A few people asked us:
Ok heres a question- I have NEVER had a penis come into contact with my vagina. So… why is it that i an constantly thinking im pregnant? It’s super stressful over something not possible- what’s wrong with me mentally thats making me stress this much? Is this common?
andi have been dealing with what i’ve referred to as “pregnancy paranoia.” idk if this is a common thing , as i have only found a few articles of other girls feeling like me, but basically every time i have sex , oral or vaginal , i begin obsessing over every little pain in my body and i become convinced that i’m pregnant. i know it’s very unlikely as i haven’t missed any pills recently , and in the past when i have missed a pill , i didn’t have sex for 2 weeks. i have bought 25 pregnancy tests in the past 3 years ( all negative. and at about $10 a test , i’m looking at $250 spent ) i also have money set to the side for an abortion , and even when i’m struggling to make ends meet i dont touch it because my parents are very religious and adamantly pro life so if i ever got an abortion i wouldn’t be able to use my insurance. it’s gotten to the point where i have lost sleep staying up researching pregnancy during finals week even tho i know it’s almost impossible for me to be pregnant.
So first of all, you’re not alone: A huge chunk of the questions we get on the Planned Parenthood Tumblr are from folks who are super worried about unintended pregnancy. This is definitely something plenty of people stress out about.
But there’s a difference between worrying about it every once in a while (or if you do something that can cause pregnancy, like have unprotected sex), and constantly worrying about pregnancy even when it’s very unlikely or impossible that you are (like when you’re using your birth control method correctly or not even having the kind of sex that can lead to pregnancy).
If you know the chance you could be pregnant is slim-to-none and you’re still so worried that it impacts your daily life, talking with a nurse, doctor, or mental health professional (like a therapist or counselor) could be the next best step. A mental health professional might be able to help you figure out where this fear comes from and give you the tools to control your anxiety about unintended pregnancy when it flares up. You can also find more resources on SAMHSA’s website.
Your local Planned Parenthood health center may also be able to help you figure out what’s going on or connect you to some mental health resources. And Planned Parenthood is a great place to get answers to all of your questions about pregnancy and birth control, so you can feel more secure in your pregnancy prevention plan. We also have a quiz you can take to find out if you’re truly at risk for pregnancy.
Feeling anxious about an unintended pregnancy isn’t fun, but know that you’re not the only person going through this. You deserve a safe and happy life, and help is available.
-Kendall at Planned Parenthood