Can I get pregnant if I've never had my period?
- Ariana

Yes, a girl can get pregnant before she gets her first period.

Getting pregnant is related to ovulation. Because a girl can ovulate before having her first period, it is possible to become pregnant before beginning to menstruate. Any time a girl has sex, she has the potential to get pregnant.

Pregnancy shouldn't be the only concern about having sex — any time you have sex, especially unprotected sex, you run the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Condoms are the best way, other than abstinence, to protect against both pregnancy and STDs, whether you’ve gotten your period yet or not.

If you have had unprotected sex, a condom broke, or you used birth control but haven't had your period, see your doctor immediately to get tested for pregnancy and STDs.

And if you have ever had sex, or are thinking about having sex, talk with your doctor about birth control options, STD testing, and ways to prevent STDs.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: August 2010

* Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

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