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

One of the biggest myths surrounding pregnancy is that a girl can't get pregnant before she gets her first period. That notion is simply not true. Just because a girl has not had her period does not mean that she has a natural form of birth control.

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 can potentially 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, even if you haven't gotten your period yet.

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

For more information, check out these articles:
All About Menstruation
Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work?
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Would I Have My Period If I Were Pregnant?

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: July 2007

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