Hardy, Zachary: Teens and Contraception

                  For most, being sexually active and using protection isn’t a novel idea. However, the protection most popularly being used by young females is not the safest. The two sexual health articles attempt educate to the public about how the long-lasting reversible contraceptives are more efficient than its short-lasting popular counterparts.

                  To support their underlying message, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) use statistics to show why adolescent women should choose long-lasting contraceptives instead of short-lasting contraceptives. In 2007 it was stated that an estimated 42% of teens are sexually active, yet less than 5% of teens use long lasting contraceptive methods (Bankhead, 1). This number supports their claim that long-lasting contraceptives should be used, as it has a reported failure rate of less than 1% per year for adolescents (Bankhead, 1). Also, with teenage pregnancy accounting for 20% of unintended pregnancies, the ACOG informs women under 21 that they are twice as likely to become pregnant using short-lasting contraceptives than older women (Bankhead, 1). The ACOG’s statistics convey to the reader that long-term methods, such as IUDs and implants, are the better alternative to short-lasting methods of condoms and withdrawal (Bankhead, 1).

                  The Health Behavior News Service also attempts to educate parents about more effective pregnancy protection. Most parents link long-lasting contraceptives with long-lasting sexual activities, and thus prefer condoms before injections or implants (Dawson, 1). The authors, however, want to underscore that the effectiveness of long-lasting contraceptives such as injections and implants outweighs the less efficient condoms for pregnancies. They also convey that the parent’s confidence in their daughter is strongly correlated to what protection their daughter uses, implying that parents should respect their daughter’s autonomy as it may lead to safer contraceptives (Dawson, 1).

                  Both health articles understand that long-lasting contraceptives are superior to short-lasting contraceptives. The ACOG convey its message through numbers and Health Behavior News Service employs logic to support their belief that long lasting contraceptives should replace the less effective contraceptives.