TeenHealthFX - Answers - Girlfriend's Period Is Late

Pregnancy: Could I Be Pregnant? / Question
Published: January 9, 2003

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I had sex with my girlfriend who is almost 18. She told me that she has missed her period by 4 days and counting. I used a condom properly but I am still worried. What should I do?

Signed: Girlfriend's Period Is Late

Dear Girlfriend's Period Is Late,

TeenHealthFX is happy that you are concerned about your girlfriend's welfare. Most likely she is as scared, if not more so, than you are about the possibility of being pregnant. This may sound weird but even the anxiety caused by this fear can make a girl irregular, and miss her period.

Since you did use a condom, the likelihood that she is pregnant is certainly less than if you had had unprotected sex, but she really needs to go to either her doctor or a doctor at a teen health center who can give her a pregnancy test to be sure. If she is pregnant, a professional there will advise her of her options. If she is not pregnant, she can discuss birth control methods (including safer sex) to prevent any future accidents.

If your girlfriend does not feel comfortable seeing her family doctor she can go to a teen health clinic or your local Planned Parenthood who can provide services confidentially at a low/no cost basis. If you live in Northern New Jersey you can also call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973.641.6475 also on a low/no cost basis. They will be able to tell you if she is pregnant and what you can do. For some information now you options that you can read Pregnant! What to Do?

Signed: TeenHealthFX