Sexual activity and unplanned
pregnancies among teenagers have reached an all-time high. Studies show that
42% of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 engage in sexual intercourse.
Teenagers and their parents need to be aware of the number of more effective
long-term contraceptive methods available.
Condoms and birth control pills are
the most popular methods of contraception among teenagers and their parents;
however, they are the least effective statistically. According to the results
of study given to the mothers of daughters aged 12 to 17, the majority of
mothers support the less effective means of contraception; birth control pills
were supported by 59% of mothers in the study, and condoms placed second highest
during the poll with 51%. The majority of parents are not aware of the other
methods of pregnancy control.
Reversible, long-term methods of contraception
are not widely used nor are they even accepted among many teenagers and their
parents. According to recent study, contraceptive implants and intrauterine
devices provide the best protection against unplanned pregnancy. There are many
reasons these more effective methods are not commonly used: lack of knowledge,
misunderstanding, high cost, and lack of easy access. The American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) finds unplanned pregnancy among
teenagers to be so pressing of an issue that this organization suggests
referring sexually active teens to public clinics where they can receive
long-term contraceptive aid. The public clinics offer complete confidentiality
and financial aid.
Although most intrauterine devices are banned
from the United States due to the lack of safety they are known to carry, “the
risk of unplanned pregnancy outweighs the risks that intrauterine devices
carry.” This is according to Cali Baill, M.D. So why don’t parents use them?
Perhaps parents think that if they provide their children with long-term
contraceptives, this provides their teenagers with a free pass to be sexually
active for a longer period of time. “The clinical opinion includes information,
recommendations, and suggestions regarding a number of other issues relevant to
use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, including misperceptions,
counseling, and postpartum and post-abortal use of long-acting reversible
contraceptives.”
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