Category: Statistics

Some states demonstrate a higher rate of teens and unexpected pregnancy, according to recent teenage pregnancy statistics by state. In fact, the highest teenage pregnancy statistics by state indicate a rise in teen pregnancy in the south and southwestern states.

According to teenage pregnancy statistics by state, the south and southwest states in America are responsible for the highest number of teen pregnancies. About ten percent of all U.S. births are to teens under the age of 19. Also according to the teenage pregnancy statistics by state, three in 10 teens in the United States are pregnant. The number of teen pregnancies also contribute to the total number of unplanned pregnancies that take place in the U.S. totaling about half of all pregnancies.

Teenage Pregnancy Statistics by State:

There are several reasons that might explain why larger states as well as states in the south and southwest are more likely to have teens with unplanned pregnancies. Among the teen pregnancy statistics, the cause for this is indicated by the demographics of the race and socioeconomic classes of the people that live in these areas. Black teen girls and Hispanic or Latino teens are more likely than white teen girls to have unprotected sex making them more likely to get pregnant. In addition, teens of any race or age are more likely to get pregnant if they come from a lower class socioeconomic background.

Areas with huge metropolitan cities in states like California and Texas are among the highest reporting states for teen pregnancies with both reporting over 60,000 unplanned teen pregnancies each year, according to teenage pregnancy statistics by state. According to the list, the top highest states are Nevada, Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico and California. While teen pregnancy statistics have been steadily declining in the past few years, they are still incredibly high compared to other developed nations. For example, the United States compared with Europe showcases about the same amount of teens having sex. However, the teens in European countries are more likely to use some sort of birth control or contraception, which means teens are less likely to get pregnant in Europe compared to the United States.

Because of the difference in demographic dependent upon the state, it is clear that some states have a bigger problem with sexual education compared to others. Areas in the south and southwest might have more larger cities with more lower-class families. This could be a contributing factor as to why there is not as much funding in the inner-city schools to focus on teen pregnancy prevention.

Prevention Resources:

Because these areas are indicative of a larger problem among certain classes and races, the concept of teen pregnancy prevention really needs to be taken more seriously in these areas like Texas, California, Nevada,  Arizona, etc. as well as the bigger cities and metropolitan areas. Tax payers throughout the United States currently pay about $10.8 billion each year to young mothers who cannot financially afford to take care of their unplanned babies. Because the country is paying so much money toward this cause, it is so important to make sure this is a matter that is addressed both by parents at home as well as educators in the public school system. Teens having access to birth control and understanding how to use it properly is the best way to prevent teens from having unprotected sex, which can easily result in unplanned pregnancies as well as the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

Parents and teachers alike need to take an active approach in making sure these teenage pregnancy statistics by state continue to follow this downward trend. Even though the numbers are going down, they are still exceptionally high. Teaching teens about the benefits of teen abstinence as well as how to properly use birth control and contraception is an essential part in making sure these teen pregnancy statistics continue to decline throughout the country.

Sources: guttmacher.org, thenationalcampaign.org

Teen birth control statistics show the majority of sexually experienced teens did use some form of contraceptives the first time they had sex. Also according to new teen birth control statistics, most the use of contraceptives is increasing in cases of premarital sex.

Based on recent reports from the Guttmacher Institute, a leading research development company for the advance of sexual and reproductive health, indicates more and more teens are beginning to use birth control of some sort. This could be part of the reason why the number of teen pregnancies are slowly starting back on a downward trend.

Teen birth control statistics:

• According to the research compiled by the Guttmacher Institute, sexually active teens who do not use any form of contraception are at a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant.
• Most teens use birth control during their first sexual experience, according to these teen pregnancy statistics: about 79 percent of females and 87 percent of males.
• When it comes to the choice for contraception, condoms are the most commonly used for the first time intercourse for teens. About 68 percent of females use it during their first time followed by 82 percent of males.
• About 95 percent of sexually experienced teen females has used a condom at least one. About 55 percent have used birth control like the pill. About 58 percent go with the pull out method, which is the least effective method of birth control.
• Nearly one in five teen girls, at risk for an unintended pregnancy has reached about 19 percent because they did not use any contraception during their last intercourse.
• Although this number is a lot lower, still about 35 percent of male teens and 21 percent of female teens use both a condom and birth control like the pill to prevent both sexually transmitted infections as well as unintended pregnancy. However, the numbers are probably lower most likely because some of these teens are in monogamous relationships and do not feel they are at risk for an STI or sexually transmitted disease.

Teen contraception services:

In most states, it is pretty easy for a teen to get access to contraception like condoms and birth control. Girls over age 18 have access to over the counter forms of the Plan B pill as well, which is another form of emergency contraception in case of failed or misused contraception during sex. However both Texas and Utah require parental consent for contraceptive services that are paid for with state funds, according to the Guttmacher teen birth control statistics. Only about five percent of high schools throughout the United States have made condoms available to students. Also according to the teen birth control statistics about two million women under the age of 20 received contraceptives by publicly supported family planning centers. This total number represented about 25 percent of the centers’ clients who were there specifically to get birth control or contraception.

Where to find contraception:

It is common knowledge that condoms can be purchased at just about any grocery store or convenience store and are available for anyone to purchase. There are tons of different types of condoms available and there are advantages and disadvantages to just about every kind. The idea is to find a brand of condoms that works best for you and your partner. These are great forms of contraception because the prevent not only pregnancy but the spread of STIs as well. Hormonal methods of birth control like the pill are only available from a healthcare provider with a prescription. However, now it is easier than ever for teens to get on birth control without having to notify their parents. There are also some types of contraceptives that you can purchase online. There are also several different types of the barrier type of contraception: the male condom, the female condom, and spermicides. These are the only types of contraception that can protect you from both unplanned pregnancy as well as STDs and STIs. If you are unsure which kind you want to try,  you can always try them all to see which option works best for you. Some prefer certain types of birth control to others.

Sources: avert.org, guttmacher.org

New teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. are showing an official decline in the number of teen pregnancies for teens 15 to 19 years old following the downward trend that began in 2009. These new teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. are lower than previous years, but the country is still higher than other developed nations.

In fact, the United States is nine times higher, in terms of teen pregnancy, compared with at least 13 other industrialized countries. These numbers are from the July report in America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2010 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decline was first reported in 2009 following a six percent decline from the previous year. Researchers and representatives from the CDC are astonished at this dramatic decline.

New Teen Pregnancy Rates in the U.S.:

• In 2008 the national birth rate was 41.5 per 1,000 adolescent women
• In 2009, that number continued to decline focusing at 39.1 births per 1,000 teen girls
• The numbers continued to decline significantly for 2010 coming in at 20.1 births per 1,000 teen girls aged 15 to 17.

It is difficult to tell where the numbers of teen births in a steady decline are coming from. Other studies are also showing that more and more teens are waiting to have sex, which could be a contributing factor to this scientific find. However researchers are unsure if that is the only reason because it has not been studied at this point in depth. Researchers are also theorizing the possible decline in teen pregnancy rates could be because teen pregnancy and the financial burden of supporting a baby is so much, during this current economic recession, it is just too much to handle. Reports also show that teen girls are more frightened about the childbearing factors that go along with pregnancy.

The risk factors for teen pregnancy include being sexually active at a young age, lacking access or knowledge about contraception, living in poverty or coming from a lower socioeconomic background. Having parents with low levels of education, or coming from a single-parent household is also a contributing factor when it comes to the increased chances of teenage pregnancy. Poor performance in school, lack of drive and coming from a minority race is also more likely to increase a teen’s chances for getting pregnant. About 69 percent of the teen pregnancies are among black women and Hispanics. However, in spite of the teen pregnancy rate, four in 10 of the number of pregnant teens result in abortion. This amounts to about 22 percent of all pregnancies, excluding miscarriages.

While the downward trend in teen pregnancy is definitely a good thing for the teens and parents of teens throughout the United States, this country is still higher than most other developed countries. Prevention methods like teaching kids about the importance of safe sex, abstinence, contraception and other types of teen birth control and how to do so properly are important in helping the number of teen pregnancies continue to decline year after year. There are also many pregnancy myths that need to be dispelled for the benefit of the teen. Many teens believe you can’t get a female pregnant if she is on her period, which is not true. It is possible for a female to get pregnant anytime of the month. In addition, some teens believe you can’t get pregnant using the pull-out method, which is also not true. It is important for teens to understand the facts of teenage pregnancy. Teen pregnancy costs American taxpayers about 10.9 billion dollars each year. Most teens are unable to pay for health care for their baby or even for some of the most basic necessities like diapers, clothing and food. In these situations there are federal government programs available that are designed to benefit pregnant teens like Women, Infant, Children (WIC) as well as Medicare and other programs. Taxpayers provide the funding for these programs each year, which still cost the people of the United States billions of dollars. Not only is having a baby as a teen difficult financially on the teen parents themselves, but likely their own parents as well as the American people. Using protection and practicing safe sex is the best way to prevent these unintended teen pregnancies.

Sources: thenationalcampaign.org, guttmacher.org, ibtimes.com, cdc.gov

Based on the newest teenage pregnancy statistics 2010, teen pregnancy is once again on the rise after decreasing substantially since the early 1990s. According to these new teenage pregnancy statistics for 2010, teen girls ages 15 to 19 are the most likely to get pregnant as a teen.

The overall teenage pregnancy statistics also include the total number of pregnancies that are carried to full term and delivered as well as the total number of abortions and miscarriages. However, the increase has only risen three percent since 2006, so researchers are unsure if the teenage pregnancy statistics will continue to rise. There are about 40 teenage girls getting pregnant each year out of ever 1,000, according to the teenage pregnancy statistics for 2010.

Why are the teenage pregnancy statistics starting to rise again?

Researchers from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy are voicing concern over the new statistics. Many are concerned that teens are less likely to use contraception and worried that it is becoming more commonplace to use less reliable methods of birth control like the pull-out method. Because there are so many factors that could be responsible for this increase, it is difficult to tell where the problem is among teens. Some also believe the rise in teenage pregnancy statistics might be in part due to the $150 million per year federal financing for abstinence-only sex education programs. This educational program that is taught in the public school system is designed to only put an emphasis on abstinence from sex and sexual activities until marriage, and avoids any mention of any possible benefits of contraception.  However, in light of these findings the federal government under the Obama Administration is moving the focus on sex education to more of a proactive approach, discussing the realities of sexual peer pressure and how to properly use contraception. Sexually Transmitted Disease rates among teens is also on the rise. Organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Guttmacher Institute are convinced these increasing trends are because of the abstinence-only education in schools, and are actively backing this new initiative by the federal government

Who is at risk?

According to the recent teenage pregnancy statistics, the majority of teens that are at risk for becoming pregnant fall into a different, but very specific groups. These include:

• Teens in minority races (blacks and hispanics account for more than half of all pregnant teens.)
• Teens from single parent households
• Teens with a mother who got pregnant as a teen
• Teens from lower class areas or economic backgrounds

The reasons behind many of these new teenage pregnancy statistics result because teens under tough economic conditions or from single parent households are often left to learn about life and sex on their own. They are not taught by a parent to engage in safe sex practices and instead forget or don’t know how to properly use contraception. This plays a huge role in teen pregnancy. Lack of education in all aspects is becoming the biggest problem and contribution to these rising numbers. To help get these numbers lowered and under control, it is important for parents to take an active role in teaching their children about sex and teenage pregnancy as well other sex-related issues like STDs. This is the best way to help prevent more and more teens from getting pregnant unintentionally.

The costs of teengage pregnancy are costing tax payers throughout the United States about $10.9 billion each year. This number rises as the teenage pregnancy statistics also rise. Not only does having a baby cost the teen parents more than they can often afford, but it ends up costing the nation as a whole. The teens often cannot pay the costs associated with raising a child or even the prenatal care and delivery. This is when the state or federal governments step in and provide the teen with some financial assistance through welfare, medicaid and WIC programs. These programs have to be funded somewhere, with most of the money coming from the tax payers. These reasons are all part of the larger picture as to why educators and parents should take an active role in teaching teens about safe sex.

Sources: nytimes.com, thenationalcampaign.org

New statistics on teen sexual activity indicate a downward trend in teens being sexually active. While it may seem surprising, the number of teens having sex is  down compared to recent years. It is unclear why the statistics on teen sexual activity are in a state of decline.

New numbers by the Centers for Disease Control indicate sexual activity among teens is declining however researchers don’t have definitive evidence as to why the statistics on teen sexual activity are heading in a downward trend. Similarly, the number of teen pregnancies, while still considered high, are also on the decline for 2010-2011. However, despite these statistical declines, the number of abortions throughout the United States is on the rise. Again, researchers do not yet have enough evidence to know or understand if these numbers are somehow correlating. Read on to learn more about the new statistics on teen sexual activity.

Statistics on teen sexual activity:

• The new CDC statistics on teen sexual activity reveal that 29 percent of women from age 15 to 24 have not had any form of sex.
• Similarly, 27 percent of men in that same age range of have not had any form of sex, which is up four percent from previous years.
• Only about seven percent of teen girls have experience with oral sex. However, teen boys are still more experienced with oral sex with about 10 percent who have engaged in such behaviors.
• Only about 13 percent of teens in general have ever even had sex by age 15.
• The average age most young people have sex is 17. This means, on average, teens are waiting longer to have sex.
• Most teens that are not sexually active report having a moral opposition to having sex prior to marriage.

Statistics on teen sexual activity and contraceptive use:

• Sexually active teens that do not use contraception, have a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within the next 12 months.
• Teens in the United States are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, which leads to more sexual promiscuity and lack of contraceptive use.
• To support that claim, recent statistics from 2009 show that about 22 percent of teens who had intercourse were intoxicated or had done drugs beforehand.
• Many parents and researchers blame the Abstinence only sex education in public school for not teaching teens how to use contraception like birth control and condoms properly, which may account for the continual spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the number of unintended pregnancies.
• According to recent statistics on teen sexual activity, the majority of sexually experienced teen do use contraception–79 percent of females and 87 percent of males.
• Each year there are about 19 million new sexually transmitted infections, and 15 to 24 year olds are responsible for half of that amount.

Based on these statistics on teen sexual activity, it is clear while the numbers of teens having sex might be going down, there are still plenty of teens having sex or engaging in sexual activities and many are still getting pregnant or passing around STDs. Because this is still a problem among teens, it is important for parents to ensure preventative measures with their own teens. The first step to doing this is to recognize that teens are beginning to experiment with sexual activities earlier and earlier.  Opening the doors of communication about sex and having sex as a teen are important to do as a parent with teens. Be sure they understand the definition behind abstinence and how to properly use contraception. While it may go against many parents’ moral beliefs, according to these statistics over 70 percent of all teens are still going to have teen sex. This is why it is important to make sure they know how to protect themselves from STDs and unintended pregnancies.

It is unclear exactly why the number of teens choosing to abstain from sex is rising. However, some researchers think abstinence-only sex education might be paying off. However, there are others that think teens instead might be simply too busy to have time for sexual relationships with their peers. Others speculate it could be the Internet taking over social interaction among teens providing a distraction from real-life relationships. Regardless of the reason, sex education is still important information for parents to bestow among their children even if the schools are simply only teaching abstinence-only education.

Sources: cdc.gov, guttmacher.org

It is no secret the number of unintended teen pregnancies are high, which is why many are wondering about teen condom use statistics. Parents and adults are questioning why teens aren’t practicing safe sex and teen condom use statistics may answer that question.

New teen condom use statistics report than most sexually active teens do not use condoms regularly. In fact, over half of all sexually active boys have said they don’t use them, according to the new teen condom use statistics. This disturbing behavior puts teens at risk for not only unintended pregnancy, but for sexually transmitted diseases. The lack of teen condom use is a likely suspect for why the number of unintended pregnancies and rise in the number of teens with STDs continues to rise. Continue reading to find out more about teen condom use statistics, and why teens aren’t using condoms. 

According to the teen condom use statistics from Child Trends, a non-profit research center, about 53 percent of teen boys say they do not always use a condom during sex. About two-thirds of teen girls say a condom isn’t always used. About seventy percent of sexually active teen boys say they use a condom occasionally. The problem is with consistency, according to the teen condom use statistics.

Teen condom use statistics:

• Teen males who have received formal sex education is linked with having higher levels of condom use and are more consistent in the practice of doing so.
• The study also reported that the type of sex education, whether abstinence based or about contraception, did not seem to make a difference in these numbers of teens practicing smart condom use. 
• About one in five teen males who had sex did not receive any kind of formal sexual education instruction beforehand. This seems to indicate that sex education needs to target teens before they actually begin in engaging in sex to help encourage the use of condoms.
• The teen condom use statistics provided by the study also found that older teens or teens in longer sexual relationships were less likely to use condoms. The study concluded this behavior was because there is a greater likelihood of the teen male’s sexual partner to be using a more effective method to prevent unwanted pregnancy like the birth control pill. 
• The study found that age and relationship length played strong roles in the likelihood of teen condom use. 
• Positive attitudes associated with teen condom use and condom use in general have been found to increase levels of condom use and consistency among teen males. Sexually active teen males who believe that condoms reduce physical pleasure or are embarrassed to discuss condom use with a partner are less likely to use condoms. This belief is why marketing and the messages portrayed with condom use should be positive and encouraging to help increase the teen condom use.

The primary reason behind the low teen condom use statistics is because of the poor misconceptions surrounding condoms. Studies and surveys of young teen males show they are worried the pleasure experienced during intercourse will diminish with the use of a condom. However, many condom manufacturers design condoms specifically to encourage and heighten the pleasure received during sex with the use of a condom. Another reason these teen condom use statistics are so low is because of embarrassment issues associated with condoms. Many teen males worry about the embarrassment of buying condoms with the worry of who might see them making the purchase. For teen males who don’t want their parents to know they are having sex, they worry about being caught having condoms stored in their bedroom or amongst their personal belongings. They are afraid of getting caught. Schools that encourage safe sex by freely handing out condoms or providing free condoms in the school nurse’s office or wellness center, may experience higher rates  of teen condom use statistics. The study also revealed that many teen males believe it is the responsibility of the female partner to ensure a condom is used. They assume that if their female partner does not instigate the use of a condom, she must be on some method of birth control. However, this is not always the case and is not a safe assumption to make without knowing for certain. Behavior like this also leads to increased cases of STDs because birth control cannot protect against the transference of STDs.

Overall, teen condom use statistics imply the lack of condom use among sexually active teen males continues to play a role in the climb in unwanted teen pregnancies. The results of the study recommends schools and parents to become more active in providing proper sex education to students and young teens to help encourage teen condom use to help prevent STDs and cases of unplanned pregnancy.

Source: childtrends.org

Teen pregnancy is a concern to many people in the United States.  Even though the U.S. is among those  countries with falling teen pregnancy rates, it is still acknowledged for having the highest number of pregnant teens each year throughout the industrialized world.  Numerous educational programs have been implemented to decrease the number of teen pregnancies, and success has resulted.  However, teen pregnancy rates seem to vary by age group.  Therefore, this factor should be taken into consideration when making efforts to combat the unsafe teen sexual activity and resulting pregnancies of our youth.

The majority of all teen pregnancies occur among the older teens.  According to the Guttmacher Institute ,U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics, two thirds of all teen pregnancies occur among 18 and 19 year olds.  This accounts for approximately 73 per 1,000 girls.  While about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, this age group is responsible for the highest rate of unintended pregnancy.

The current birth rate for girls aged 15-17 is approximately 22 per 1,000.  However, from 1991-2007, birth rates for this age group showed a steady decline of more than 40%.  In addition, birth rates for girls ages 10-14 also decreased between 1991-2007.  It is estimated that they are down by more than 55%.  Presently, there are approximately 0.6 births for every 1,000 ten to fourteen year old girls.  However, in recent years, this number appears to be staying fairly consistent, while other age groups continue to decline.

It is estimated that 85% of all teenage pregnancies are unplanned.  More than half of the teens who get pregnant report using some type of contraceptive.  However, an estimated 90% of teen pregnancy may be the result of inconsistent use of contraceptives or failure to use them properly.  Many other factors are thought to contribute to teenage pregnancy, including family structure, pressure from peers, and the community environment of the youth.

Although numerous efforts have been made to educate our youth about abstinence, safe sex, and birth control, teen mothers continue to give birth.  In many cases, this results as a disadvantage to the teen mother, her baby, and society.  Teen mothers are unlikely to finish high school and often fall into a lower socioeconomic status.  As a result, an estimated 80% of them end up on welfare.  Newborns of teen mothers often lack proper pre-natal care, have lower birth weights, struggle to perform well in school, or have a greater change of being neglected and abused.  In addition, a child born of a teen mother is more likely to become a teen mother themselves.

It is obvious that teen pregnancy is an issue that needs to be targeted with multiple age groups.  Early intervention may be the key to preventing teen pregnancy.

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies, 3 in 10 girls in the United States become pregnant at least once by age 20.  With more than 400,000 teen births annually, the nation has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and childbearing in the industrialized world.  Fortunately, in 2008 there was a 2% decrease in the number of teen pregnancies, compared to the previous year.  Overall, teen birth rates have steadily decreased since 1991.  However, between 2005 and 2007, they increased approximately 5%.  Therefore, the fact that teen births are on the decline again is hopeful news.  

While teen birthrates may have decreased  2% overall between 2007 and 2008, there is some variance in the number of births by age.  Birth rates for girls aged 18-19 decreased by 4%, and the 15-17 age range only decreased by 2%.  However, the birth rate for girls aged 10-14 remained unchanged.  Statistics also a decrease for all race and origin groups between 2007 and 2008.  However, the number of teen pregnancies in Hispanics and certain other ethnicities is up to three times higher than those of non-Hispanic white teens.

General risk factors associated with teenage pregnancy and childbearing include growing up in a single parent family, a lower socioeconomic status, parents with low levels of education, violence or abuse, and poor academic performance.  If the mother was a teen parent, the teenage daughter is more likely to become pregnant as a teen.  In addition, teens who have friends or older siblings who are sexually active, who begin dating at an early age, or who date someone 3-5 years older are at a greater risk. 

The decline in teen pregnancy in the year 2008 suggests that progress is being made.  However, the exact causes for the recent decrease are still unclear.   A research study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute states that it is due to the successful promotion of abstinence and safe sex practices which involve contraceptives.  An estimated 80 percent of teenage pregnancies are unintended, suggesting that the issue may be related to a lack of access to contraceptives or an education about these products.  Many teens admit they were too embarrassed to seek such information.  Teenagers who do not use a contraceptive at first sex are twice as likely to become teen mothers as are teenagers that do.  Therefore, early intervention may likely be the key for prevention. 

Although the impressive decline of teen pregnancy in 2008 brings hope, there is still much that can be done to improve teen pregnancy prevention.  The Department of Health and Human Services provides significant funding for educational programs that focus on abstinence, disease prevention, and personal responsibility.  A number of grants are being issued, including those that support health and social services for teenagers, while incorporating parental and community driven involvement. 

In addition, it is important that teens are taught abstinence in the home, as it is the only method of birth control that is 100% effective.  Parents need to discuss the negative consequences of a teen pregnancy with their teenagers and help them to set personal goals for a successful life; one that does not include the challenges that teen parents must face.

This article contains information on teen sex statistics; including statistics on teen sexual activity, teen contraceptive use and pregnancies, and teen sex statistics and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Keep reading for more on teen sex statistics.

Parents, concerned about the physical and emotional well-being of their children, often wonder where they can get information about how likely it is that their teens are engaging in sexual activity. Teen sex statistics make it clear that it is important to speak with children about safe sex and appropriate sexual behavior when they are younger. This is because, according to the Guttmacher Institute, by the age of 19, 70 percent of teenagers have engaged in sexual intercourse. This means that the chances are that your children will have sex as teenagers. Not talking about it won’t change anything.

Sexual activity and teenagers

Parents have a unique window of opportunity to educate their children about sexual intercourse and other issues related to sex. By age 15, only 13 percent of teenagers have had sex. This means that, on average, most teens do not become sexually active until after the age of 15 – with most kids have sex for the first time around the age of 17. While this might seem alarming, the Guttmacher Institute reports that this represents a shift; teens are actually waiting longer to have sex. However, even with this delay, teens are still having sex. It is also worth noting that of those teenagers who do not have sex by the time they are 20, 10 percent have engaged in oral sex.

Most females have sex for the first time with a partner who is between one and three years older. For the most part, the first sexual experience had by teen girls is with someone they are seeing regularly: boyfriend, fiancee, live-in partner or husband. It is worth noting that the younger a teen girl is when she has her first sexual experience, the more likely it is that it was involuntary.

Safe sex: contraceptives and STDs

While it can be uncomfortable, and many parents do not want their children learning about safe sex topics like contraceptives and even sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), there is some merit to instructing teenagers in the proper use of products meant to encourage safe sex.

Teen sex statistics regarding contraceptives and pregnancy

Here are statistics revolving around contraceptives. It is clear that education in this area can help prevent unwanted pregnancies:

If a sexually active teen does not use contraceptives, there is a 90 percent chance that she will become pregnant inside a year.

• Most sexually active females use some sort of birth control. A condom is most common, since access to the pill is limited.
• 70 percent of teens whose parents are unaware of their sexual activity would not use contraceptives if their parents were made aware of their visits to family planning centers and clinics.
• 21 states (plus the District of Columbia) allow contraceptive services without parental involvement. The other states – with the exception of Utah and Texas, where parental consent is necessary – have notification policies, but consent is not required.
• 20 percent of teens whose parents are unaware of their contraceptive use say that they would continue having sex – even if methods of contraception were not available to them.
• Of all the developed nations, the U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy. The U.S. has a teen pregnancy rate that is twice that of England and Canada and eight times that as Japan and the Netherlands.
• 82 percent of pregnancies amongst teens are unplanned. About 20 percent of all intended pregnancies each year are related to teenagers.
• 29 percent of teen pregnancies end in abortion. Most parents support a teen’s choice to have an abortion.

Teen sex statistics and STDs

Sexually transmitted illnesses are serious. Proper education could curb the spread of STIs among teenagers. Here are some teen sex stats related to STDs:

• 48 percent of new cases of STIs occur among those aged 15 to 24.
• Teens represent only about 25 percent of the sexually active population. This makes the incidence of STDs in teenagers rather high, proportionally.
• HPV accounts for close to half of the diagnosed STD cases each year for 14 to 24 year olds.

When one looks at the teen sex statistics, it is clear that most teenagers have sex. It appears that education can help delay teen pregnancy and even the age at which teens have sex. Fewer teens are having sex at an earlier age in the U.S. and the teen pregnancy rate is going down. This seems to indicate that improvement is being made on some levels.