Expert: Pat G - 8/18/2009

Question
Hello my name is Shaquanna and i have a very important question...I had an abortion on wednesday and had unprotected sex friday-monday without protection is it possible i might be pregnant please help me i need help

Answer
Hello, shaquanna,

You have already learned something very important. Having sex can lead to another situation where you might decide to have an abortion. If you're not married, it is better not to have sex until you are ready for a child. Don't think that "protection" will help. It won't. Condoms don't work. Other birth control methods also fail, especially in unmarried couples. Withdrawal doesn't work, either, and there is even a remote possibility of pregnancy if semen is deposited near the opening to your vagina. You should weigh the fear you feel against the pleasure of sex and see if it's worth it. Obviously, if you are married, not having sex isn't an option, but I'll get to that in a minute. Have a serious talk with your partner about the risks you are taking. You deserve better. Also, if you are still bleeding (or start to bleed again), there is a danger of serious infection. The uterus is open to the outside world.

It is unlikely you would be fertile so soon after an abortion. Probably not impossible, but unlikely. You should test a week after you expect your period. If the test is negative, test in another week. If that one is negative, you are probably in the clear.

If you are married (and even if you're not), you might want to learn how to tell when you are fertile. You can then have sex from about a week after ovulation day to the time your period starts, if you don't want a baby right now. You can also learn other methods of expressing love and affection. You must chart faithfully, and you can't be using hormones. For more information, go here:

http://fertilityuk.org/

Please take care of yourself. You are too precious to take these kinds of deadly risks.