Interview 14

Age at interview: 19

Brief Outline: In terms of contraception she has used the contraceptive pill and condoms. On one occasion she had to take the morning after pill after a condom split. (Played by an actor)

Background: She is a university student who lives away from home during term time. She and her boyfriend went travelling around the world recently. (Played by an actor)

Says that her first sexual experience was very funny. (Actor)

(The accompanying video and audio clips are played by an actor)

I didn't really because we were both virgins and we'd tried to have sex a few times but we couldn't. It was a bit of mess and it was kind of a jokey situation, so I mean, it wasn't serious. Well, I mean it was serious but we both didn't really know what we were doing so we were just kind of learning from each other. So I wasn't at all nervous about my first time. But I think it was quite bad, quite funny. I mean, we'd tried a few times and it just wouldn't go in, so it was quite funny.

Did you talk about it afterwards?

Yes, we joked about it and then finally we managed to do it, so yeah.

Explains the circumstances and motivations for deciding to take oral contraceptives. (Actor)

(The accompanying video and audio clips are played by an actor)

 

Well we were using condoms for a bit and then we both went travelling round the world together, so we thought it was going to be easier if I just went on the pill and I did, then we just didn't use condoms anymore, occasionally we do.

 

Yes, when I was using the condom with my current boyfriend it split once and we had to take the morning-after pill, it was just before I went travelling.  And it was such a nightmare, I was really worried about getting pregnant because I was reading up that it was only like 85% certain, I don't know, anyway I was just really scared. And then we discussed it and he didn't like to see me so upset and he was a bit worried about it as well so it was then that we decided that I should go on the pill. So we did talk about it a lot, it was a joint decision.

 

Why do you prefer the pill now, at this moment?

 

Well, I've been having more sex than I was before and it's the most reliable way of me not getting pregnant I think. And you can be kind of spontaneous and when you want to have sex you don't have to think about condoms.

Explains how scared she was of getting pregnant after a condom split. (Actor)

(The accompanying video and audio clips are played by an actor)

Yeah, when I was using the condom with my current boyfriend it split once and I had to take the morning-after pill it was just before we went travelling. And it was such a nightmare because I was so worried about getting pregnant because I was reading up that it is only like 85% effective so, I don't know, anyway I just got really scared. And then we discussed it, he didn't like to see me so upset and he was a bit worried about it as well so that was that and it was kind of then that we decided that I should go on the pill. So I mean, we did talk about it a lot, it was a joint decision.

Explains she was feeling rotten and that her mother knew that her period was going to start and how proud her parents were when it did (Actor)

(The accompanying video and audio clips are played by an actor)

Yes, yes she knew because I'd been crying around and I'd been in tears all day and my back was hurting so much and I didn't know what was happening. Then my Mum went out to the shops and bought some sanitary towels and she said 'your period's going to start' and it did.  

And what was her response?

Oh God, it was so embarrassing, she said well, she told my Dad and she said 'oh we're so proud', but it was fine. I wasn't that embarrassed, well I was a bit I mean I was embarrassed when she told my Dad but it was fine.