Pogue, Joel: Teens and Contraception

            Although parents are helping their children avoid pregnancy and STD’s through the use of oral pills and condoms, there are contraceptive methods in which the rate of success can be much higher. Studies show that the least popular contraceptive methods that parents choose for their teenagers are actually among the most successful in preventing pregnancy.

            Parents more often than not have their children's best interest in mind when making decisions for them. However, this does not mean that the parents made the right decision. In Milly Dawson’s short article, she argues that parents choose short, less-affective methods of contraception because they, “Might associate long acting contraception, like UIDs, with an ongoing sexual relationship” (Hartman). This defensive parental belief defines the lack of success in pregnancy prevention simply because the short term contraceptives (i.e. pills and injectable contraceptives) are less efficient in preventing pregnancy than long term contraceptives (i.e. intrauterine devices and implants). If parents were to understand the science behind contraceptives, then their efforts would help diminish unwanted pregnancies.

            In Charles Bankhead’s short article, he stated that, contrary to popular belief, intrauterine devices and implants are the best option in preventing unwanted pregnancies. According to him, the large majority of teenagers today are using, “Failure-prone contraceptive methods—typically condoms, withdrawal, and oral contraceptives” (Bankhead). Studies show that such methods cause 22 times the unintended pregnancies as long term contraceptives. Whether it is lack of knowledge or lack of maturity that is preventing a more advanced approach in contraceptives, the success rate is much lower than it should be.

            It is crucial that both, parents and teenagers, educate themselves concerning contraception in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies in teenagers. This knowledge consists of the difference between the best contraceptives and those most commonly used.