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The phrase “teenage pregnancy” rarely evokes laughter. For young Nigerian women facing this reality, the experience is far from amusing. Instead, it’s a moment of intense anxiety, with thoughts racing to their future, parents’ reactions, and the ever-present worry, social stigma. For some, the pregnancy scares turn out to be real and they are faced […]
The phrase “teenage pregnancy” rarely evokes laughter. For young Nigerian women facing this reality, the experience is far from amusing. Instead, it’s a moment of intense anxiety, with thoughts racing to their future, parents’ reactions, and the ever-present worry, social stigma. For some, the pregnancy scares turn out to be real and they are faced with an entirely new challenge. For others, like these five women Culture Custodian spoke to, they have a different story. In each case, what could have been their worst nightmares ultimately proved to be just that—a scare.
Toyin*
So I had unprotected sex on June 30th and I was in school. July came, my school went on strike and I had to come back home. I took postpills after the whole thing but I didn’t see my period this month and I panicked so bad. I was scared of being pregnant and my parents finding out. They believe I’ve not done anything, so they didn’t sense anything. Since I was home, the chances of getting a test done were low. Anyway, I got a test strip and the one line I saw on that has made it easier for me to breathe. Suicide postponed.
Rukky*
So it was around the lockdown, I was in school and had to rush home because of COVID-19. I was sexually active in school. Now imagine my panic getting home, period got delayed a week. Locked in with my parents and siblings with no way to check if I was pregnant or if my period was just delayed. I have never prayed so much in my life. Salt concentrated water? I drank it. Strenuous workout said to be harmful to early pregnancies? I did it. Pressing my belly down to force the baby out? I did it. Turns out my cycle just changed due to dieting and exercising. I have never embraced menstrual cramps the way I did that month. The fact that my younger sister noticed I had not had my period and kept singing “Ergungu be careful na express you dey go” didn’t help matters too. Come and see the sleepless nights.
Pat*
So there it was, I thought I was a goner at 18. I didn’t see my period and I assumed pregnancy. I knew that my father would definitely disown me, and I’d be removed from the family’s inheritance. I started tracing back until I clocked that I wasn’t even in any relationship. More importantly, the person I was with was a girl! Thinking about it now, I was a clown. It was just Mother Nature messing with my mind.
Alexandra*
I’m 22 now and this happened when I was 18. I made out with a guy and he wanked until he came and then fingered me. We parted ways and then my period was late. Note that we didn’t have penetrative sex of any kind but I was so worried that he might have had cum on his fingers when he fingered me. I was so worried that I kept googling if that could be true. I couldn’t be so fertile. I started seeing pregnant women everywhere and that was when I realized I didn’t like children at all. I was already wondering how I’d tell my elder sister so I could get a discreet abortion all while I was still a virgin.
My period came a week before the end of the month and I was so relieved. Funny enough, due to heavy periods I saw a gynecologist in 2022, and after doing a pelvic scan, he said I’d had an incomplete miscarriage but I told him I was a virgin. I saw another gynecologist this year after doing a pelvic scan. The radiographer said I had an endometrioma/endometriosis but the gynecologist said it couldn’t be and I had endometrial cysts. The Nigerian healthcare system is in shambles but at least I’m not pregnant.
Susan*
During the lockdown, I had sex before I went home. My period didn’t come for weeks and I was so scared. Even worse, my boyfriend and I broke up so it meant that if I was pregnant, there was no one to claim the baby. Also, my parents would disown me and my life would be ruined. I couldn’t do a test, or anything actually, mostly because I was ignorant and I couldn’t leave the house. I started playing violent football with my brothers in the hopes that whatever may be inside would disappear forever. Thankfully, my period later came.