The Crow's Nest

Q. I’m 18 years old and I recently lost my virginity. As much as I hate to admit it, I did not use protection. It was a heat of the moment thing and it is the only thing I regret about it (although I know it was just as much my partner’s responsibility as it was my own). My menstrual cycle is usually pretty regular now that I have been taken off of the birth control pill I was on. I’m worried about noticing the difference between any spotting and my actual period. I guess my biggest worry is pregnancy. I’m a young girl and I have a lot going for me. I guess the biggest question I have for you is whether or not there is a definite way to tell if it is my period or not. Please help!

– A Virgin No More

A. Dear A Virgin No More,

First of all, thanks for sharing this with me! I know it takes a lot to reach out to ask something so personal, so I really appreciate it! You will want to get a pregnancy test as soon as you possibly can. If you’re having challenges telling when you’re having a period or just breakthrough bleeding, the longer you wait, the more it will complicate your ability to make a decision if you do turn out to be pregnant.

The only true way to find out if you’re pregnant is a blood test in a doctor’s office. We offer this at the Wellness Center, and if you’re a USFSP-registered student, it doesn’t cost you anything to see a nurse! Or you can go to a pharmacy and buy a pregnancy test for around $30 to see if you may or may not need a follow-up blood test. Ask your partner (if that’s a possibility) to help chip in for a pregnancy test if you can’t cover the cost.

I would really recommend you not to google “pregnancy center” or “What do I do if I’m pregnant” because the first sites that will show up may be pregnancy crisis centers, and those are religious-based centers that do not use medically accurate information to help you.

I recommend you work with your doctor to find a longer lasting method of birth control, either an IUD (intrauterine device) or an implant or even another type of birth control pill, to help you not have to deal with a pregnancy scare in the future. And don’t forget condoms! If your future sexual partners are not long-term, monogamous partners, and you both have not been tested, make sure you also use condoms to protect yourself against any sexually transmitted infections.

Don’t beat yourself up! We are sexual beings, and sometimes passion really does take over. You wouldn’t be human if it didn’t happen to you. You just have to make sure you quickly take a pregnancy test and see your doctor as soon as you can, and your stress will definitely be less.

I hope that helps. Good luck!

-Victoria M. Beltran, MPH, CHES, Wellness Center Health Educator

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