33% of teens become pregnant once by the age of 20 (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)
The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates of the industrialized nations (Advocates for Youth)
Teen mothers are less likely to graduate from high school and are more likely to be on welfare (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy).
Many teens use contraception inconsistently
Many teens believe that they are invincible and bad things will not happen to them
GOOD NEWS
More teens are delaying first sex (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007)
Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have declined substantially since the early 1990s among all racial and ethnic groups (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)
Teens who are having sex are more likely to use contraception (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)
STEPS PARENTS CAN TAKE
Express to your child the importance of abstinence and why it is the healthiest choice
Explain or read a book (age appropriate) with you child about how pregnancy occurs
Discuss what your family values are in regard to teen sexual activity
Discuss with your child that if they are going to have sex, they need to be responsible: use condoms and another form of contraception, see a health care provider, discuss past STD exposure with their partner and discuss testing, both partners need to be monogamous
Monitor your child’s activities after school so that are not alone with their boyfriend/girlfriend
