The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that there were 435,436 births to teenage mothers (15 to 19 years of age) in 2006. Nearly two-thirds of the pregnancies in which the mother was younger than 18 were unintended. Both mothers and infants of teens are at a higher risk for health problems during pregnancy and after birth. Fortunately, there are multiple possible options that are effective at preventing pregnancy.
Contraception
There are multiple methods of birth control, or contraception, that are overwhelmingly effective in preventing pregnancy. The CDC reports that one type of contraception is an intrauterine device or IUD. IUDs are inserted into the uterus and stay for five to 10 years, depending the type of IUD used. The CDC notes that IUDs are more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are also pills that alter the body's hormones to prevent pregnancy. According to the CDC, these include oral contraceptives ("the pill") or a patch that delivers hormone through the skin into the bloodstream. The patch and the pill are 92 to 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Condoms are also a very effective way of preventing pregnancy (when used properly) and are the only form of birth control that also prevents the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, also called STDs.
Abstinence
Abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy. Refraining from participating in sexual activity is the most certain way to avoid becoming pregnant as a teen.
Education
Contraception and abstinence can only work to prevent teen pregnancy when these methods are effectively and factually taught to teenagers. HealthCommunities.com reports that there has been a decline in teen pregnancy rates since 1991. This decline is thought to be due to two factors: fewer teens are engaging in sexual activity, and teens are engaging in more effective birth control practice. These two factors were made possible by educating teenagers about sex and pregnancy prevention methods. However, the merits of sex education are controversial, and HealthCommunities.com reports that only 69 percent of school districts teach sex education. In addition, most of these promote abstinence without addressing birth control. Thus, educating teens about how pregnancy occurs (sexual intercourse), and how to prevent it (refrain from having sex, use condoms, or use other forms of birth control) are essential to preventing teen pregnancy.
