When you reach a certain age, usually in your teens, you can’t help being curious about sex, especially if you are in a relationship. But even if you don’t have a regular boyfriend, the interest can be overwhelming. You see sex everywhere around you - in magazines and newspapers, in advertisements and on TV. Although you learn about sex at school and from friends, it is important that you are fully informed about contraception. There are a variety of contraceptives available which are intended to prevent you from becoming pregnant. One of the consequences of not using contraception properly could be pregnancy.

There are a lot of myths about getting pregnant but these are the facts.

A woman can still get pregnant:

• if it is the first time she has sex

• if she does not have an orgasm

• if a man pulls out of her vagina before he comes (ejaculates)

• whatever position she has sex in

• if she has sex during a period

By using contraception you can avoid becoming pregnant when you don't want to be. If you have had sex without contraception or you have had protected sex and are still worried that you may be pregnant, the best way to find out for sure is to use a pregnancy test such as Predictor.

HOME PREGNANCY TESTING
Predictor was the first ever home pregnancy test launched in the UK back in 1971. Back then it looked like a chemistry set, but today it is easy to use and clinically proven to be over 99% accurate. If you think you might be pregnant, use Predictor for an answer you can trust.

Predictor is quick and simple to use, just put the test stick in your urine stream for a couple of seconds and click the lid back on. It has been specially designed to absorb the correct amount of urine quickly. The result is ready to read in just 4 minutes and the test can be used anytime of day from the first day of a missed period.

PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
The best known sign of pregnancy is a missed period, but there are other symptoms that could let you know you may be pregnant.

• Your breasts may be more tender and sore

• You’re feeling a little under the weather first thing in the morning

• You’re feeling tired earlier at night

• You’re having food cravings

• You may find yourself heading for the toilet more often

WHEN TO TEST
The earliest time to test for an accurate result is on, or after, the day of your missed period. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone known as hCG. This hormone is present in very small amounts from the day the egg is fertilised, and the amount will increase daily, until it reaches a detectable level on the day of your missed period. If your cycles are irregular or you don’t know when your next period is due, you should test 19 days after the last time you had sex, that's roughly how long it takes for the hormone levels to show up on a test.

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