Ask Sam letter

Hi,

I’m really glad that you have got in touch about this, because anyone getting pregnant when you have not planned to can be very scary.

Pregnancy can happen as a result of a male and female having sex, or being sexually intimate with each other, without using contraception - or if your usual method of contraception doesn’t work. If you think your friend might be pregnant, you've done the right thing in getting a pregnancy test as soon as possible.

For some people, making a decision about pregnancy is easy, but for others it can be more difficult. Only your friend can decide which option is right for her. It’s important that she makes a decision as soon as she feels she can, in order to keep all her options open. If she's pregnant, she has the options of either having the baby and bringing it up, having the baby adopted or fostered or ending the pregnancy, which is also called an abortion.

I can see that this is a worry for you both and you have done the right thing in getting in touch with me. You sound like a really caring and supportive friend. You can get help and advice on pregnancy and what to do next by contacting Brook, speaking a doctor or talking to someone you trust.

It’s important to remember that you can legally have sex after the age of 16, but if you are sexually active before this and continue to have sex, it is important to use contraception to help prevent pregnancy and catching sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There are lots of different types of contraception available and you can get this free from your doctor or from sexual health services.

You’ve done really well to look after your friend, but it’s also important to think about how you’re feeling and how you’re managing this. Remember our counsellors are always here to listen and are here to support you and your friend if you want someone to talk to.

Take care,
Sam