Sticky situation
Question
I had sex with my boyfriend the other day and we used a condom. The thing is, when he pulled out, the condom came off him and stayed inside me.
I pulled it out but I don't know if I should be worried about pregnancy or STIs. Can you help me?
Answer
There is a risk of pregnancy if sperm comes into contact with the vagina in any way. So there is a possibility you could be at risk of pregnancy and catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI) if the condom leaked when you pulled it out.
If this happened within the last five days, and you don't want to get pregnant, you should seek advice on emergency contraception as soon as possible.
If you're worried that you may have an infection, you can get advice and testing at a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Services are located attached to or within local hospitals, and are usually separate, discreet departments. GUM consultations are free and confidential, which means that no one will be told about your visit, unless you want them to be.
Before being tested, it is usual to see a health adviser who will discuss any concerns, and reassure you about what the tests will involve. But if you want to discuss your situation in more detail first, you can call the Brook Freephone Helpline on 0800 0185 023 in complete confidence.
Updated: 14/06/2005
Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
