Unit 13 Pregnancy prevention
Key unit competence: Identify effective ways of preventing unintended pregnancy and make informed, responsible decisions about reproductive health.
Key ideas
- An unintended pregnancy is one that was not planned or wanted at that time. In adolescents it can cause health risks for mother and baby, school dropout, poverty, stigma and unsafe abortion.
- Abstinence (choosing not to have sexual intercourse) is the only method that is 100% effective against pregnancy and STIs, and is the recommended choice for adolescents in school.
- A contraceptive is a method, device or substance used to prevent pregnancy, mainly by preventing fertilisation (sperm meeting egg) or ovulation. Family planning helps couples decide how many children to have and when, and to space births.
- Natural methods (no devices or drugs): abstinence; periodic abstinence / calendar method (avoiding intercourse in the fertile days around ovulation); cervical mucus and body temperature methods (signs of ovulation); withdrawal; lactational amenorrhoea (exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months under specific conditions). They have no side effects but, apart from abstinence, need careful, consistent use and fail more often.
- Barrier methods: male and female condoms stop sperm reaching the egg. Condoms are the only contraceptives that also reduce the risk of STIs including HIV (dual protection), but must be used correctly every time.
- Hormonal methods: pills, injections, implants contain hormones that mainly prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus. They are very effective when used correctly, but do not protect against STIs and may have side effects such as irregular bleeding.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small devices placed in the uterus by a trained health worker; they prevent fertilisation or implantation and work for several years.
- Permanent methods: vasectomy (cutting the sperm ducts in men) and tubal ligation (cutting or tying the oviducts in women). They are for adults who have decided to have no more children.
- Emergency contraception can be taken soon after unprotected sex or rape (within 72–120 hours) to reduce the risk of pregnancy. It is not a regular method.
- Myths vs facts: pregnancy can happen the first time; contraceptives do not cause permanent infertility (fertility usually returns after stopping); pills do not protect against STIs; correct information comes from trained health workers, not rumours.
Common misconceptions
- "A girl cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex." No: pregnancy can happen any time sperm meets an egg, including the first time.
- "Contraceptives make women infertile forever." No: for most methods fertility returns after stopping.
- "Pills protect against HIV." No: hormonal methods prevent pregnancy only; condoms reduce STI risk.
- "Withdrawal is a safe method." No: sperm can be released before withdrawal; it often fails.
Worked examples
Example 1. Explain why abstinence is described as the best method for school learners.
Solution
It is 100% effective against both pregnancy and STIs including HIV, has no side effects and costs nothing. It protects the learner's health, education and future goals while they mature emotionally.
Example 2. A couple uses only the calendar method and the woman's cycle is irregular. Explain why the method may fail.
Solution
The calendar method predicts the fertile days from a regular cycle. If the cycle is irregular, ovulation may happen on unexpected days, and sperm can survive several days, so intercourse on "safe" days may lead to fertilisation.
Practice questions
Define contraception and state two reasons why family planning is important.
Show answer
Contraception is the use of methods, devices or substances to prevent pregnancy. Family planning allows couples to choose the number and spacing of children, improves maternal and child health, reduces unsafe abortions and supports education and income.
Common mistake: Saying contraception cures STIs.
Name two natural methods of preventing pregnancy and one disadvantage of each.
Show answer
Abstinence (requires strong commitment); calendar method (fails with irregular cycles); withdrawal (sperm may be released early); cervical mucus/temperature (needs careful daily recording).
Common mistake: Saying all natural methods are 100% effective.
Classify these methods: pill, condom, vasectomy, implant, IUD.
Show answer
Hormonal: pill, implant. Barrier: condom. Device: IUD. Permanent/surgical: vasectomy.
Common mistake: Calling the IUD a barrier method.
State three consequences of teenage pregnancy.
Show answer
School dropout; health risks (anaemia, difficult labour); poverty; stigma; unsafe abortion; emotional stress.
Common mistake: Listing only health effects.
Explain why condoms are recommended for dual protection.
Show answer
They act as a barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg (pregnancy) and reduces contact with infected body fluids (STIs including HIV).
Common mistake: Saying pills give dual protection.
Give three myths about contraception and correct each.
Show answer
"You cannot get pregnant the first time": false, you can. "Contraceptives cause permanent infertility": false, fertility usually returns. "Pills protect against HIV": false, only condoms reduce the risk.
Common mistake: Stating the myth without the fact.
Explain why abstinence is recommended for adolescents.
Show answer
It is fully effective against pregnancy and STIs, has no side effects, costs nothing and protects education and future plans.
Common mistake: Saying it is only for girls.
Where can young people obtain correct information and services about reproductive health?
Show answer
Health centres, youth-friendly services, school counsellors and nurses, trained community health workers, parents and teachers.
Common mistake: Naming rumours and social media.
Matching and drag-and-drop
Matching
Match each item in column A with the correct answer in column B. Write the letter next to each number.
Column A Column B 1. Family planning helps couples to: a. Pregnancy cannot happen the first time 2. Which is a myth about contraceptives? b. abstinence 3. The only method that is 100% effective against pregnancy and STIs is: c. Condoms 4. Which method also reduces the risk of STIs? d. decide the number and spacing of children Show answer
1 → d (decide the number and spacing of children) · 2 → a (Pregnancy cannot happen the first time) · 3 → b (abstinence) · 4 → c (Condoms)
- It improves maternal and child health.
- Pregnancy can happen the first time.
- No intercourse means no risk.
- Hormonal methods do not protect against STIs.
Drag and drop
Choose the correct word or phrase from the box for each gap. One word in the box is not needed.
school dropout · it causes permanent infertility · sperm may be released before withdrawal · stopping sperm from reaching the egg- A consequence of teenage pregnancy is .
- Condoms work mainly by .
- The withdrawal method often fails because .
Show answer
1: school dropout · 2: stopping sperm from reaching the egg · 3: sperm may be released before withdrawal
- Girls often leave school.
- They are barrier methods.
- It is not reliable.
Matching
Match each item in column A with the correct answer in column B. Write the letter next to each number.
Column A Column B 1. Emergency contraception is used: a. preventing ovulation 2. Hormonal contraceptives mainly work by: b. trained health workers 3. Spacing births helps to: c. soon after unprotected sex or rape 4. Reliable advice on contraception is given by: d. improve the health of mother and child Show answer
1 → c (soon after unprotected sex or rape) · 2 → a (preventing ovulation) · 3 → d (improve the health of mother and child) · 4 → b (trained health workers)
- It is not a regular method.
- No egg is released.
- The mother's body recovers between pregnancies.
- They give correct facts.
Drag and drop
Choose the correct word or phrase from the box for each gap. One word in the box is not needed.
hormones · an unintended pregnancy · exclusive breastfeeding in early months · antibiotics- An unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is called .
- Lactational amenorrhoea depends on .
- Contraceptive injections and implants contain .
Show answer
1: an unintended pregnancy · 2: exclusive breastfeeding in early months · 3: hormones
- It was not wanted at that time.
- It works only under specific conditions.
- They prevent ovulation.