, you risk pregnancy no matter what time of the month it is, especially for teen-aged women. This is because it takes your body several years to fall into a regular cycle. A woman is most fertile around her ovulation; however, it is often unclear and cannot be defined when most teen-aged women ovulate. Most teenagers do not have a regular and predictable cycle, so this cannot be used as a method of birth control. For more information, see "My Cycle & Pregnancy".
If you are thinking about having sex, you at the least need to practice safer sex and use condoms. This not only offers some protection against pregnancy, but also STDs. Sex is an important decision and one that should not be made lightly. You and your partner need to discuss sex, issues around your relationships, pregnancy and STDs.
TeenHealthFX is glad that you are concerned about pregnancy and thinks that you should do everything possible to reduce your risks of pregnancy and STDs. In addition, both you and your partner should be seen by a teen health center. Teen health centers can see teenagers confidentially, without your parent's permission and on a low/no cost basis. The teen health center staff and doctors can discuss ways of preventing pregnancy and STDs.
If you live in New Jersey, please call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at (973) 971.5199. Outside of New Jersey, check out your local Planned Parenthood.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is the highest of any industrialized democracy, nearly twice that of Great Britain and 10 times that of Japan. 
