When is the Right Time to Use a Pregnancy Test?

Published: May 16, 2017
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I was fingering my gf, and she was about to orgasm. Just then, I inserted into her just once (justthe tip), before realizing and quickly pulled out. I didnt cum, but there was precum. What are the odds that she might have been pregnant. When would be the right time to use the test kit?
Signed: When is the Right Time to Use a Pregnancy Test?

Dear When is the Right Time to Use a Pregnancy Test?,

It is extremely unlikely that your girlfriend is pregnant as a result of the situation you described above. According the American Pregnancy Association, the majority of pre-ejaculatory fluids have dead sperm or no sperm at all. However, there are rare cases where living sperm can be in the pre-ejaculatory fluids and can cause pregnancy. Because it is possible, doctors generally recommend the use of condoms and back-up birth control to protect against possible pregnancy from pre-ejaculatory or ejaculatory fluids.  

As for the right time to take a pregnancy test, a woman who thinks she might be pregnant can take a pregnancy test any time after a missed period. There are some tests that say they work a few days before a missed period, but the results of these tests are not always accurate. So even if you take a pregnancy test before a missed period, it is still a good idea to follow up with one within a few days after a missed period. When taking a pregnancy test, it is very important to carefully read and follow the directions that come with the test.

Another option for pregnancy testing would be to meet with a doctor or nurse. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood. A Planned Parenthood health center is a good option if you have concerns about cost or confidentiality issues.

TeenHealthFX would also like to encourage you and your girlfriend to speak to a doctor about safer sex precautions for the future. Doctors generally recommend that teens and young adults who choose to be sexually active use condoms each and every time they have sex to protect against unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of STDs, as well as a back-up method of birth control such as the pill or birth control shot. A doctor can make the best recommendations for you and your girlfriend, and discuss with both of you how to use properly use birth control to maximize its effectiveness.

FX also suggests that you both check out the links in our Resource of the Month: Planned Parenthood Resources on Safer Sex so that you can learn about sexual readiness, how pregnancy happens, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, birth control, STDs and more. The more educated you are about these topics, the more likely you will make healthy decisions for yourself when it comes to your sexual health.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

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