Pregnancy – or conception – happens when a ripe egg is in the uterus or even the fallopian tubes (ovulation). The egg is usually ready to be fertilized around 14 or 15 days after the last period started. Semen (or pre-cum) swim up the vagina and through the cervix to the egg. Semen can live up to five days inside the uterus, so pregnancy can occur that long after vaginal intercourse. As well, ovulation can be irregular for a number of reasons, so pregnancy is a risk whenever unprotected vaginal intercourse occurs.

When it is fertilized, the egg becomes a zygote. Within two weeks, the zygote implants itself in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. Soon afterwards, a fetus begins to form.

It is possible to get pregnant without having vaginal intercourse. If the guy cums too close to the vagina, semen and precum may still be able to make it to the vagina and begin its journey. Even if the guy pulls out, there is still a chance that the semen in the pre-cum can cause a pregnancy.

Donor insemination is another way to try to get pregnant. A woman can pay for donated semen to be placed in her uterus through a clinical procedure. When choosing a donor’s sperm, women can find out important details about the man it came from.

Other Aspects of Pregnancy

Being a pregnant teenager can be challenging, but there is lots of good information available to help you through your pregnancy. It’s normal to feel scared, excited, stressed out, happy, or worried, or all of those at once!

As soon as you know that you’re pregnant and you’ve decided to continue the pregnancy it’s really important to make an appointment for prenatal care. Prenatal care is the care that you and your baby receive from a healthcare provider (a doctor, a nurse, a clinician) throughout your pregnancy to make sure you and your baby are as healthy as possible.

You’ll need to choose if you want a physician (doctor), a nurse practitioner, or a midwife to be your primary caregiver during your pregnancy. Primary caregiver means the main medical person who you talk to and see during your pregnancy. They will do regular check ups with you to make sure your pregnancy is progressing well.

Risks – things to be aware of

It’s important that you know there are risks for your baby from drinking alcohol, smoking (cigarettes or marijuana), or doing drugs during your pregnancy. It’s best not to do those things during your pregnancy. If you were doing those things before you found out you were pregnant, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby will be affected.

A helpful website to find out more about risk factors during pregnancy is www.motherisk.org made by the Sick Kid’s Hospital, or talk to your caregiver. If you’d rather talk to someone on the phone, you can also call Motherisk at 416.813.6780.

Deciding to be a parent is a big, life-changing decision, and it’s understandable if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Planned Parenthood Toronto offers non-judgmental and youth-friendly counseling services for pregnant teens, where you can discuss your life issues, future plans and any fears you may have around your pregnancy. PPT also has a Client Support Worker who can help you with information on housing, childcare, daycare subsidies, and social assistance.

If you are looking to connect with other young parents in Toronto, you can come to Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Time Out drop-in, where you can relax, eat food, chat and listen to music. Visit www.ppt.on.ca/youngparentsprogram_timeout.asp to find out more. Once you give birth, Time Out also provides free child care so that you can have a break from parenting for a couple of hours once a week.