Teen pregnancy is a real problem in the United States, with more than one in three teen girls becoming pregnant before the age of 20.
In fact, after a downward trend of almost 14 years, teen pregnancies are once again on the rise.
Teens who become pregnant are more likely to drop out of school and generally find it more difficult to continue their education and get good jobs. The stresses of having and caring for a child can strain relationships and finances.
Whether or not pregnancy occurs, having unprotected sex leaves teens at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Even when an abortion or adoption is chosen, there are emotional consequences for everyone involved.
Studies have looked at the various kinds of sex education teens receive and compared that to pregnancy rates. They found that teaching only abstinence did not decrease the number of teen pregnancies.
Teens who receive a more comprehensive sex education, with information about abstinence and contraception, have lower pregnancy rates.
Regardless of your personal beliefs, these study results indicate that if you teach your child about contraception as well as abstinence, you have a better chance of helping your child avoid a teen pregnancy.
