According to the research and analysis firm Guttmacher Institute, 70 percent of teenagers in the United States will become sexually active by the time they are 19 years old. The Ohio State University Extension indicates that 90 percent of those who do not use birth control will become pregnant within a year of activity. Research suggests that early intervention can affect these statistics, so parent involvement might make a difference.
Abstinence
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania concluded in 2010 that a program urging abstinence successfully dissuaded approximately 66 percent of teenagers from having their first sexual encounter within a two-year period. If you talk to your teenager about the importance of waiting, you may have a two-in-three chance of averting an unplanned pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy suggests that parents should begin talking to their children about sex well before their teenage years. Stress the importance of waiting to have sex so that when the situation presents itself, your teenager will think before plunging right in.
Birth Control
If it's too late to prevent sex, at least prevent conception. Your teenager can access birth control on her own, without your knowledge or cooperation, in 26 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Nevertheless, a parent's involvement might ensure that she makes a wise choice. Take her to the doctor yourself and join in any discussion of pros and cons of methods that are available to her so you're sure she understands them.
Having the Baby
If you don't find out that your teenager is sexually active until after she conceives, don't let your disappointment and heartache stand in the way of being there for her, no matter how hard that might be. It will be up to you to ensure she has a healthy pregnancy, because this may not be front and center in her mind. According to KidsHealth, as many as seven out of every 10 teenagers will drop out of school when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Your daughter may not be one of them if she has solid support at home from her parents.
Other Choices
Only Connecticut, Maine and the District of Columbia will allow a teenager to have an abortion without at least one parent's notification or consent. More than half of all states will allow a minor to put her baby up for adoption on her own. Both options can have such long-term emotional ramifications that helping your child evaluate either decision is crucial.
References
- The National Campaign To Prevent Teen And Unplanned Pregnancy: 10 Tips For Parents To Help Their Children Avoid Teen Pregnancy
- KidsHealth: When Your Teen Is Having A Baby; Krishna Wood White; September 2008
- The Ohio State University Extension: Parental Involvement Can Reduce The Risk of Teen Pregnancy
- Guttmacher Institute; State Policies In Brief -- An Overview Of Minors' Consent Law; July 2011
- Guttmacher Institute; Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health; January 2011
- "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine"; Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention Over 24 Months; John B. Jemmott III et al.; 2010
