Facts and Statistics
According to www.thenationalcampaign.org and www.plannedparenthood.org,
- The teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. is the highest among the developed countries in the world.
- Ÿ Approximately 745,000 U.S. teenage girls become pregnant every year
- Ÿ About 31 percent of American women become pregnant before the age of 20.
- Ÿ About 80 percent of teenage pregnancies are unplanned.
- Ÿ Among U.S. teenage pregnancies in 2002, 56.1 percent resulted in birth, 28.4 percent in abortion, and 15.5 percent in miscarriage.
According to www.stayteen.org, 31 percent of guys say that they did not use a condom the first time they had sex. This number is astonishing considering how much we currently know about STDs and birth control. Sites such as www.plannedparenthood.com and www.teenhealth.org offer many valuable resources and information concerning contraception and birth control. The following are various birth control methods and their effectiveness (for more information, visit www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control-4211.htm).
Birth Control
Emergency Contraception (morning after pill, Plan B) Other Options Have sex and not use protection? Forget the morning after pill? Condom break? Accidents do happen. There are also many options available to teens who do become pregnant. Abortion For teens who wish to end pregnancy, abortion is a safe and legal option (for abortion laws by state, see http://parentingteens.about.com/od/teenpregfact/a/abortion_laws.htm) In fact, the majority of abortions are done as a form of birth control. It is important that you consult a doctor when considering an abortion. There are two different abortion methods: the abortion pill and in-clinic abortions. Here are some quick facts about each (courtesy of www.plannedparenthood.com). The Abortion Pill In-Clinic Abortion Abortions are more common then you might think. The following are some facts and statistics about abortion (courtesy of www.guttmacher.org). - There were 214, 750 abortions among 15-19-year-olds in 2002. - Twenty-nine percent of pregnancies among 15-19-year-olds ended up in abortion in 2002. - Six in ten minors who have abortions do so with at least one parent’s knowledge. The great majority of parents support their daughter’s decision to have an abortion. - The reasons teens give most frequently for having an abortion are concern about how having a baby would change their lives, inability to afford a baby now, and feeling insufficiently mature to raise a child. Adoption Another option available to pregnant teens is adoption. Planned Parenthood has a useful chart of questions to ask yourself when considering an abortion. If you do decide that an abortion is right for you, there are two different forms: Open adoption or Closed adoption. Open adoption - offers a wide variety of contact choices, but the basic understanding is that there is open communication between the birthparents and the adoptive parents, both before and after the birth. Open adoption can include the exchange of letters and photos; face-to-face, first-names-only meetings; sharing full-identifying information; and having access on an ongoing basis. The type of communication or contact, the frequency of communication, and any adjustments are worked out between the birthparents and the adoptive parents, often with the help of an intermediary, such as an adoption social worker, attorney, or adoption counselor. Closed adoption - means that there is no contact at all between the birthparents and the adoptive parents, and no identifying information is exchanged. (Courtesy of http://www.crisispregnancy.com/birth-mother/choosing-adoption.html) Once you decide on the type of adoption best suits your situation, there are a few different ways to initiate the process. · Agency adoptions - happen with the help of a state-licensed agency that connects the birth parent with the adopting family. The agency can help arrange for pre- and post-adoption counseling and hospital arrangements for the birth, and can provide help with legal matters. Agency adoptions can be open or closed adoptions, but they are most often open. The agency can help you select the adoptive parents and help you set up plan for future contact with the adoptive family. · Independent adoptions - are handled through a lawyer. These lawyers are sometimes called "adoption attorneys." It is a good idea to have your own lawyer to represent your best interests. In an independent adoption, you can still receive counseling and guidance through a local adoption agency, if you choose. · Adoption by a relative - happens when someone in the birth parent's family adopts the child. This is also called "kinship adoption." You and your relative can work with an adoption agency, lawyer, or your state department of human services to arrange the adoption. Family members must meet all the same legal requirements as any other adoptions. Even if your child is placed with a family member, you will have no more parental rights than if you had placed your child with strangers. (Courtesy of http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/pregnancy/adoption-21520.htm) Many women who face unplanned pregnancies choose adoption. Most teens who choose adoption do so because they are not emotionally or financially ready to deal with the burden and challenges of raising a child. Depending on which form you choose, the birth mother can still play an active role in the child’s life. For more information regarding adoption, visit http://www.crisispregnancy.com/birth-mother/choosing-adoption.html. Becoming a Parent The final option a pregnant teen has when facing an unplanned pregnancy is simply having the child. Although a teen parent faces many challenges and obstacles, some teens find that this option best suits their situation. Before you decide to become a parent, you must be emotionally and financially prepared for the burden of childcare. According to babycenter.com, the cost of raising a child to age 18 in today’s economy is approximately $250,000. In addition to the financial costs, many teenage parents face emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, etc. Studies show that teen parents and their babies face many different medical complications, reduced levels of education attainment, poor physical and mental health, and a lower standard of living. Although becoming a successful teenage parent may seem impossible, there are some teenagers who deal quite well with the challenges presented to them. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide if you are ready to become a parent or not. (Courtesy of http://www.parentingvsadoption.com) For more information regarding parenting, visit http://www.parentingvsadoption.com/ and http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/pregnancy/parenting-21521.htm. Teen Pregnancy and the Internet Though there are many internet resources available to teens to help them practice safe sex and deal with the burdens of teen pregnancy, what really matters is whether or not these sites are effective in reducing teen pregnancy rates. The chart listed below tracks teen birth rate trends in the U.S. from 1940-2006. As you can see from the chart, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, teen birth rates began to rise after remaining steady for many years. However, teen birth rates began to steadily decline in the 1990s and 2000s. (The chart and table in this document reflects births per 1,000 teen girls aged 15-19 in the United States and are the most recent national data available. Courtesy of www.thenationalcampaign.org) (1995-2006 - courtesy of The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press) 
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