Early pregnancy up to 12 years. Early pregnancy and childbirth in adolescence. Reasons for early pregnancy

Early pregnancy is a multifaceted problem that does not lose its relevance. Not one, but several reasons lead to its occurrence, and often the main ones are not at all related to the promiscuity of a teenage girl. What are the consequences of teenage pregnancy, and how to avoid this, we will consider further.

Causes of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy often occurs at the age of 15-17, sometimes at 14 and earlier. This is the age when, in the modern understanding of European culture, a girl is not an adult either legally or according to medical criteria. At the same time, the causes of teenage pregnancy are associated with social aspects, and if you study each of the factors, it turns out that the fundamental basis of this problem lies in family education.

The main causes of pregnancy in adolescence can be identified:

  1. Lack of sexual literacy. Not in every family, teenagers are enlightened in a timely manner in terms of intimate issues. The knowledge that children receive from the Internet, from peers, is sometimes distorted and far from the foundations that would allow them to protect themselves from health problems and psychological difficulties.
  2. Ignorance of the rules of contraception. Even having begun a sexual life, not all teenagers use means or know how to use them correctly. Due to shyness, few of the young girls turn to the gynecologist with this question, acquire contraceptives in a pharmacy "with witnesses."
  3. The impact of bad company. Acquaintance with peers who behave uninhibitedly, drink alcohol or narcotic substances, dulling self-control, often becomes one of the provoking factors. Perhaps problems at school, family feuds led to a relationship with dysfunctional teenagers.
  4. Violence. A considerable number of cases are associated with forced sexual intercourse, which, due to the lack of trusting relationships with parents, is hidden, and pregnancy becomes known already at a later date.
  5. Socio-economic situation. Short social status, poverty is forcing some teenage girls into early sexual life, when they set as their goal to grow up sooner, leave the family, get married for a better life.

Physiological and psychological features of the course of teenage pregnancy

Almost always, the signs of teenage pregnancy come as a surprise, because. this is an unplanned event for which the girls are not yet ready either physiologically or psychologically. During this period, the body develops, undergoing complex hormonal changes. Moreover, puberty- the transition from childhood to adulthood, the phase of the socio-emotional development of the individual, when young people begin to realize themselves as part of society. AND early motherhood can become a significant obstacle in this development.

Why is early pregnancy dangerous?

From a physiological point of view, pregnancy in adolescents is more difficult than in adults. An unprepared organism is sometimes unable to endure the bearing of the fetus, childbirth. Young expectant mothers have an increased risk of toxicosis, anemia, the threat of miscarriage, uterine rupture and other pathologies. It is highly likely that the baby will be born prematurely, will have various defects. If a pregnant schoolgirl decides to have an abortion, this can result in gynecological and endocrine pathologies, infertility.

The problem of teenage pregnancy

Unwanted teen pregnancies cause them shock, fear and guilt. A young pregnant woman cannot independently assess the situation, and this leads to serious psychological trauma. Important role v this case an adult can play, whom a minor will trust, on whose opinion further behavior and the outcome of pregnancy often depend.

A pregnant schoolgirl is often faced with the condemnation of others, misunderstanding of her parents. Another problem against this background is the need to stop education, which then turns into an inability to get a good job, financial difficulties. All this and not only creates for the girl hopeless situation, provoking the abandonment of the child, various crimes. Motherhood, which should bring joy, becomes a real tragedy for young parents.

Teen pregnancy statistics

Early teenage pregnancies occur in 16 million girls worldwide each year, most of them in low-income countries. It is estimated that 30% of teenage pregnancies end in abortions (and often at a later date), 14% of underage pregnant women have miscarriages, and in 56% of cases, gestation ends in childbirth.

Early pregnancy - what to do?


Early teenage pregnancy poses a dilemma: continue or do? When deciding this issue, many factors should be taken into account: the health of the pregnant woman, financial position, family relations, etc. Parents are obliged to find out who the father of the unborn child is, whether the girl was subjected to violence. A pregnant woman should visit a antenatal clinic, undergo necessary examinations. It is also advisable to consult a psychologist. If the decision is made to terminate the pregnancy, then this should be done at the initial stage.

Prevention of teenage pregnancy

In order to prevent pregnancy in adolescence, it is important to timely and correctly present information to growing children about the characteristics of the female and male body, the ways of transmission of sexual infections, and methods of contraception. Many problems can be avoided if parents have managed to build trusting relationship with children so that they are not afraid and do not hesitate to share their experiences.

Early pregnancy is something that scares almost all parents whose children are approaching adolescence. What do doctors invest in this term, and what does such a pregnancy threaten in the future?

Definition

Clearly define the boundaries of early, timely and late pregnancy impossible. Each woman is unique, and someone may well endure a baby at 16, while for another organism it will be an unbearable burden.

Traditionally, it is considered that the period from 13 to 18 years is the time when it is too early to become pregnant. Although 17-18-year-old mothers can hardly surprise anyone. At this age, motherhood is often conscious. But at 13-16 years of age, pregnancy is definitely considered early.

Medicine knows cases when conception occurred at the age of 6, and even ended in childbirth. However, this can be attributed to casuistry.

V last years on the territory of the Russian Federation and neighboring countries there is a decrease in the age of first pregnancy, and sometimes girls become future mothers as early as 11–12 years old.

The reasons for this phenomenon are quite diverse.

Causes

The main cause of untimely pregnancy is always the early onset of sexual activity. The following factors contribute to this:

  • Lack of trust between parents and children.
  • Self-doubt, especially in girls.
  • The desire to look like adults among teenagers.
  • Free access to information different nature, including erotic and pornographic.
  • Excess free time, lack of hobbies, sports interests.
  • Low literacy in matters of the structure and functioning of one's own body and the relationship between the sexes.
  • Ignorance of the basics of contraception, inability to use contraceptives.
  • Irresponsibility associated with young age.
  • Common myths about pregnancy.

Numerous surveys of adolescents have shown that the main reason that prompts them to begin sexual activity at 14-16 years old is by no means pronounced sexual desire. Most boys and girls at this age are quite satisfied with friendly or platonic-romantic relationships.

However, the desire to stand out among peers, to gain authority in one's reference group is stronger common sense. At the same time, young people do not at all take into account their unpreparedness for future parenthood - both physical and psychological.

Physical readiness

Carrying a child even at the age of 17-18 is not always easy and without complications. And at the age of 13–16, the risk of dangerous situations increases significantly.

Pregnancy is a period of global hormonal adjustment. In addition to female sex hormones, prolactin begins to be actively produced, which is responsible for the growth and development of the mammary glands, preparing them for lactation. This leads to breast enlargement. Due to the rapid stretching of the skin in this area, stretch marks can form, which does not add beauty to the girl's body.

Sometimes, by the time of pregnancy, the breasts are not sufficiently formed, and then the young mother may face lactation difficulties - lack of milk, flat shape nipples, too sensitive skin.

Also during the gestation period, most pregnant women experience an increase in body weight. It is often significant. This can further affect the metabolism of a teenager and give the girl a lot of problems with weight.

For nine months, relaxin is produced in the body of the expectant mother. This is a special hormone that helps soften the ligaments, improve their extensibility. Even with a normal, timely pregnancy, a woman's gait is disturbed, her joints become mobile.

In adolescents, hypermobility of the joints is already a frequent phenomenon, and in combination with the action of relaxin, this can lead to subluxations or dislocations.

The pelvis of a teenage girl, as a rule, is still narrow for the birth of a baby, so obstetricians often have to resort to a caesarean section.

The cardiovascular system at the age of 12–14 is not always able to cope with the doubled load, for future mother this can result in a violation of the heart rhythm, pressure problems. Excess iron intake by a growing fetus can exacerbate anemia, which is often seen in young girls. The consumption of calcium entails problems with the still unformed fully musculoskeletal system adolescent, tooth decay, hair loss and brittleness.

Psychological readiness

Few teenagers are planning a pregnancy consciously or even seriously considering such a possibility. Most of them are sure that this will not happen to them. Girls and boys aged 14-17 are not inclined to present themselves as parents without a serious need.

Of course, if there are brothers or sisters, especially younger ones, a teenager has an idea of ​​what Small child, and what difficulties the life of parents involves. Moreover, on the example of her own mother, the girl sees how the pregnancy proceeds, what changes the woman's body undergoes. However, this is only an observation from the outside, which does not replace practical experience and does not add strength.

Most teenagers are not psychologically ready to become parents, to take full care of the newborn. For them, caring for a baby is, to some extent, an extension of the game of dolls. As soon as they realize that the baby needs to be taken care of day after day, 24 hours a day, moral and physical fatigue, exhaustion, and emotional burnout appear.

If there is no support from grandparents, teenage parents have a very difficult time, which inevitably affects their relationship with their own child.

For a girl aged 13-17, pregnancy may not be the most pleasant period. Any hardships and unpleasant sensations are perceived hypertrophied, cause irritability and emotional lability. Teenagers are capable of not listening to medical advice, ignore their appointments, even if it is to the detriment of the unborn child. Childbirth is also difficult at this age.

childbirth

Childbirth is a difficult stage at any age. Even adult women during this period are able to get confused due to severe pain or fear. With a teenager, things are much more complicated.

A girl's body may simply not be ready for natural childbirth due to narrow pelvis or other reasons.

Often at this age there is a discoordinated labor activity or its primary and secondary weakness. Also, a child can be born much earlier than the term, which threatens not only his health and further development but also life.

A young woman in labor may experience premature passage amniotic fluid, weakness of the straining period.

Inability to cope with pain and listen to the advice of a doctor leads to incorrect behavior in childbirth. It is fraught with physical exhaustion and fatigue, which is most dangerous in the laborious period, when the successful birth of the child depends on the efforts of the woman in labor.

At the age of 13-16, childbirth may be accompanied by an inadequate manifestation of emotions - aggression, hysteria, or, conversely, depression.

Increased tissue vulnerability at this age leads to perineal tears and the need for preventive episiotomy.

Medical aspects

There are also medical aspects early pregnancy. In addition to physical and psychological immaturity, doctors have long noticed that the early age of the mother increases the risk of having children with chromosomal abnormalities. This is especially true for Down syndrome.

Other problems may also occur:

  • Hormonal imbalance that persists for a long time.
  • Increased risk of preeclampsia.
  • Premature onset of labor.
  • Miscarriage at any time, stillbirth.
  • Feto-placental insufficiency, placental abruption.
  • Progressive iron deficiency anemia.
  • Polyhydramnios, delay prenatal development baby.
  • The birth of a child with underweight body.
  • The risk of obesity in the mother in the future, especially if in young age were repeated births.
  • Increased (twice) the risk of developing uterine cancer, as well as diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
  • Violation of somatic maturation.
  • -Probable complications in childbirth, death of the mother or child.

In addition, teenage pregnancy often ends not in the birth of a child, but in late-term abortion. At the age of 13–16, not all girls are able to understand in time what is happening to their body. Some don't even know they're pregnant.

They attribute the absence of menstruation to hormonal failure, and weight gain to overeating. Naturally, the diagnosis comes as a complete surprise to them. If there are medical contraindications to bearing a child, early pregnancy can be terminated at any time.

But sexual activity at a young age is fraught not only with the birth of a child, in some cases one has to bear criminal responsibility for it.

The legislative framework

Adulthood in the Russian Federation comes at 18 years. However, consensual sex is allowed from the age of 16. It is believed that at this age, adolescents can more consciously control their desires and take care of contraception.

If the girl is 13-15 years old, and the young man is an adult, he is threatened with criminal liability, regardless of how mutual the desire for sex was for this couple. Young people should always remember this and show conscience and discretion in such serious matters.

In a situation where both partners have not reached the permissible age, but at the same time lead an active sexual life, no punishment is provided for them by law.

However, if there is coercion to sex - moral and physical, violent actions on the part of one of the partners, he will be criminally liable for this from the moment he is 14 years old.

In matters of the beginning of sexual activity and consent between a boy and a girl, the law is quite severe, and one cannot count on his indulgence, regardless of age.

In addition to possible criminal liability, adolescents in the event of early pregnancy can expect other problems.

Possible problems

Despite widespread freedom of morals and sexual life in recent years, early pregnancy still continues to be condemned by society and the parents of the teenager himself.

Often a girl who finds out about her situation is left without any support. Future fathers often choose to break off complicated relationships and avoid their responsibilities towards the newborn and his mother.

Fear of a possible negative reaction from her parents forces the girl to hide her pregnancy. Because of this, the expectant mother sees a doctor late, which is fraught with development various complications or even interruption in the second or third trimester.

Modern society also prefers to condemn such a teenager. A pregnant girl may have problems in school and society associated with the negative reaction of others.

Teenagers should remember that early pregnancy in many cases is a cross on future studies, a good job and career.

A young mother will be able to continue her education only with the support of relatives. But grandparents are not always ready to sacrifice their time for the sake of their grandson. And most of them are still young enough at the time of his birth to build their careers.

Even in the absence of medical problems, a teenage girl can easily turn out to be a young single mother, struggling to make ends meet and without any prospects for further professional success and financial independence.

That is why, when the first thoughts about sex appear, 13-16-year-old partners should carefully study the possibilities of modern contraception.

Contraception

Proper use of contraceptives is important at any age, but it is most relevant for adolescents. Protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy the following methods help:

  1. Barrier (condoms and caps).
  2. Intrauterine device.
  3. Hormonal preparations (tablets, injections, vaginal rings).
  4. Chemical (spermicidal ointments, gels).

V adolescence it is preferable to use condoms. They protect not only from conception, but also from sexually transmitted infections. This is especially important for those boys and girls who often change partners.

In addition, condoms are convenient and easy to use compared to caps that are placed in the cervix.

Sometimes it makes more sense to use hormonal preparations. This applies to those adolescents who maintain a close relationship with only one partner. Often, doctors prescribe such pills for the purpose of correcting hormonal imbalance at the girl.

The intrauterine device in adolescence is usually not installed.

Spermicidal ointments have a relatively low efficiency, so it is undesirable to use them as the only contraceptive.

As regards such natural ways protection against pregnancy, like coitus interruptus (PPA) and the calendar method, you should not use them in adolescence (and any other) age. They regularly become the cause of unwanted early pregnancy.

But if it does come, the interaction of a doctor, a teenage girl and her parents is necessary in order to avoid unpleasant consequences and health problems.

Tactics

What is the best thing to do in case of early pregnancy? Medical tactics are developed individually, depending on the age of the future mother and her state of health.

Currently, most doctors are doing their best to keep the pregnancy. This is due not so much to the ethical problem of abortion as to their extremely negative influence on the adolescent reproductive system in the future.

Too often, after a single abortion in adolescence, a woman can never have children again. Abortion is one of the significant causes of female infertility. And the younger the patient during this procedure, the higher the risk of such a complication.

Unfortunately, sometimes a girl’s concomitant diseases or constitutional features do not allow her to endure a pregnancy at 13–15 years old. In such a situation, interruption is a necessary measure. But, although there is usually no other way out, this often causes severe psychological trauma to a teenager. It can result in neurosis or depression.

Teenage pregnancy almost always entails a lot of difficulties for future parents. It seriously changes their lives and affects relationships. That is why the decision to start having sex at a young age should be balanced and deliberate. And you can start it only after selecting the optimal contraceptive.

Not all pregnant women in their teens are ready to become mothers, so the lot of most early pregnancies is their artificial interruption. According to world statistics, 70% of young women at the onset of pregnancy, about 15% of pregnancies. And in about 15 cases out of 100, teenagers successfully carry. To avoid an unexpected pregnancy, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the comprehensive education of girls and boys under 18 years of age, but also to acquaint them with the possible problems of young expectant mothers.

Complications in early pregnancy

Early pregnancy is most often interrupted due to financial disadvantage, lack of completed education, support from a partner and parents. Teenage pregnancy, which occurred between the ages of 14 and 17, threatens not only the body, but also the child. This is due to the fact that the body of the expectant mother itself is in the process of development, for which the body of the pregnant woman needs vitamins and minerals. During pregnancy, a large proportion of nutrients will be taken by the fetus. Therefore, under the age of 17 it is physically difficult to bear a baby.

With teenage pregnancy, toxicosis, fetal hypoxia, and anemia occur many times more often. Complications also concern the threat of miscarriage due to a possible uterine rupture. Children born as a result of early pregnancy often have developmental delays, physical handicaps, vices. Higher and mortality among teenage mothers. It is also worth noting that during early pregnancy, children are often born prematurely, with low body weight. We must not forget about the risks for the mental, physical health mother.

Possible consequences of teenage pregnancy

Traditionally, in early pregnancy, there is a late registration of the mother. In most cases, teenagers face weak labor activity. There is a risk of mortality for both herself and the child.

Early pregnancy is also a misunderstanding on the part of loved ones, others, problems with social adaptation, future labor activity. After early birth a mother may face the risks of uterine cancer, heart and vascular diseases, and obesity. After all, it is not easy for an unformed body to go through hormonal changes, and for mothers to accept the situation, tune in to a successful birth.

The content of the article:

You can hear a lot about early pregnancy. There is enough information about it to assess all possible risks and consequences. It would seem that in the modern world, schoolchildren are more than aware of what happens in the end if they have an early sexual life. But despite this, there are more and more cases of early teenage pregnancy every year.

Early pregnancy refers to the age of 13 to 18 years. This is the period when cardinal changes occur in the body of a teenage girl, namely, the hormonal restructuring of the body begins - the schoolgirl is no longer a girl, but not yet a woman.

The main reason is that schoolgirls grow up very early, and they show big interest to adult sexual activity. As a rule, pregnancy occurs after the first sexual intercourse. After all, teenagers are convinced that this will not end in anything dangerous for them. But as a result, everything ends with the fact that a young girl, with tears in her eyes, tells her mother about her pregnancy. In addition, the main responsibility in this situation belongs to the parents, namely the mother of the teenager. For such children, this is a completely unidentified issue and only parents can correctly explain and prevent similar cases. Due to the fact that parents do not communicate much with children on this topic, they do not devote enough time and effort to sex education teenagers - girls become mothers early.

Consequences of early pregnancy

Unfortunately, the outcome of such a pregnancy can be very different. Everything will depend on how it is perceived in the family. this situation. For example, statistics say that most often unplanned teenage pregnancy ends in an abortion, and 70% of schoolgirls decide on this. And only 15% of girls leave the child, and another 15% are faced with the fact that the pregnancy is suddenly terminated even in the early stages. Such a large percentage of miscarriages is due to the fact that the body of a teenager is not yet ready to bear a baby and the fetus is rejected.

Benefits of early pregnancy


Despite the fact that for the female body optimal age For first pregnancies exactly between 19 and 26 years of age, there are some claims to protect teenage pregnancy:
  • Unfortunately, very often teenage girls, having become pregnant, decide to terminate the pregnancy, mothers agree with this. But in fact, if the pregnancy is proceeding normally, there are many “pros” why a girl needs to give birth. First of all, despite the fact that even if the body of a teenager is not yet fully ready to bear a child, at this age there are rarely any health problems. For example, it is known that it is in youth (20–22 years) that various chronic diseases. Most often, these are gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc. In addition, the number of young people who have cardiovascular diseases is increasing. Naturally, all this together significantly affects the course of pregnancy, especially the development of the fetus.
  • Usually get involved bad habits children start already in high school, and already, as students, they have time to develop a certain habit of this all. They use a large number of alcoholic beverages, smoke not only tobacco products, but may also use other harmful substances, including drugs. And not infrequently, girls who get pregnant at that age have different problems with pregnancy, to the extent that the fetus may have a variety of malformations. In adolescents, the body is still “clean” and most likely a young mother has a better chance of giving birth healthy baby.
  • Despite a certain immaturity of the teenage body for pregnancy and childbirth, the psyche of children at this age is quite unpredictable. They are characterized by the so-called "flexibility of the psyche", which allows them to quickly and easily adapt to new living conditions. In addition, the nervous system is characterized by mental lability, which allows you not to get hung up on a particular situation. If we compare the nervous system adult woman, then it is much more difficult for her to emotionally tune in to her pregnancy. The fact is that such women are able to constantly oppress themselves with various thoughts, suspicions and worries about their condition.
  • Also a big plus in teenage pregnancy is that the baby after birth will have young grandparents. This is good in the sense that not so long ago grandparents themselves were parents of small children and it will certainly be easier for them to help raise their grandson or granddaughter. After all, they still remember well all their knowledge of raising babies. It is also good from a physical point of view, because it is much more difficult for older grandparents to cope with their grandchildren.
As you can see, there are many good points to become a young teenage mother. Of course, it is better to avoid this, but even if this happened, you can also find a plus in this.

Cons of early pregnancy


Of course, the main disadvantage of early pregnancy is that if a girl decides to give birth, she will most likely have to forget about the prospect of becoming a student in the near future. Since her main task is the upbringing of the baby. If she decides to have an abortion, the consequences can be very sad, from gynecological problems to infertility. Unfortunately, most abortions in adolescence are done at long terms. This is because some girls are afraid to tell their parents. Usually, the mother can suspect pregnancy. In addition, there are other unpleasant moments of teenage pregnancy:
  • Despite being young and strong organism a teenage girl, he is completely unprepared for such a strong load as bearing a fetus. First of all, it concerns immaturity reproductive function, namely, an unsteady hormonal balance, an immature egg, and given the early age of the woman in labor, there is the possibility of weak labor activity.
  • As a result of drastic hormonal changes, there are big risk various complications, both during pregnancy and during childbirth. For example, there may be a risk of miscarriage or premature birth, there is also a risk of oligohydramnios, which threatens the health of the child, most likely during early pregnancy, the baby will be born with low weight, sometimes it can reach critical indicators, and the main thing is that there is a big threat not only to the health of a young mother, but also to her life.
  • No less important is the fact that a girl may not be ready for the role of a mother at all. And this is not strange, because even yesterday she lived a free life, and a sudden pregnancy did not fit into her plans. Now she will have to make one of the most important decisions in her life, and if she decides to keep the pregnancy, a radical change in her life awaits her. Unfortunately, very often, future fathers, not realizing all the responsibility for the current situation, simply leave the girl alone with her problems, which also affects her psycho-emotional state.

Teenage pregnancy: what to do?


Given all the pros and cons of early pregnancy, it is very important for the parents of a teenager to still do everything so that this does not happen to your child. After all, it is not in vain that they say: "Everything must be on time." But you also need to know that if this still happened, there is no point in scolding the girl and saying: “I warned you!”. The main task of parents is to do everything so that the expectant mother bears a healthy baby and does not even think about abortion. After all, the consequences of an abortion are more terrible than the birth of a baby. A pregnant woman needs to be supported both mentally and physically. Parents must assure their daughter that she will not be left alone, that they are ready to support her and help in everything. This is especially true for the girl's mother, as she most of all understands her condition and will be able to find the right words. In addition, given that the girl knows absolutely nothing about raising children, it is the duty of the mother to teach her everything and pass on her experience.

Positive on psychological condition special courses for pregnant women influence, which not only support the expectant mother, but also teach her everything necessary: ​​how to take care of the baby, how to prepare for breastfeeding and how to behave during childbirth. You should also definitely visit a psychologist who, as a specialist, knows how to help and support a future young mother. Such consultations for pregnant teenagers are simply necessary. After all, they faced difficult situations from which it is not easy for them to find a way out.

As for the health of a pregnant woman, she must understand that now she needs to take care not only of herself, but also of her unborn baby. Considering that it will be difficult for a teenage body to experience such a load as pregnancy, the girl needs to contact a gynecologist in time for an examination. In addition, it is necessary to take all the necessary tests and follow all the recommendations of the doctor.

Prevention of early pregnancy


Of course, no matter how it happens, pregnancy (even if it occurs in adolescence) is not yet a tragedy. But it is important to make sure that both girls and guys understand that this is necessary and can be avoided. After all, at their age, the only thing you need to think about is studying. The main mission in "educating" teenagers about sexual life belongs, first of all, to parents, and then to teachers and social services.

It is the responsibility of teachers to inform teenagers not only with boring talk about early pregnancy and its consequences, but to do it available methods. For example, you need to show different films, consider different examples from life, as they say: "Learn from the mistakes of others."


Good trusting relationships with children are of great importance in the prevention of early teenage pregnancy. It is important to always listen to your child and try to understand him. Also, parents should be free to tell their children about the consequences of early sexual activity. A teenage girl must understand that if she has a period, then she may well become pregnant. Before entering into adult life, she needs to give herself answers to the questions: “Is she ready for children?”, “Will she be able to give birth and raise a baby?” etc. In addition, she also needs to understand that she will need to devote all her time to raising a child. If she is not mentally ready for this (which, most likely, she is), she should be careful. How binding rule prevention of early pregnancy, at this age children should understand what contraception is and how it can protect their health.

To date, adolescents receive most of the information about their sexual experience through the media. It is the responsibility of parents to monitor and control what your child views and what information they receive. You should explain to a teenager that at his age it is important to make time for more important matters: study, sports and caring for relatives. Remember that the energy directed into right direction, will help protect your child from irreparable mistakes.

For more on early teen pregnancy, watch this video:

Early pregnancy, leading in some cases to motherhood at a young age, is a serious medical and social problem modern society. The existence of this problem is due to the early onset sexual relations in adolescents, combined with low medical literacy of the population regarding contraception.

So, every year in the world about 15 million children are born to young mothers. Infant mortality of such babies is 5-8 times higher than that of children in the general population.

What is considered an early pregnancy?

Synonymous with early pregnancy is pregnancy in young women who have not yet reached sexual maturity. Their age ranges from 12 to 17 years inclusive. V different countries world differ in age and criteria for social maturity. Therefore, in a number of countries (for example, in some African countries), teenage pregnancy is a common phenomenon that only confirms the fertility of a young woman.

In our country, about 15% of all births occur to mothers whose age ranges from 15 to 19 years. About a third of all early pregnancies end in abortion. Miscarriages - about 14% of teenage pregnancies. Slightly more than half of early pregnancies end in childbirth.

The earliest pregnancy in the world, as a result of which a baby was born, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It happened to a five-year-old Peruvian named Lina Medina. This early pregnancy ended by caesarean section in due date. A healthy son weighing 2 kg 700 g and 47 cm tall was born to such a young mother. This shocking event happened in 1939.

What caused this earliest pregnancy? The girl from birth developed very rapidly, she showed signs of premature puberty. Pubic hair began to grow from the age of three months, and by the age of 8 months (according to some sources at 3 years old) she had already started menstruating. At the age of 4 years, the mammary glands began to develop.

Who became the culprit of the earliest pregnancy in the world remains a mystery. Lina herself was silent about this fact all her life. She gave birth to another child in 1972. Lina Medina died in November 2015, and her first son died of cancer at the age of 40.

The earliest pregnancy in the Soviet Union was recorded in 1934 in Kharkov. Lisa Grishchenko became a young mother, who gave birth to a full-term baby at the age of 6 from her own grandfather. Unfortunately, the child died during natural childbirth. She was not given a caesarean section due to the risk of septic infection.

Age at early pregnancy and menstrual cycle

How younger age mothers during early pregnancy, the more likely that this pregnancy will proceed with pathologies. This is due to the fact that the biological maturity of the organism increases gradually.

In gynecology, there is a very important concept called "menstrual age". It reflects the number of years from the first menstruation to the onset of this pregnancy. Menstrual age during early pregnancy plays great importance in terms of predicting a real pregnancy for mom and baby. Regarding this indicator, all young mothers are divided into groups:

  • Women with a menstrual age of 1 year or less;
  • Women with a menstrual age of 2 years;
  • Women with a menstrual age of 3 years or more.

Regarding the age of children and adolescents with early pregnancy can be divided into three groups:

  • Super young primiparas (up to 9 years). These girls have accelerated sexual development.
  • Young primiparous (9-15 years). Puberty is not over yet.
  • From 15 to 18 years old. Adolescents who are already ripe for pregnancy and bearing a baby.


There are various reasons for early pregnancy. More often than not, there is a combination of causes. Factors that influence the high rate of early pregnancy in adolescents include the following:

  • high sexual activity among minors.
  • Exposure to violence (both physical and sexual), including in the family.
  • Low material security and unfavorable living conditions.
  • The birth of children at a young age among relatives, friends and the immediate environment of a teenager.
  • Behavioral and psychological characteristics of a teenager: reduced ability to learn and learn new things, life "today" without plans for the future, a sense of invulnerability in relation to oneself.
  • Rejection of contraceptives (not realizing their importance, unwillingness of a partner, personal motives, embarrassment to buy and use them, etc.).
  • Intentional early pregnancy in adolescence different reasons.
  • Inaccessible or poor-quality medical care related to family planning.

In the event that an early pregnancy has occurred, the reasons for it must be sought not only from the side of the underage mother, but also from the side of the father, who also often turns out to be a teenager or a young man who faced the above problems at a young age.

Signs of early pregnancy

If there is a suspicion that an early pregnancy has occurred, its signs can be divided into probable and reliable. Some symptoms are noticed by the young pregnant woman herself, while others are alarmed by her environment (parents).


The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages may differ in different women. Observing the following signs in yourself, it is impossible to say with certainty that pregnancy has occurred. But this fact cannot be ruled out either. Therefore, if there are likely signs of early pregnancy, it is recommended to contact the antenatal clinic as soon as possible.

If an early pregnancy is suspected in a teenager, the signs to look out for are the following:

    Delayed expected menstruation.

It would seem that such a simple signal that pregnancy should be excluded in the first place turns out to be far from leading in the situation with adolescents. The point is that failure menstrual cycle often occur during adolescence for various reasons. Especially for those girls whose menstrual age is not yet great. In addition, pregnancy is possible even if the girl has never had a period.

    Increase in basal temperature.

Adolescents rarely face the need to measure basal temperature, but still its increase is one of the signs of pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy after ovulation, the basal temperature decreases, if it is present, it stays above 37 degrees. Measure basal body temperature with an ordinary thermometer in the morning, without getting out of bed, in the rectum.

    Nausea and vomiting.

These symptoms may be early signs pregnancy, namely toxicosis of the first trimester. However, not all women have toxicosis. More often, these symptoms are disturbing in the morning. The appearance of toxicosis is mainly associated with hormonal changes in the female body. Nausea and vomiting can be observed in a number of somatic and infectious diseases so you need to watch out for other symptoms as well.

    Change in taste preferences (craving for something, aversion from something).

These symptoms are not specific and often appear later in pregnancy.

    Enlargement of the mammary glands and their soreness.

Sometimes the nipples become darker and more sensitive, the areolas increase. This is one of the first signs of pregnancy in the early weeks. The appearance of these symptoms is due to hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother. It is possible that the appearance of such symptoms will be regarded by the expectant mother as signs of an approaching menstruation.

    Pain in the lower back, sacrum, or lower abdomen.

The appearance of these symptoms is due to the release of the hormone relaxin, which from the first weeks of pregnancy affects the ligaments of the pelvic bones and makes them more supple and extensible. However, pulling pains in the uterus or cramping pains can be a sign of an incipient miscarriage during early pregnancy.

    Frequent urge to urinate.

Worried about the feeling of a full bladder, although in reality there is very little urine. These symptoms are due to the onset of the release of human chorionic gonadotropin and an increase in the uterus, which begins to put pressure on bladder. Similar symptoms can be confused with cystitis or urethritis, but with these diseases there are symptoms of inflammation.

    Implantation bleeding.

At the time of implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall, its inner layer is damaged, which may be accompanied by small bleeding. These secretions differ in characteristics from menstrual blood, but in adolescence a similar symptom can be regarded as scanty menstruation.

    The appearance of drowsiness, increased fatigue.

These signs of early pregnancy are due to hormonal changes. The appearance of such a symptom in adolescents is more likely to be regarded as overwork at school than as a sign of early pregnancy.

    Increased secretions from the genital tract.

This is also a symptom of hormonal changes in the female body. Adolescence is often overlooked.

    Frequent mood swings, emotionality.

Causeless joy, inability to hold back crying, unreasonable irritability - these are all symptoms of a hormonal surge during pregnancy.

    The appearance of certain changes during a gynecological examination (changes in the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix, changes in the consistency of the uterus, etc.). Determined only by the doctor.

In addition to these symptoms, there are other signs of early pregnancy (constipation, increased gas formation in the intestines, aversion to certain odors, increased salivation and etc.). Their main reason lies in the hormonal changes in the female body.


TO reliable signs Early pregnancy symptoms include:

    Positive pregnancy test.

Based on the determination of the level of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine of a woman. Can be used for early diagnosis pregnancy, starting from the first day of delayed menstruation. Some doctors consider a pregnancy test to be a likely sign, since in some cases there are both false positive and false negative results. However, this symptom should be addressed Special attention. Its accuracy is from 90%.

    High levels of hCG in a woman's bloodstream.

The level of this hormone gradually increases during the first trimester. The accuracy of this test is 99%.

    Detection gestational sac or an embryo in the uterus during an ultrasound examination.

This study helps to clarify the current situation, confirm the pregnancy or refute it.

    Detection of the fetus in the uterus by palpation, listening to his heartbeat, sensation of fetal movements.

It is a 100% sign of pregnancy, but this is far from its first symptom.

Carrying an early pregnancy

Carrying an early pregnancy has its own characteristics. It depends not only on the young age of the mother, but also on the state of her health. If the expectant mother has concomitant problems from the side various bodies, this may affect the outcome of pregnancy and childbirth.

Pregnancy is always a big burden on female body. And the body, which is not yet mature enough for such a difficult process of bearing a child, is hard at times. On average, in young expectant mothers, the duration of the entire period of pregnancy is somewhat shorter than in women at the optimal fertile age, and is 37.9 weeks. According to statistics, the lower the menstrual age of a minor, the earlier labor begins.

It is not always easy to make the decision to carry an early pregnancy. First of all, a young woman should have support from her parents, partner, relatives, friends. The material component of the issue, the social status of the family in which the teenage girl grows up, is important.

Both the young expectant mother herself and her parents must know that in most cases during pregnancy in early age complications and pathologies occur both during the bearing of the baby and during childbirth. Most high risks adverse outcomes in the group of women with a menstrual age of 1 year or less. Slightly less risk in women with a menstrual age of 1 to 2 years. The least pathologies and complications during gestation or the process of childbirth are observed in underage mothers with a menstrual age of 3 years.


The first trimester of pregnancy is very important and disturbing for expectant mothers who require special attention at this time. The first trimester lasts until the end of the 13th week of pregnancy. Powerful events take place in the body hormonal changes. In the case of early pregnancy, a young expectant mother definitely needs help and support from parents and loved ones in such a serious period.

She needs to be informed that during this period all the baby's organs and his health are laid for life. Therefore, it is very important to lead a calm lifestyle, refuse to visit discos, reduce physical activity, go to bed on time, eat well, do not smoke, do not drink alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks. It is important to visit a gynecologist regularly, follow his instructions and undergo routine examinations.

In the first trimester, the risk of miscarriage is high. With the threat of this, most often the expectant mother is hospitalized. A minor who wants to bear a child must understand the degree of responsibility for the possible refusal of hospitalization.

Second trimester

The second trimester lasts from the 14th week of gestation until the end of the 26th week. The risk of miscarriage at this time is much less than in the last trimester. Expectant mothers tend to feel much better. They already have symptoms of toxicosis or significantly decrease, the stomach begins to grow. Behind shoulders already screening ultrasound. From 18 to 20 weeks, a young mother will be able to feel the movements of her baby. The baby is growing intensively, all his organs are being improved.

Reorganizations continue to occur in the body, the load on the heart, blood vessels, kidneys and other organs increases. In this period, the risk of exacerbation of chronic diseases is high. In the second trimester, a young expectant mother again expects a screening ultrasound of the fetus, blood tests. Regular visits are essential antenatal clinic.


The third trimester is the final one before childbirth, it begins at 27 weeks of pregnancy. The abdomen grows to a significant size, the load on the body also increases. Many women begin to tire of their pregnancy. The main task of the expectant mother in this period is to thoroughly prepare for childbirth. Especially important is the right psychological attitude, support for the expectant mother from the family and the doctor.

If possible, it is worth sending a pregnant minor to the mother's school or childbirth preparation courses. There she will be able to get reliable information about what childbirth is, how it goes, how to care for the baby and how important it is to breastfeed him.

In early pregnancy, the most optimal time for hospitalization in a maternity facility is a gestational age of 38-39 weeks. This is necessary in order to prepare the expectant mother for childbirth, to assess the condition of the birth canal and their readiness. It is important to decide in advance on the method of delivery.

Diagnosis of early pregnancy

Given the fact that early pregnancy in adolescents most often occurs unexpectedly and without desire, its timely diagnosis is difficult. Between a third and a half of all teenage pregnancies are either hidden by teenagers or not even suspected by them. Many teenagers turn to medical advice already late in pregnancy. About 10% of young mothers are not registered at all for their pregnancy.

What methods of diagnosing early pregnancy are the most informative?


A pregnancy test is one of the ways to diagnose pregnancy, it is based on determining the level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine of a woman. Despite the variety of tests on sale, the principle of their operation is the same. They are easy to use, but you must carefully follow the included instructions.

In the case when there is an early pregnancy, its diagnosis using a pregnancy test is informative from the first day of the expected menstruation delay. If the test results are questionable or if it is negative, but if there are other likely signs of pregnancy, the test should be repeated after a few days, preferably in the morning. HCG level increases in early pregnancy every day.

There are very sensitive pregnancy tests that can detect pregnancy even before a missed period (from the seventh day from the intended conception). They are more expensive than other tests.

More exact method pregnancy detection serves determination of hCG in a woman's blood. This analysis is informative even before the delay (from the seventh day from the moment of conception). In addition, it helps in the diagnosis of missed pregnancy.

Gynecologist's consultation

If the patient is suspected of early pregnancy, her diagnosis necessarily includes a survey and examination. Sometimes a girl denies the fact of sexual activity. This is not a reliable criterion in favor of the absence of her pregnancy.

It should alert the fact that the young woman does not have menstruation. Although during adolescence, irregular menstrual cycles often occur.

A gynecological examination provides a lot of information regarding the diagnosis of early pregnancy. The first signs of pregnancy in the early weeks (from 5-6 weeks) are as follows:

  • Changed color of the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix (cyanosis).
  • Change in the size of the uterus, its consistency.
  • Softening of the uterus, especially in the cervix. Because of this, the uterus becomes mobile.
  • There may be bulging of one of the corners of the uterus (where implantation occurred). Gradually, this symptom disappears.
  • The study noted mild excitability of the uterus.
  • Deviation of the uterus anteriorly. Some women have a ridge-like thickening on the surface of the uterus in front.

In addition to the examination on the gynecological chair, the doctor conducts a survey regarding general health minor, studies the history of life, measures the height, weight and size of the pelvis.

The doctor informs about the dangers of carrying an early pregnancy, but at the same time warns about the dangers of terminating it. Very often, after an abortion, due to early pregnancy, a woman cannot become pregnant or bear a child in the future.

The gynecologist gives directions to a number of additional laboratory and instrumental research, which are necessary to assess the health of the patient, confirm the fact of pregnancy.

In the event that a decision is made to carry an early pregnancy, the doctor sets the date of registration of the expectant mother, starts an exchange card for the pregnant woman.


The first signs of pregnancy in the early weeks are not always visible during a gynecological examination, or they are not very pronounced. Especially if the expected pregnancy is 4-5 weeks. However, in some cases it is very important to diagnose it in time.

In such cases, an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs (ultrasound) will help. Ultrasound signs of early pregnancy are as follows:

  • Detection of a fetal egg in the uterine cavity.
  • Visualization of the yolk sac.
  • Detection of the fetal pole (or embryonic).

A fetal egg can be found in the uterine cavity for a period of 4-5 weeks from the first day of the last menstruation, if examined with a transvaginal (through the vagina) sensor. Its diameter at this time is 2-3 mm.

When examining the uterine cavity with a transabdominal sensor (through the abdomen), you can see the fetal egg at a later date (5-6 weeks), its size will be about 5 mm.

The doctor compares the data obtained on ultrasound with the delay in menstruation. In some cases, this helps to recognize a missed pregnancy. Conversely, if a teenager does not remember the date of the last menstruation, or she has an irregular cycle, then with the help of ultrasound, you can approximately determine the gestational age. Sometimes requires inspection with the help of the device ultrasound diagnostics in dynamics, to assess how well the pregnancy develops and whether it develops at all.

In addition to the fetal egg during uterine pregnancy, the ultrasound doctor must definitely see yolk sac, which performs very important functions in the life of the embryo (nutrition, hematopoiesis, synthesis of important proteins, etc.). The yolk sac can be seen on ultrasound even before the appearance of the embryo. With a fetal egg about 5 mm in size, the yolk sac has a size of 3 to 6 mm.

The embryonic pole is understood as the visualization on ultrasound of two points that are as far apart as possible from each other. Dimensions increase every day by 1 mm. At 6 weeks gestation, fetal heartbeats can be detected. If there are doubts about heartbeats, then the study should be repeated after 3-5 days.

A planned ultrasound during pregnancy is carried out for a period of 10 to 14 weeks. It is also called screening. This study evaluates the development of embryos, their number, the formation of the main organs and systems, the limbs of the child. The doctor is studying motor activity embryo (fetus), the nature of its heartbeats. An assessment is made of certain indicators, which, when they increase, are markers chromosomal disorders. These include the thickness collar space, the size of the nasal bone.

Features of childbirth during early pregnancy

Childbirth during early pregnancy has its own characteristics. These births often occur with anomalies of labor activity and complications. The frequency of complications in childbirth is higher, the lower the menstrual age of a woman. The use of various obstetric aids in childbirth in young women in labor occurs no more often than in women of mature age.

When choosing a method of delivery during early pregnancy, be sure to take into account general state maternal health, availability concomitant diseases, the size of the pelvis and fetus, fetal presentation, the nature of the attachment of the placenta and other factors.

In the first stage of labor, a young woman in labor is carefully monitored, fetal cardiotocography (CTG) indicators are recorded, and, if necessary, labor is stimulated and anesthesia is administered.


On average, the duration of labor in early pregnancy does not differ from that in more mature women. protracted labor more common in mothers whose menstrual age is about 1 year. But the swift and quick delivery on the contrary, women with a menstrual age of 3 years or more are usually recorded. Postpartum complications in underage puerperas are quite common. The most serious are bleeding and endometritis.

What are the most frequent complications natural childbirth during early pregnancy in women with menstrual age before 2 years? These include:

  • Mismatch between the size of the fetus and the size of the birth canal of the mother;
  • Weakness of labor activity;
  • Injury to the birth canal;
  • Bleeding after childbirth, etc.

Complications of childbirth in young women in labor with a menstrual age of 3 years include:

  • Rapid duration of labor;
  • Weakness of labor activity or its discoordination;
  • Injuries of the cervix and perineum, etc.

Caesarean section in early pregnancy

In some cases, childbirth during early pregnancy occurs operatively, that is, by caesarean section. In general, operative births in young mothers are less common than in older women. Indications for operative childbirth do not differ from each other.

Most often emergency C-section in early pregnancy due to a discrepancy between the size of the fetus and the pelvis of a young mother, anomalies in labor, increasing fetal hypoxia during childbirth (lack of oxygen), the appearance of signs of placental abruption, etc.

In the event that there is an early pregnancy, and a planned cesarean section is indicated according to the available indications, the woman should go to the hospital in advance to prepare for the upcoming operation.


Complications in early pregnancy are more common than in older pregnancies. adulthood. This is due to the fact that early pregnancy initially takes place in the body, which is not yet mature enough for this. In addition, about 75% of adolescent girls have chronic diseases, about 15% suffer from gynecological disorders. These factors have a significant impact on the complications of early pregnancy.

Due to the fact that early pregnancy occurs, as a rule, in sexually active young women who have not yet married, colpitis (inflammation of the vaginal mucosa) and others often occur. inflammatory processes in the sexual area. These processes can lead to premature termination of pregnancy at an early stage, the birth of a premature baby, or infection of the baby.

In adolescents, varying degrees of narrowing of the pelvis are more often recorded, which can adversely affect the presentation of the child and the process of childbirth. Although the ligamentous apparatus of the pelvic bones is quite malleable in adolescents. Often breech presentation fetus during early pregnancy occurs due to the narrow pelvis of a woman.

Anemia is three times more likely to be a complication of early pregnancy than with gestation in adulthood. Moreover, its severity depends on the age of the young mother: what younger woman the more severe the anemia. It is not always possible to keep hemoglobin on normal level even with adequate treatment.

About half of young expectant mothers suffer from preeclampsia in the second half of pregnancy. These gestosis are moderate to severe and occur several weeks earlier than in older women.

Another serious complication of early pregnancy is chronic placental insufficiency. It arises due to the fact that the placenta does not cope with the tasks assigned to it. As a result, the fetus begins to suffer from oxygen starvation, which affects his physical development and maturity.

Various labor anomalies often complicate early pregnancy. Also, after childbirth, adolescents often develop infectious and inflammatory complications, which is due to the stress of the immune system at this age.

Improper attachment of the placenta most often becomes a complication of early pregnancy in underage mothers with a menstrual age of up to 2 years.

Children from early pregnancy

Children from early pregnancy can be born absolutely healthy. To achieve this, it is very important to eat well during the gestation of the baby, rest, engage in moderate physical activity, do not smoke, do not use alcohol and drugs, regularly visit a doctor in a antenatal clinic and other specialists and follow their instructions.

Quite often children from early pregnancy are born prematurely. How deeper degree prematurity of the baby, the more health problems await him. But post-term children from young mothers are rarely born. In children from young parents, various malformations are more common.

Often, children from early pregnancy are fed with milk mixtures due to the lack of desire of a young mother to breastfeed her baby, or because she could not cope with the first difficulties of breastfeeding on her own. However, an important fact in favor of breastfeeding is the economic component. The low or no income of underage parents does not allow them to buy quality milk formulas for their children. Therefore, they should be aware of this side of the issue in advance.

A large role in the promotion of breastfeeding among underage mothers belongs to the antenatal clinic and the maternity hospital.

The specialists of these medical institutions talk about the benefits of breastfeeding your baby breast milk and help a young mother start breast-feeding after the baby is born. After being released from maternity hospital for a young mother, the support of relatives, the local pediatrician, who should fight for breastfeeding and competently solve all the difficulties that arise, is very important.


Some young mothers consider their pregnancy desirable and plan to carry it. But most often, early pregnancy in adolescents is unwanted. Especially if it is the result of rape.

Miscarriage during early pregnancy

A miscarriage is the process of spontaneous termination of the gestation process until the moment when the fetus is considered viable (that is, up to 22 weeks of pregnancy). also called spontaneous abortion.

Miscarriage during early pregnancy is a very common outcome. The vast majority of miscarriages happen before 12 weeks of fetal development. Often, miscarriage during early pregnancy occurs even before the fact of pregnancy is established.

In the event that a minor has an early pregnancy, the common causes of miscarriage with her are as follows:

  • Various chromosomal rearrangements and severe malformations in the developing child.
  • Inflammatory processes in the uterus, which do not allow the fetal egg to attach to its wall and develop further.
  • Smoking and drinking alcohol while carrying a baby, which is noted in 10% of young expectant mothers.
  • The use of certain drugs in the first trimester of pregnancy and exposure to various toxic substances on the mother.
  • Abortions or miscarriages prior to this pregnancy.
  • Various acute diseases associated with high temperature body. In this case, both the very fact of the rise in temperature and the toxic effects of various microorganisms that caused the disease play a role.
  • Flaw folic acid in a woman's body.

To recognize that a miscarriage has begun during an early pregnancy, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

  • The appearance of bloody discharge from the genital tract (against the background of a delay in menstruation).
  • Pain in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region. With the onset of a miscarriage, which can no longer be stopped, these pains become cramping.
  • At later dates, leakage of amniotic fluid is possible.
  • With massive blood loss, signs of shock may appear (low arterial pressure, rapid pulse, thirst, etc.).

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention medical care. In some cases, there is a chance to save the pregnancy when the doctor determines a viable embryo or fetus in the uterine cavity. For this, hemostatic drugs, drugs that relax the uterus, and hormonal drugs are prescribed in the hospital. A woman is advised to rest, bed rest, good food, some vitamin preparations, antispasmodics and sedatives.

With massive blood loss, there is a threat to the life of a young woman. It is required to remove the remaining parts of the fetal egg as soon as possible and to cope with the bleeding and its consequences. Women with negative Rh factor after interruption of the gestation process, the introduction of anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin is indicated to avoid hemolytic disease of the newborn in the future (with a gestational age of more than 7 weeks). Antibiotics are usually prescribed after a miscarriage.

In addition to miscarriage during early pregnancy, it happens that the embryo or fetus dies in utero, but there are no symptoms spontaneous abortion. Such women require mandatory hospitalization in order to extract the fetal egg from the uterus. It is done either with the help of drugs or surgically.


When an early pregnancy is diagnosed in an adolescent patient, induced abortion will be its likely outcome in a great many young women. There are many reasons for this, the main ones being:

  • Incomplete education, lack of profession.
  • material difficulties.
  • Unsettled personal life(partner abandoned, ignorance of who the father of the child is, etc.).
  • Lack of support from a partner, parents and other relatives.
  • Condemnation from friends, school.
  • Own unpreparedness to become parents at such a young age.
  • Pregnancy after rape, etc.

abortion at will

In the event that an early pregnancy has come, an abortion of one's own free will can be done up to 12 weeks of gestation. As a rule, doctors do not recommend terminating the first pregnancy, because it threatens with very serious consequences, including infertility. A minor herself can decide on an abortion from the age of fifteen. The consent of parents or guardians, as well as their informing about this, is not required.

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is possible to carry out medical abortion(up to 6-7 weeks of gestation). The method has its own contraindications and undesirable outcomes, so it is not harmless, as many teenagers believe.

In addition to medical abortion, in the early weeks (up to 5 weeks), a mini-abortion is possible, that is, aspiration of the fetal egg using a vacuum. Both of these methods may not be effective enough, which subsequently leads to curettage of the uterine cavity.

Given that very often the diagnosis of early pregnancy in young women is untimely, they have an abortion after a period of 7 weeks of gestation. From this period, only surgical abortion with curettage is possible. This method is the most traumatic, often leading to serious consequences.

Termination for medical reasons

By medical indications pregnancy can be terminated at any week of gestation. Such indications may be problems with the health of the mother or fetus. On the part of the mother in adolescence, the most common indications for abortion are infectious diseases, some hormonal disorders, pathology of the nervous system, chronic diseases of internal organs, complications of pregnancy.

The indications for termination of pregnancy in a developing child are usually birth defects and chromosomal diseases.

In the event of termination of pregnancy in the period of more than 22 weeks of gestation, the fetus is considered viable, so resuscitation is carried out. Termination of pregnancy at such a time is no longer considered an abortion, but premature birth.

Termination for social reasons

By social testimony early pregnancy can be terminated before 22 weeks of gestation. There is currently only one such indication. This is a pregnancy resulting from rape. Previously, the list of possible social reasons for abortion was much wider.


Prevention of early pregnancy is a complex medical and social problem. It is very important to delay the onset of sexual activity in adolescents. Various medical, pedagogical, public and social organizations that carry out activities to prevent early pregnancy play a role in this.

Adolescents should be taught safe sexual behavior, be aware of available contraceptive methods, have access to information about sexually transmitted infections and the dangers of abortion. This is primary prevention early pregnancy.

There is also secondary prevention of early pregnancy. It applies to those teenagers who have already become parents. These measures should be aimed at preventing subsequent unplanned pregnancies and childbirth.

Parents and early pregnancy in their children

The fact that the girl had an early pregnancy, parents very often blame themselves. They blame themselves for making mistakes in matters of sex education, or for not doing it at all.

The fact that their child had or currently has an early pregnancy, parents may not know for a long time or never find out. From the age of 15, a teenager is fully responsible for their health. They have the right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy or not, to inform their parents about this or not.

In the early pregnancy of a minor, the parents bear a huge responsibility for the life and health of their daughter and her child. The child's father's parents also play important role in the formation of the future of young mothers and fathers, and their baby. The main task of future grandparents is to psychological support young parents, material aid help in caring for the baby after he is born.

The role of the school in preventing early pregnancy

In many countries, schools discuss issues of sexual education for adolescents, lectures are given on contraception, family relationships, sexual infections, pregnancy, childbirth and abortion.

Unfortunately, in our country, very little or no attention is paid to this at school. V compulsory program education of schoolchildren includes only the study of the structure of the reproductive system and general issues childbearing in a biology course in high school.

In a number of schools, extra-curricular classes are held to prevent early sexual activity and, as a result, abortions. Discussed, including early pregnancy and as a way to prevent it. Doctors, psychologists, social workers are invited to these conversations with students.


Early pregnancy and contraception are serious problems, the solution of which is the prevention of abortion among adolescents and childbirth at a young age.

Adolescents have rather scarce and sometimes false information about contraception, so early pregnancy in them becomes most often unplanned and unwanted.

Of all the methods of preventing early pregnancy, the most effective method of contraception is considered to be female combined oral contraceptives (COCs), vaginal rings and male condoms, or even a combination of both.

COCs are serious drugs that have their own contraindications and side effects, so their use without a doctor's prescription is unacceptable. With an irregular sexual life, their use does not justify itself.

The vaginal ring does not protect against genital infections, but is quite effective in terms of preventing unwanted pregnancies. Its use does not cause difficulties, it is only important to learn how to do it correctly (when visiting a gynecologist).

Male condoms have practically no restrictions on their use. In addition, they effectively protect against genital infections. It is important to use a condom correctly to maximize its effectiveness.

The use of chemical contraceptives (gels, suppositories, etc.), female condoms and diaphragms require certain skills, so they are not convenient to use in adolescence.

Many teenagers prefer the calendar method of contraception and coitus interruptus, but it is these methods of contraception that fail most often. In addition to unwanted pregnancy, there is a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.

There are currently discussions on the use intrauterine device in adolescence and long-term hormonal contraception. But, given the possible risks and consequences, while these methods are not widespread in adolescence.

In any case, in order to minimize the risk of early pregnancy, it is best to discuss contraception with a gynecologist even before the onset of sexual activity.

Psychological consultation during early pregnancy in adolescents

Early pregnancy in adolescents is often accompanied by shock and panic, both in adolescents themselves and in their parents. In most cases, one has to face the problems of misunderstanding, lack of proper support, searches the right way solution of the problem.

Psychologists provide significant assistance in such situations, advising both adolescents and their mothers and fathers. The psychologist helps to realize what happened, to accept this situation. Whatever the decision regarding early pregnancy (carry or terminate), a competent specialist will give valuable advice and will support you in any way.


In the event of an early pregnancy in a teenager, it is best to turn to your own parents for help and advice. Many teenagers are afraid to tell their parents such news, they try to hide what is happening, thereby committing more more bugs and thoughtless actions.

In addition to parents, you can turn to other older relatives (sister, aunt, grandmother). In the absence of support from loved ones, you should contact a psychologist. This can be done at a personal meeting with a specialist or by calling the helpline, which is available in most major cities.

In large cities there are crisis centers for those who find themselves in a difficult situation. In particular, they help young mothers who have nowhere else to turn for help.

A teenager must be convinced of the need to seek medical help, be examined and decide whether to carry or terminate this pregnancy.

Registration of marriage during early pregnancy

More than 60% of children from early pregnancy are born out of wedlock. There are two big reasons, why is this happening. Firstly, very often the partner of a minor future mother does not recognize paternity, or he is not going to participate in the life of his child for personal reasons.

Secondly, in our country it is legally allowed to marry only after reaching the age of 18 years. However, local self-government bodies in certain regions of our country may allow minors to marry for valid reasons, but not earlier than the age of 14. The most common valid reason for teens to get married is pregnancy or the birth of a baby.

If the age of persons wishing to marry is between 16 and 18 years old, then they themselves must write a statement of their intentions, documenting their good reason. It does not require permission to marry from their parents or guardians.

In the event that the age of the future parents is between 14 and 16 years old, the written consent of the parents or legal representatives is required for marriage. In case of disagreement between a young couple and parents, the consent of the guardianship and guardianship authorities is required for marriage.

Anyway, the last word it is up to the local government to decide whether marriage between minors is allowed or not. Their decision can only be challenged in court.

From the moment of marriage, young parents are recognized as fully capable citizens, they bear full responsibility for the life and health of their baby.

In the event that the child's parents are not official marriage, they exercise parental rights in relation to the baby from the age of sixteen.

If the parents are not yet 16 years old, and they are not married, then the child must appoint a guardian who will exercise parental rights in relation to him. More often, one of the adult family members (with his consent) becomes such a person. In the absence of candidates for the role of a guardian, the local guardianship and guardianship authorities temporarily play the role (until the child's parents reach the age of 16 years).


More than half of the children abandoned by their mothers at birth were born to them at a young age. The vast majority of early teen pregnancies occur in housewives, schoolgirls and vocational school (vocational school) students.

Why do parents abandon their children during early pregnancy? The main reasons for failures can be identified:

  • Lack of support from the father of the baby, from the parents (guardians) and other relatives. In some cases, young mothers try to hide the birth of a baby from their parents by abandoning it.
  • Negative attitudes towards early pregnancy and motherhood by school or other educational institution, by friends.
  • Incomplete education (school, vocational school, other educational institutions).
  • Insufficiently good material and living conditions: lack of separate housing and livelihoods.
  • Rape of a minor that resulted in this pregnancy.
  • The lack of a young mother's concept of a family model, especially if she herself grew up without parents.
  • Psychological unpreparedness to become a mother at such a young age.
  • The birth of a sick child (for example, malformations, chromosomal rearrangements, deep prematurity), whose care and treatment require a lot of attention, material investments and special conditions.

The woman who refused maternity hospital from a child, there are six months to think and change your mind. Six months later (in some cases earlier), the biological mother of the child loses parental rights, and the child can be adopted by third parties.