If you haven’t noticed lately, the media has once again rallied the torch on teen pregnancy. While this phenomenon is not new and the buzz does generate front page news, a few stats recently published by Seventeen magazine make for great conversation. With nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies in the U.S. each year (a number that equates to one in every three women under the age of 20), the magazine questions, “what can you do to avoid becoming just another statistic?”
500 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 were recently surveyed by The Candie's Foundation, a partner of the magazine. Here are some highlights:
- 50% of teen girls think it might be possible they’ll become pregnant in the next five years.
- 70% of teen girls say if guys played more of a role in using birth control, it would help unplanned pregnancies.
- 67% of teen girls have friends who are or will become pregnant as teens.
- Two out of every three teen girls worry more about STD’s than unplanned pregnancy.
- 70% of teen girls say having a plan for the future would help prevent unplanned pregnancy.
With these kind of stats, one would think that getting pregnant as a teen makes the list for an ideal high school experience – along with prom, football games and a fabulous spring break. Not to mention the glamorization of single motherhood by Hollywood’s leading young ladies. While choosing life is ALWAYS the right choice, I wonder if movies, sitcoms and the lives of teen celebrities are all sending the message than teen pregnancy is not only of the norm – but is to be glamorized and celebrated?
Did you know:
- Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school with only one third receiving a diploma; 1.5% actually go onto college.
- Almost half of all teen mothers end up on welfare.
- Teen pregnancies account for 30% of abortions performed in the U.S.
- One in every four sexually active teens become infected with an STD every year (the most common include: chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts (HPV) and herpes).
The Seventeen magazine article does push for girls to “have a plan for the future;” their reasoning: “girls who have a big plan for their future are significantly less likely to get pregnant.” And, in an effort to help girls define their one to ten year goals, the magazine is hosting a video contest for girls to share their life dreams and potentially win a trip to New York and some cash.
Having a plan is actually great advice. But where’s the commitment? What do you do in the heat of the moment when some guy is whispering sweet nothings in your ear? Just because I dream of one day becoming a lawyer, a doctor or even a writer doesn’t automatically make me less prone to pregnancy.
My challenge for you: plan ahead and make a commitment to save sex until marriage. Have a chat with your mom or even a few friends and plan out how to react when some guy says he’s ‘in love’ and wants to have sex. Have a plan on what to say, who to call and how to leave.
Better yet, set boundaries in your relationship. Declaring a "no zone" can keep you both accountable and alert if a situation arises. Not only does this help build your self control, but it ensures that you are both on the same page when it comes to your boundaries.
After all, abstinence is the only 100% effective way to avoid becoming preggers. Which BTW, the article in Seventeen never mentions as part of the “plan” (or even an option) in protecting yourself.
Tell us – what’s your plan when it comes to keeping yourself pure until marriage?
*Statistics taken from the Allan Guttmacher Institute.
