Hey. My daughter just turned 12 and she was recently impregnated by her 15 yr old boyfriend. I didn't know that he was that old, or that they were doing these things together , if I had then none of this would have happened. She hadn't had her period yet, and the tests show that she is indeed a virgin. She claims that she and him had never had sex together before. But then how did this happen? And don't worry doctor, this will not be happening again, not to my baby. And she plans to put the baby up for adoption when it is born, but I am curious about all of this. Please help me and my daughter to better understand this.

Kathy,34 Female

Hi there Kathy. This is a very serious and tragic turn of events, and I bet it has divided the family somewhat. The question of whether or not any crime has been committed here is hard to answer, being that both participants are underage. However I am extremely concerned for the following reasons:-

* Your daughter obviously has not had enough or correct sex education. These days parents need to start earlier in teaching their kids about sex, and how to do it safely. In this case you knew that your daughter had an older boyfriend, and that should have triggered an immediate action to give her a heart to heart chat about nature. It might have avoided this situation.

* You were unaware of what your 12 year old daughter was up to. I know it's hard to keep an eye out all the time, but a relationship like this should have been pretty obvious.

* Your daughter is, in my view, too young to be having any kind of sexual relationship. I would guess that she was probably pressured into it by her boyfriend, whom you seem to have accepted readily.

* A 12 year old girl should NOT be carrying a baby. The health risks involved are horrendous, and if you are determined for her to carry the baby to term she will need specialist care. If you have not done so already, get her to a doctor immediately for a checkup. Be warned though that the doctor is legally required to report underage pregnancies to the police, but you CANNOT allow that to stop you from having her seen by a doctor. Her life depends on it.

To answer your questions, pregnancy is only possible if sperm travels into the vagina and meets with an ovum released by the females' ovary. Even if a girl has not yet had a period, pregnancy is possible if sperm are in the vagina at the time the first ovum is released, which at your daughters age is very possible.

It would seem to me that someone is lying about what has happened between your daughter and her boyfriend. His semen must have at some point come into contact with her vagina, or she has had sexual relations with someone else who's semen came into contact with her vagina. This can include the guy ejaculating near or on the entrance to the vagina, allowing sperm to swim in there.

The fact that your daughter's hymen is still intact does not mean that sperm did not travel into her vagina. The hymen does not completely cover the entrance to the vagina therefore semen can enter the womb if it is deposited on the vagina.

I think you need to have a serious talk with your daughter and find out the truth, and you both need to see a counsellor straight away. The emotional and physical impact on your daughter will be enormous, and she will need your support, and the support of her family and friends. Please keep in touch and let me know how she goes.

Love Doctor Dan