Barbara Sheen How Can Teenage Pregnancy Be Reduced Summary

Thesis statement: In order to explain why contraceptives are becoming such a necessity in schools today, I will share how teen parenthood is being glorified, reasons for such an increase in teenage pregnancies, and how effective distributing contraceptives would be.

Seven hundred fifty thousand teenagers, ages fifteen to nineteen, become pregnant each year (“Facts”). Teenage birth specialists have often debated whether or not teenagers should have access to birth control and other contraceptives. Although some people think teenagers having birth control will promote promiscuity, birth control should be accessible to teens because they will put themselves at a higher risk for disease and pregnancy without it, and more teenage girls would get a high school diploma with it.

In truth, contraceptive access will not increase the rates of teen sex, according to a 2017 paper co-authored by five John Hopkins doctors and pediatricians (Gebelhoff 7). The pamphlet used to help teens decide if they are ready should be viewed as a good thing because it gives students reasons not to proceed (Culp-Ressler 4). Additionally, John Hopkins says, teenagers on the pill or other hormonal birth control options are more likely to be protected from pregnancy than those who use condoms because the pill has a lower rate of failure and is not influenced by pressures in the moment (Gebelhoff 8). Hormonal birth control is more effective at preventing pregnancy, but it would be impossible for most teen girls with reluctant parents to obtain if states require parental permission due to the scarcity of clinics and lack of over the counter

“Every year near 750,000 teenagers get pregnant and more than two-thirds of those teenagers who decide to have their baby will not graduate from High School" (Lu, 391). Our youth is the generation that possesses the power to dictate what the future entails, therefore it is crucial they do not succumb to the negative effects of sexual activity. No matter how arduous educators and parents may try to instill the act of abstinence amongst teens it’s simply not realistic. Most adolescents are likely to engage in sexual relations but instead of trying to prevent these actions, it is extremely vital to be proactive by allowing them access to contraceptives such as Plan B One- Step in the event of an emergency. However, many individuals believe that 15 year olds having access to Plan B is highly unsafe and will corrupt their parental relationships, but it is actually essential teens receive access to emergency contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and exercise their right as women to make unrestricted decisions regarding health.

One solution to preventing teen pregnancy would be to provide better access to birth control for teenagers. In Jacqueline Sedgwick’s article, “American Adolescents and Emergency Contraceptive Pill Access,” she argues that the American teenage pregnancy and abortion rates are higher than any other nation due to the irregular or improper usage of birth control. Many American teenagers are unaware of how to properly use the contraceptives and mistakenly find themselves in difficult situations, but with more knowledge about birth control, teens will be able to properly protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. According to the article, the federal court order the US Food and Drug Administration to make emergency contraceptive pills available to teens over the age of seventeen without a prescription (Sedgwick). Allowing easy access to birth control will enable teens to be prepared and inhibit them from unintended pregnancies that are likely

One of the most controversial topics in the United States is whether or not teenagers should be allowed to take birth control while they are still in high school. “… teen pregnancy is a serious problem in the United States.” (“Teen Pregnancy”). Girls should be allowed to take birth control because girls and guys are obviously going to mess around in high school; therefore, birth control provides a safe way for teenagers to have sexual intercourse. If they are going to do it, they should undoubtedly be protected. There are many easy ways for a teen to obtain birth control. For instance, birth control is free at the health department. If they

“By 2014, the teen birth rate had fallen to an historic low of 24.2 live births per one thousand females aged fifteen–nineteen” (Birth Control 1). Alice had been feeling ill the past couple of weeks, she didn’t think anything of it until it was the second week she had been feeling ill. After school one day she went to the store and bought a home pregnancy test, when she took it, it was positive. All of the issues of telling her parents she was pregnant could have been avoided if birth control was available without parental consent. Birth control should be available to teenagers without parental consent because teenagers have a right to their privacy, it’s used for other reasons than safe sex, and not having access to it could put their health at risk.

Since 1960, when the first oral contraceptive was introduced, birth control use has skyrocketed. The additional benefits of lighter, less painful periods, regulation of the menstrual cycle, and reduction of the risk of ovarian cancer make contraceptives appealing to more than those looking to not get pregnant. Many teens avoid getting birth control because they fear their parents will not approve. According to a study done by the center for disease control, or CDC, births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years old have dramatically decreased since 1991(Girma & Paton, 2013). This downward trend can be related to the increase in birth control access to teens (Lipman & Tiedje, 2005). Furthermore, twenty-six percent of high school dropouts cite becoming a parent as the reason for dropping out (Raidoo & Kaneshiro, 2015). By increasing minor access to birth control, the dropout rate could be reduced and the positive benefits of an education could follow. As

With the rise of teen pregnancy parents are still afraid to allow their children to use birth control. If a teen is not sexual active, the dispensing of birth control in schools is not going to change that. "Previous research with adolescents has indicated that making contraceptive accessible does not increase sexual activity among adolescents who weren't previously sexually active.(qtd. In Women's health

Birth control has prevented many unwanted teen pregnancies, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen births in the United States reached a historic low in 2015, which can be explained in large part by an increased use of contraception among young people” (Gebelhoff, Robert). As of right now, women have to get a prescription to get oral contraceptives from their doctor. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, this movement to make access to these contraceptives is supported by them. Although, teenagers are more likely to use birth control pills compared to using condoms, they are not being influenced by their sexual or emotional pressures. This article also says, the public-health benefits from

This day in age, teenage pregnancy is becoming a regular thing for the post-millennials. “In 2014, a total of 249,078 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years (CDC)”, although this was a low from 2013, it is a large increase from when my parents were a teenager about 10 years ago. This increase in access that we should provide teenage girls would contribute to many vital things such as a decrease teenage pregnancy statistics, and letting them be able to make important/smart decisions regarding their lifestyle. These decisions of whether or not to use birth control if given access to it is a vital decision as it can affect their future. Being able to open up the world of birth control to teenage girls can save them from having children at a young age, if selecting to participate in sexual activities and continue on with that while using a birth control method. There are multiple birth control methods that can help with trying to prevent pregnancy and getting pregnant. These methods include but are not limited to: condoms (most of the time effective but not 100%), which anybody can buy no matter what, prescription birth control pills (the possible safest way if sexually active), staying abstinent, and other varieties of birth controls. An example would be if my friend uses condoms and his girlfriend is on birth control there is a greater chance of not conceiving or

Many think that teaching students about contraceptives will reduce teenagers from having unplanned pregnancies. Research confirms that “education provided by Planned Parenthood, which teaches contraceptive use, helps increase the use of contraceptives and condoms when students do become sexually active”(Neering). This means that they stress the use of condoms over the idea of waiting. What happens when condoms or birth control fail? The curriculum of abstinence-only believes that teaching contraceptive use just encourages teenagers to become sexually active (ProQuest). According to the Center of Disease Control, “waiting lowers the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases” ("Sex-Ed Must Stress Value of Abstinence."). If they are not in the situation of possibly having sex, then they do not face having an unplanned pregnancy.

In 2014, a total of 249,078 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years, for a birth rate of 24.2 per 1,000 women in this age group. Even though this is a historic low for U.S teens it still needs to be addressed to prevent teens on becoming pregnant. Birth rates have fallen 11% for these women ages 15-19 years and 7% for women the age of 18-19 years (2016). It is important to keep these rates down and hopefully continue to decline the number of teen pregnancies. Teens should still be educated on contraceptives. Nearly all unplanned pregnancies occur to women who were not using birth control at all or not using it correctly. The failure rate of birth control pills is 9% and condoms fail 18% of the

Teenage pregnancy and child birth have long been a controversy in the united states. The issue emerged during the 1950’s and early 1960’s when teenage childbearing rates reached a historical peak. In the mid 1960’s birth control was introduces and the teen pregnancy rate dropped by 25 percent however it is still a social issue. Such strife has triggered much political debate. Notably, whether the government should fund programs that encourage abstinence or focus on birth control. Although abstinence would be more publicly accepted, it may not be as beneficial as allowing teens to easily access and use contraceptives. Teens are raging with hormones as their bodies are experiencing puberty which at times could result in sexual acts. The aftermath of these sexual acts is pregnancy and birth. Allowing teens to have free access to contraceptives gives one a sense of being safe rather then being sorry. School boards and school nurses should be able to provide teenagers with free contraceptives to lower the teen pregnancy and birth rate as well as increase the number or high school dropouts, lower abortion rates, and improve the economy.

"Teen pregnancy in the United States: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years old, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years. Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist (cdc.gov)." As teenagers (in the United States), we are peer pressured or tempted to try new things. Some teens tend to try out drugs, and alcohol. However, some are having unprotected sex in which, is leads to having babies. This is called, teenage pregnancy. This has caused the United States to create records based off of the statistics and facts given from, researchers across the United States. In order to help prevent teenage pregnancy in the United States, teenagers must understand why, having a baby now isn’t such a smart move on their part.