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Associated Press
A new government study suggests a lot of teenage girls are clueless about their chances of getting pregnant.
In a survey of thousands of teenage mothers who had unintended pregnancies, about a third said they didn't use birth control because they didn't believe they could get pregnant.
What were they thinking, exactly, isn't clear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey didn't ask teens to explain their reasoning.
But other researchers have talked to teen moms who believed they couldn't get pregnant the first time they had sex, didn't think they could get pregnant at that time of the month or thought they were sterile.
"This report underscores how much misperception, ambivalence and magical thinking put teens at risk for unintended pregnancy," said Bill Albert, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Other studies have asked teens about their contraception use and beliefs about pregnancy. But the CDC report released Thursday is the first to focus on teens who didn't want to get pregnant but did.
The researchers interviewed nearly 5,000 teenage girls in 19 states who gave birth after unplanned pregnancies in 2004 through 2008. The survey was done through mailed questionnaires with telephone follow-up.
About half of the girls in the survey said they were not using any birth control when they got pregnant. That's higher than surveys of teens in general, which have found that fewer than 20 percent said they didn't use contraception the last time they had sex.
"I think what surprised us was the extent that they were not using contraception," said Lorrie Gavin, a CDC senior scientist who co-authored the report.
Some of the teen moms were asked what kind of birth control they used: Nearly 20 percent said they used the pill or a birth control patch. Another 24 percent said they used condoms.
CDC officials said they do not believe that the pill, condoms and other forms of birth control were faulty. Instead, they think the teens failed to use it correctly or consistently.
Only 13 percent said they didn't use birth control because they had trouble getting it.
Another finding: Nearly a quarter of the teen moms said they did not use contraception because their partner did not want them to. That suggests that sex education must include not only information about anatomy and birth control, but also about how to deal with situations in which a girl feels pressured to do something she doesn't want to, Gavin said.
The findings are sobering, Albert said. But it's important to remember that the overall teen birth rate has been falling for some time, and recently hit its lowest mark in about 70 years.
Albert said it would be a mistake to come away from the report saying, "They can't figure this out?" "Most of them are figuring it out," he said.
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*sigh* It's things like this that make me ashamed to be a teenager (17).
I started learning about sex at 12. It didn't take me long to figure out what made a girl pregnant. So I made a decision: No sex until I'm an adult. Then, I found out the old-fashioned value of not having sex until marriage, so I decided I'll stick to that. I'm probably going to sound stupid for asking, but what's so hard about waiting? I've never even had a date, let alone had sex with anyone, but I'm not going around trying to flirt with every boy within my sight. I really don't want to date until college (because most of the boys at my high school are...not too mature, to put it nicely).
Trouble getting birth control? How? Maybe I'm being insensitive on this part, but where I live, you can get birth control and contraceptives at a drug store. They don't ask your age. Just buy it. And my school offers condoms to the students for free. They just need to have their school ID.
And as for believing they couldn't get pregnant, how about...oh, I don't know, researching it?! I'm willing to bet they spend hours online (on Facebook). They can't take 5-10 minutes to find out some facts? I might just be a geek, but personally, I like looking up things. Still, even the laziest person should be able to take a couple to find out some facts. It's better than ending up with an unexpected pregnancy (no offense to the innocent little ones, of course).
Well, first, let me just say that I commend you for your maturity and your focus on your education. You seem to be very sure of yourself, logical and smart. I'm sure you will do very well in college.
Now, that said, you have to understand that not everyone is like you. When you ask why it's so hard to wait, you really need to consider the multitude of reasons why teenagers have sex. Boys have sex because it's the cool thing to do. Men in our society are expected to be sexually active, if not sexually promiscuous. For the most part, this doesn't change. Men are always into sex. But, for obvious reasons, most teenage boys are not going to have the self discipline that an adult will have.
In my experience, girls are far more complicated. I do think, however, that it mostly boils down to peer pressure and a profound lack of self esteem. I would say to you that if you have a friend who is overtly sexually active, you should ask her why. I bet 9/10 times it's because "that's what the cool kids are doing" or "he said he'd break up with me if I didn't."
Sex education is so important, but self-esteem building is equally important. One without the other is destined to fail. If you could have a class that taught girls and boys how to talk about sex, how to say no, how to deal with bullying, etc. then I think there would be a difference in what happens behind closed doors.
In any event, be happy where you are but, before you judge your peers, try to understand where they might be coming from. You may even be able to help.
Everything seems like it should be so black-and-white when you're a teenager...
What's so hard about waiting? Well, being that it is the base of our biology that we are driven to procreate is a good starting answer. Most teenagers become fully aware that their hormones are raging by your age, that is certainly normal and typical. Most all teenagers have stigmas attached to sex in one way or another, which can interfere with thinking rationally about it. But whether you are 16 or 36, when you actually become involved romantically with another person, you will hopefully understand what drives people to have sex. Bottom line, sex is great and there are many physical, mental, and emotional benefits when done in the right circumstances.
And by the way, the right circumstances are different for everyone. Waiting until you're married is fine, but not waiting is fine too as long as a person is mature enough and prepared to accept consequences and take precautions.
Don't think birth control is as easily accessible to everyone as it is to you. Of course, you've never bought any or tried to get a prescription, have you? It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for a teenager. Maybe that's not an excuse but it IS a reality. And as far as research goes, again, not everyone may have access to the internet like you do, which, by the way, is not always the best place to get information if you don't look in the right places. Everyone's circumstances are different and there are plenty of people who don't have the education or the support to gain the knowledge they need.
"That suggests that sex education must include not only information about anatomy and birth control, but also about how to deal with situations in which a girl feels pressured to do something she doesn't want to, Gavin said.": Um, why is the onus always on training women to resist sex, rather than giving men the positive reinforcement to not be coercive in their sexual encounters? Why shouldn't there be information on dealing with situations in which men are not respecting women's sexual boundaries, or information on what does and does not constitute a coercive sexual situation? Manipulation and even sabotage of birth control is common in unhealthy and abusive relationships. It would seem to me that a stronger focus on *consent* in sexual relationships, and helping women to identify abusive behaviors in potential partners, and less focus on teaching teh poor sweet and pure ladiez to resist sex, would have more positive results.
Agreed, but I think it's all important. I don't think you can really cherry pick and I'm not sure Gavin isn't saying what you are saying. I don't think he's saying "let's teach girls how to resist sex," I think he's saying, let's give girls the tools to stand up for themselves when they are pressured into a situation they don't want to be in. I'm all for that. I wish I had that class when i was a teen - it would have saved me a lot of grief.
And, to your point, boys need to be counseled on how to have positive sexual interactions as well - everything from pressuring their girl friends to learning how to resist peer pressure to have sex if they don't think they are ready.
I think role playing a variety of conversations and scenarios in the classroom is a great way to go.
You don't need to train women to resist sex, they have been doing that for centuries.
Abstinence works...every single time. Unless of course you're the Virgin Mary!!!
So... do you tell that to married couples who don't want anymore kids?
Families need to go to church and understand proper values and morals. Parents need to talk with their children about sexual activity and the need to delay becoming sexually active. And unintended pregnancies is what happens when you allow the village to raise your children, Hillary Clinton. If we could just get rid of the libs who want to give everyone unlimited freedom, this would barely be a problem in our society.
Church is not needed to learn and understand proper values and morals - many people have these without ever having gone to church. Not to say church is bad - it's fine. However, I do agree that parents need to talk to their children about sex and the need to become sexually active.
As a mother of a 14 year old boy - I've already had several discussions about sex. He understand how pregnancy occurs and what can be done to prevent it. He understands that the only 100% effective way to avoid pregnancy and STI's is the remain abstinent. He understands that I want him to have values and morals that include waiting to have sex until he's in an adult, committed, monogamous relationship. I've also encouraged him to focus on school, activities he enjoys that are good for him, etc., etc. He understands that going through college, and graduate school (if that's what he chooses), will be easier without having to provide for a child. He also understands that IF he makes a mistake and ends up getting a girl pregnant - I will expect him to take responsibility for what he helped do.
I would have to agree with summer. More often than not, churches actually do more harm, IMO. They force archaic points of view on children about premarital sex. I would put more of the pressure on the parents to educate their children about sex, possible complications and the parents own values at an early age...and continue to reinforce this. This coming from a person who heard nothing but damnation at church for anyone who had premarital sex and no parental discussions growing up. I formed my own opinions after seeing just how many girls were becoming pregnat in high school. The decision to wait was my own.
What you said may be true but if you allow churches to raise your children you get pathological liars and mass murders. Oh !! maybe not, but your pious holier than thou Fundamentalism just make me want to hurl.
I disagree about going to church--My parent's raised 5 children and not one of us even had so much as a detention. We were very social, and active children, we had lots of friends and went to lots of parties/get togethers/what have you. and there was only one incident. Not one of us ended up pregnant or got anyone pregnant. We all went to college and graduated without children. I won't say none of us never had sex, I'm sure we did, but our parent's are and were approachable, and talked with us about everything, a conversation can be a huge thing in your child's life, and speaking as their child--I appreciate the encouragement and teachings and trust they instilled in us. While I think that the church can be beneficial to some, and can often bring a calming sense to people. There were too many of us and we didn't go to church, unless it was a funeral or other life event. It's in how your parent's raised you!! Both of my grandparent's were pregnant and had to get married--and they spent every Sunday in Church. Do not let anyone else--even the church--teach your children!! It's up to you!
Another survey they should do with the teen mom's. How many of the fathers are still with them? And how many teen boys are using protection. Also smack the guys upside the head if they say that's the girls responsibility.
Hurrah abstinence-only sex education classes!
Sterilization and castration is the answer.
Yea. I'm sure. idiot.
I just have a hard time believing that teenagers actually don't think they can get pregnant. You were born weren't you? All your parts are working aren't they? We all have parents, grandparents and other relatives that HAD to get married--gee I wonder why... A teenager can't possibly believe that they are sterile--what kind of ignorant and albeit--stupid kids are we raising here?? There is a huge lack of talking going on here. I'm overjoyed that the rate is down but the excuses these kids are giving are out of stupidity. Sex education starts at home--don't allow the world to teach your children or you will be raising theirs.