Sexual Expression and Pregnancy

As a teenager you may be experiencing a variety of sexual feelings. A companion leaflet in the "Sexual Integrity for Teens" series titled "Know the Facts of Sexual Development" outlines the physical changes females and males experience during puberty. It points out that it is normal for both sexes to begin to experience increased sexual desires, dreams, fantasies and arousal during this period. If you haven't already, you may want to read that leaflet before continuing with this one. It provides information on sexual anatomy and development you need to know to understand both the ways sexuality is expressed and how pregnancy occurs.

SEXUAL EXPRESSION

It's important to understand that people express their sexuality in a variety of ways. Most infants, children and adults enjoy touching their genitals and other sexually sensitive parts of their bodies. The female's clitoris and the male's penis can give a great deal of pleasure when touched. Touching our sex organs for pleasure and, perhaps, an orgasm is called "masturbation." Masturbation is a normal, healthy part of life that is not harmful. Although many may not admit it, people of all ages enjoy masturbating. Some people choose not to masturbate, however. It may not seem right to them or they simply may not be interested.

Other methods of sexual expression include kissing, hugging, cuddling, touching and sexual intercourse with a partner. Vaginal intercourse occurs when a male places his penis inside a female's vagina. When a male becomes sexually aroused or "turned on" his penis gets thicker and wider and becomes erect. When a female becomes sexually aroused, her vagina produces a lubricating fluid. This fluid helps the penis slide into the vagina comfortably. In addition, her vagina is a very stretchy and elastic organ that expands during sexual arousal to accommodate an erect penis.

There are other methods of intercourse. Anal intercourse occurs when the penis goes into the partner's anus and oral intercourse occurs when it goes into the partner's mouth. Touching the penis or vulva with the mouth is also called "oral sex." Some people feel comfortable with these methods of sexual expression and others do not. Your attitudes, beliefs, and religious convictions will help you decide what is right for you.

PREGNANCY AND BIRTH

Vaginal intercourse is the cause of most pregnancies. However, a girl can become pregnant without ever having vaginal intercourse. This can happen during sexual arousal when the penis leaks semen containing thousands of sperm. Millions more spurt out the end when the male ejaculates. Pregnancy can occur if any sperm end up on the vulva or inside the vagina. They can "swim" up the vagina, through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes. If an egg is present in one of the fallopian tubes and is joined by a single sperm, fertilization occurs. The single cell formed by the egg and sperm then divides into more cells and is called a "pre-embryo."

The pre-embryo travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus. If it attaches to the lining of the uterus, implantation occurs and the pregnancy continues. The pre-embryo grows first into an embryo by the third week and then, about eight weeks after fertilization, into a fetus. During the embryonic period, the head, skeletal system, heart and digestive system begin to form. The placenta, which provides nutrients and processes wastes, also develops.

The fetal period of development lasts from about eight weeks (two months) until birth. The fetus is surrounded by a sac of salty, watery amniotic fluid which cushions and protects it. During the third month, facial features develop. The lips take shape, the nose begins to stand out and eyelids are formed. The fingers and toes are well developed and fingernails and toenails are being formed.

During the fourth month, most of the fetus's bones have formed, although they are still soft cartilage and will not completely harden into bone until many years after birth. In the fifth month, the fetal heartbeat can be heard through a stethoscope. Around this time, the fetal movements felt by the mother progress from a mild flutter to solid kicks against the side of her abdomen.

In the sixth month, the fetus grows to a foot in length and about twenty ounces in weight. It now has eyelashes, can open and close its eyes and may even suck its thumb. The fetus's essential features are almost complete. By seven months, the fetus weighs about two and a half pounds. In the eighth and ninth months of pregnancy, the fetus grows very rapidly, gaining an average of a half pound each week. Towards the end of pregnancy, the fetus usually changes its position so that the head is in the lower part of the uterus.

Figure: Full-Term Pregnancy

The fetus doesn't eat or breathe inside the female's uterus. It receives nourishment through the umbilical cord that connects it to the mother. As the fetus grows during pregnancy, the woman's uterus stretches and her abdomen gets bigger and bigger. After about nine months, the muscles of the uterus begin to contract and push the fetus out through the vagina. This process is called "labor and delivery." It may last only a few hours or it may last a day or more. The typical baby weighs about 7 pounds and is about 20 inches long at birth.

Labor and delivery is hard work for a woman and it can be painful. Special childbirth classes can help her ease the pain and enjoy the birthing experience. A doctor and a specially trained nurse will also be there for the birthing process. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut and tied and the baby begins to breathe through its lungs. If the baby is too large or if the mother's or baby's physical condition makes childbirth dangerous, the doctor may decide to remove the baby through surgery called a "cesarean section."

QUESTIONS ABOUT PREGNANCY

If you're like most teens, you probably have a number of questions about pregnancy and childbirth. That's natural. While there isn't space in this leaflet to answer all the questions teens like yourself may have, here are answers to some of the most common ones.

• Can a girl get pregnant the first time she has sex? Yes. Girls can and do get pregnant the first time they have sexual intercourse.

• How old does a girl have to be before she can get pregnant? A girl is physically capable of becoming pregnant once she begins to ovulate and menstruate. However, this doesn't mean she is mentally ready to accept the challenge of parenthood.

• Are there certain times of the month when a girl is most likely to get pregnant? Yes. Sperm can live up to five days in the vagina. Therefore, a female can become pregnant from having vaginal intercourse up to five days before ovulation. In addition, the egg lives a day or two after ovulation. Therefore, she can get pregnant for two days, or a little longer, during and after ovulation. This means there are approximately seven or eight days each month when a girl can become pregnant from vaginal intercourse. They include the five days before, the day of ovulation and the two days after.

• Is it true that a girl can't get pregnant if she has sex during her period? No. Females can and do become pregnant from having sex during their menstrual period.

• How can a female tell if she is pregnant? In most cases, the first sign of pregnancy is missing a period. Other signs include nausea, vomiting, or feeling tired all the time, sore and swollen breasts and having to urinate more often than normal. If you think you could be pregnant, see your private doctor, county health department's family planning clinic or a Planned Parenthood affiliate for a pregnancy test and check-up. While a missed period may be due to illness or stress, the most common reason is pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you will need the care of a professional.

• What determines if a baby is a girl or a boy? The father's sperm determines whether a baby is a girl or a boy. Some sperm have what is called an "x" chromosome while others have a "y" chromosome. If the mother's egg is fertilized by a sperm with an "x" chromosome, the baby will be a girl. If a sperm with a "y" chromosome fertilizes the egg, the baby will be a boy.

• Do most pregnancies end in the birth of a baby? No. Fewer than half of all fertilized eggs become babies. Sometimes an egg does not attach to the lining of the uterus and leaves the body in the menstrual flow. In other cases, an embryo or fetus dies in the uterus and leaves the body through the vagina. This is called a "spontaneous abortion" or "miscarriage." In other cases, a woman decides to end her pregnancy through induced abortion. Finally, some pregnancies end in stillbirth, which occurs when a fetus dies before or during birth.

LEARN AND PASS ON "THE FACTS OF LIFE"

American teens say they want accurate information about sexual behavior, pregnancy and childbirth. This leaflet was designed to provide you with useful information. But because of the complexity of the subject, you may want to obtain additional information from a credible source. Ask your parents and doctor for help and information. There are also many good books in your local library or bookstore. Continuing to educate yourself about sexuality is a sign of integrity.

Use the information you learn to help educate others. If you hear your friends sayings things that you know aren't true about sexuality, gently correct them. We're all better off when we know "the facts of life." Passing on accurate sexual information is acting responsibly. It's also another sign of sexual integrity.

REFERENCES

Lamanna, Mary Ann and Agnes Riedman. (1994). Marriages and families: Making choices and facing change (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Madaras, Lynda. (1988). The what's happening to my body? book for girls: A growing up guide for parents and daughters. New York: Newmarket Press.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (1993). How to talk with your teen about the facts of life. New York.