However, there could be several reasons for this. Other pregnancy statistics show an increase in births in states where there is more conservative religious beliefs. These statistics also hold true for the number of teens giving birth. There are a few different explanations to describe the strong connection between teenage pregnancy and religion. Some researchers believe that communities in which there is a strong religious belief among the majority of the residents, birth control and the use of contraceptives is frowned upon. Teens in these communities might be more reluctant to talk to their parents about getting access to birth control. They might also be hesitant to try and purchase condoms at the local convenience store out of fear that someone might see them and the news getting back to their parents.

Teenage Pregnancy and Religion:

Many studies suggest that the link between teenage pregnancy and religion indicate that religious teens are having sex more often than non-religious teens. However, that may not be the case. It could simply be that religious teens are not using protection as much as non-religious teens that are having sex. The other explanation is that the number of teens having sex might be close to the same in every state, but the number of teens terminating the pregnancy before giving birth might be higher in non-religious states. Many religions frown on purposeful termination of pregnancy – abortion. This might lead to more teens carrying the baby to full term and delivering the baby instead of terminating it early on in the pregnancy.

Many religious states might also focus more on abstinence-only sex education instead of sex education surrounding the realities of teen sex, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.  Because of this attitude toward abstinence and against contraception use, these religious cultures could be leading more teens toward unsafe sexual practices indicating the link between teenage pregnancy and religion.

In fact, teen pregnancy statistics do show higher numbers of abortion rates in less-religious states. Other factors to consider with this link between teenage pregnancy and religion include other aspects of the teens’ background, race, culture and socioeconomic background – all factors that can play a role in whether or not a teen is having sex, having safe sex or practicing abstinence. These practices are the link to the rates of teenage pregnancy. With about three out of every 10 teens getting pregnant each year, the numbers of teen pregnancies are still high in the United States, although have somewhat stabled in recent years.

Some researchers attribute the cause and effect idea to the link between teenage pregnancy rates in general or among those religious teens. Some teens will promise themselves to remain a virgin until marriage. However, in the heat of the moment decide to go ahead and have sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Because they are unprepared to have sex, but go for it anyway, they are taking that chance that their sexual intercourse could result in a teen pregnancy.

There might also be a link between religious teens that tend to get married at a younger age, around 17-20 compared with non-religious teens. These teens who are married might have planned pregnancies, but fall into the category for a teen pregnancy because of their age. Regardless of the reason, there is a clear link between teenage pregnancy and religion.

To prevent teen pregnancy it is important for teens and their parents to be realistic about the possibility of teens having sex. Knowing how to practice safe sex is one of the best ways to prevent teens from continuing to get pregnant. Teens need to consider learning about the resources available to practice safe sex with contraception even if they are worried about the religious implications. Practicing safe sex, or finding ways to stay abstinent from teen sexual intercourse can help the teen pregnancy rate continue to decline.

Sources: msnbc.com, nytimes.com

In addition to simply receiving advice, it is important for teens to take a hard look at the facts and figures concerning adoption statistics to help pregnant teens consider all of their options. Adoption is often one of the only ways some couples who face challenges with infertility can have a child of their own. In fact, about 40 percent of adults in the United States have considered adopting a child. There is a huge demand for children to be adopted, particularly babies. One of the biggest concerns that pregnant teens have when they are considering all of their pregnancy options is that they won’t be able to find a family that is well prepared to take care of their baby. Fortunately many adoption agencies and adoption programs work diligently to screen and interview applicants, and only allow financially and emotionally prepared couples to consider adopting a child or baby.

The Truth About Adoption:

Despite many misconceptions about adoption, the baby that is placed up for adoption typically has an excellent time adjusting to their new family life. The younger the baby is, the better they are able to handle the transition. According to a study completed on adoption and children who have been adopted, the children that are adopted as babies do just as well as non-adopted children when it comes to measures on mental health. In the majority of cases, the impact of adoption on children is overwhelmingly positive. Because adoptive families provide supportive environments that are loving and full of care, the adoptee will likely not feel any differently than non-adopted children.

Even pregnant teens who find that they are comfortable with the idea of placing their child up for adoption, they still might worry about the lasting effect such a dramatic move will have on their well-being. The point of adoption is typically for a young teen to give her baby a life she is unable to provide because of her limited income, education and resources. Once the young mother is able to realize she is doing something sacrificial and important for her unborn baby, she can begin to realize the benefits for her in the long term as well. Teens that are still in high school or college when they get pregnant realize that by giving their baby up for adoption they will still have the flexibility in their future to attain a higher education and a better life both financially and emotionally than they might have when they keep the baby.

While adoption is not a viable option for all pregnant teens, it is something that should be considered for the welfare of the unborn baby. For teens with a strong financial and emotional support system from other family members, deciding to keep and parent the child might be a better option. However, teens without that structure or teens that know they can promise their baby a better life by placing him or her up for adoption might be making the best decision for their unborn baby.

According to a study completed by Planned Parenthood, the perspective of 270 unwed mothers was studied after they placed their babies up for adoption. These young mothers were proven to have a more favorable social, economic and educational outcome than the young mothers who decided to keep their babies and offer a single teen parenting option to their baby. Teen moms who gave their babies up for adoption were more likely to finish higher education post high school. They were also more likely to delay marriage and were less likely to have another accidental pregnancy. These mothers were also more likely to be employed in the months following giving birth. Across the board these mothers were also more likely to have a higher income.

As far as long-term emotional coping, the mothers in a Columbia University study showed that four years after giving birth, the mothers who had chosen adoption for their babies were more likely to be satisfied with their job, finances and relationship with their partners. They were also more likely to be optimistic about their own future. The women were also less likely to suffer from depression. Keeping this advice for teens considering adoption in mind, it is best for each teen to assess their own situation to come up with the solution that is best for her and her unborn baby.

There are some types of teen birth control methods that are better for teens to use because of ease of use and the level of hormones being put into the system. An unexpected pregnancy as a teen can be a devastating occurrence. It might change the entire course of his or her life to discover they are about to become parents. That is why it is so important for teens that are sexually active to learn the basics about having safe sex and protecting themselves from STDs and unintended teen pregnancy. Finding the best teen birth control for your teen, if you are a parent, is the first step. If you are a teen, it is important to know your options when it comes to having sex safely without the unwanted consequence of becoming a parent too soon before you have the resources to properly care for that baby. However, it is always important to keep in mind that abstinence or refraining from sexual intercourse is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy or STDs. There are also many types of birth control that do not even protect against STDs.

Types of Teen Birth Control:

To start, the pill is one of the most often prescribed methods of birth control. The birth control pill can also be acquired by teens without a parent’s permission even if they are under age 18. However, they still must be prescribed from a doctor or health care professional at a clinic or doctor’s practice. There are many free health care clinics like Planned Parenthood that assist those who cannot afford to pay for birth control get access to birth control as needed.

The pill is often the most prescribed method of birth control because it is the easiest to take. Simply take one each day and use a backup method of birth control like a condom or spermicide if you happen to forget the pill. Doctors will often prescribe a low-dosage of the birth control pill to teens because the influx of too high of hormones might create worsened side effects that typically come with the pill anyway like increased moodiness or weight gain. Too high of hormones can also make you feel sick, so a lower dosage that slowly increases from week to week throughout the month is a good way to get your body to adjust to the pill.

Another effective method of birth control is the condom or spermicide. Both of these methods of teen birth control are available over the counter and are easy to use. However, they are considered to be slightly less effective than other types of hormonal birth controls. The failure rate is about 15 and 25 percent for the condom use and spermicide. It is also important to learn how to use these methods of birth control properly as a teen so you don’t increase your instances of broken condoms and an increase for an unintended pregnancy. The convenience of condoms also includes the fact that it is one of the only ways to prevent against STDs. You must use a barrier method of birth control like the condom or even female condom to prevent against STDs that can be spread through intercourse.

Other types of birth control include the depo shot and IUD (inter-uterine device). However, both of these types of birth control include high levels of hormones. The depo shot also must be given every couple of months, so that means multiple trips to the doctor’s office throughout the year in order to keep up on this. If a teen does not have insurance, this is definitely not the best option for teen birth control because it might get pretty expensive. The IUD is another option but must be both inserted and removed by a doctor or medical professional. Again, this might mean multiple visits to the doctor each year. However, the IUD does typically last up to several years unless it for some reason falls out accidentally. Because of the high hormone levels in the IUD, this is also not typically the best method of teen birth control.

As a teen or as a parent of a teen, the most important thing to remember when it comes to types of teen birth control is to make sure and choose an option that the teen will be responsible enough to use. If taken incorrectly, just about anyone can get pregnant while on the pill. Be sure the teen is aware of exactly how to use the birth control in order to find the best type of teen birth control.

Sources: webmd.com

According to teenage pregnancy and miscarriage statistics, about 900,000 teen girls get pregnant each year in the United States. Out of this number, about 15 percent of these teens miscarry the pregnancy. Because of the type of nutrients that many teens are lacking and the amount of developing and growth they still have to go, some teens really struggle to maintain a healthy pregnancy, which is why so many teens pregnancies result in a miscarriage. Other effects of teen pregnancy include teen mothers that are more likely to deliver the baby prematurely and have lower birth weight babies with other risks of infant death, mental and physical handicaps, mental illness, blindness, deafness and other permanent problems.  Because it takes a while for teens to know they are pregnant and they might engage in risky behaviors in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Teens who engage in smoking, underage drinking and other risky behaviors like unprotected sex (contracting sexually transmitted diseases) and even in drug use, are more likely to miscarry the baby early on in the pregnancy because the teen likely didn’t know she was pregnant.

Teenage Pregnancy and Miscarriage:

Because teens might engage in risky behaviors early in pregnancy, they are more likely to miscarry the baby because the nutrients are not enough to sustain a healthy pregnancy and result in a healthy baby. There are also lots of pregnancies that end in miscarriage for unknown reasons for even mothers that are older than their teen years. Unfortunately many miscarriages can occur for unknown genetic or chromosomal reasons. Many teens might have irregular periods and menstrual cycles because they are so new to entering their fertile age as teens, that they don’t know when they can expect their next period. The teens may go weeks without having a period simply because they are usually irregular anyway. By the time the teen realizes it has been weeks or even months since their missed period, they are already several weeks or months along in the pregnancy.

Teenage Pregnancy and Miscarriage Complications:

If the pregnancy ends within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, this is considered to be a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). Miscarriage is often the most common type of pregnancy loss. However, most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (the first trimester). There are certain occasions of a miscarriage that can present problems and concerns to the mother’s health as well, especially for teen girls who are not fully developed. That is why it is important to be aware of the warning signs of a miscarriage, so you can consult your heath care provider as soon as possible to make sure your miscarriage does not present any dangers to you as the mother including excessive bleeding, hemorrhaging, losing consciousness or having a blog clot.

Certain types of miscarriage like having a blighted ovum (anembryonic pregnancy), ectopic pregnancy and a molar pregnancy can present health risks to the mother when the mother goes through the miscarriage. The ectopic pregnancy if not treated right away, can result in a ruptured tube, which is because the egg implants and fertilizes in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. When this occurs, it can cause the tube to rupture and excessive internal bleeding that can kill the mother.

Being aware of these signs to prevent a dangerous miscarriage is important for those teens and pregnant women that are pregnant:

• Mild to severe back pain (worse than normal period cramps)
• Weight loss
• White or pink mucus
• True labor contractions
• Brown or bright red bleeding, even without cramps
• Sudden decrease in pregnancy symptoms
• Tissue with clots passing from the uterus

Women with miscarriages are often reviewed and examined by a doctor with an ultra sound and blood tests to ensure the fetal tissue has passed. If it hasn’t, a dilation and curettage (D&C) is performed to remove the rest of the tissue. Women are often monitored afterward to ensure there is not excessive bleeding. If the bleeding does occur on an excessive level, it is important to talk to your doctor right away.

americanpregnancy.org, intheknowzone.com

Based on the history of the condom, this prevention device has been used during sexual intercourse to prevent sexually transmitted infections for longer than it has been used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. In fact, the condom has been used to prevent STIs and STDs since the 16th century. It was later in the 18th century actively used to prevent unintended pregnancy as well. According to many studies on the teenage perception of teen pregnancy rates and STDs, more teens are scared of the possibility of becoming pregnant or getting another person pregnant than they are concerned with contracting or spreading STIs. Because of this underestimation about the realities of the risks of unprotected sex, it is important for teens to realize that condoms help prevent more than teen pregnancy and should be used each and every time they have sex with another partner to prevent both teen pregnancy as well as STIs.

Condom Effectiveness:

When it comes to condom use, for those who use the method of protection against unintended pregnancy, only two out of 100 women couples will end up pregnant after a year’s usage. However, about 18 out of 100 couples will end up pregnant in the course of a year if the condoms are not used properly. Most of the errors encountered with improper condom usage include the 40 percent of men that reported they did not leave enough room at the tip of the condom to accommodate for the ejaculate usage. There are also cases where the condom is faulty to begin with but used anyway. The actual breakage rate of condoms is only at about two per 100 condoms if they are used correctly.

When it comes to using condoms to prevent STDs, they do help prevent any STDs like herpes, HIV, bacterial infections, viral infections and more. When condoms were used to prevent HIV among couples where one partner had HIV, only two percent of infection occurred.  It is important, however, for sexually active teens and adults to keep in mind that condoms are only effective in helping to prevent STD transmission during sexual intercourse. Other types of sexual contact can also lead to STD and STI transmission.

While some abstinence-only programs, condom use is not encouraged since the program teachers are focusing on preventing unintended pregnancy and the spread of STDs through abstaining from sexual intercourse and other sex acts altogether. This is why many teens and even adults do not properly know how to use a condom and end  up in the high percentage of condom users that find the condom broken at the end of intercourse, which leads to an increased risk in pregnancy as well as increased chances of STDs.

This is why it is important for parents to talk to their children about safe sex, whether they think their teen is having sexual relations or not. Learning how to effectively use a condom can not only cut down on the teen pregnancy rate, but it can also assist in reducing the spread of STDs and STIs among teens and adults.

Because condoms help prevent more than teen pregnancy, even teens who are on a hormonal method of birth control like the pill or the IUD, it is important to still use condoms to help prevent the transmission of STDs. There are a few myths about condom use as well. Some believe that double bagging (using more than one condom at a time) will help better protect against STDs and unintended pregnancy. This is not necessarily true unless there is a defect with one of the condoms. However, condoms that are at risk for defects (old, exposed to water or other elements) shouldn’t be used in the first place. Other condom myths surrounding double bagging indicate that this practice might actually cause the condom to break, which is also not true. There is no statistical evidence to support this.

Simply using condoms correctly, and teaching your teens how to properly use a condom in order to effectively prevent against STDs and teen pregnancy is the best way to practice safe sex.

Sources: plannedparenthood.org

Typically the first marriage for teen women under the age of 18 are more likely to end in divorce within the first 10 years of marriage than to succeed. Add a teen pregnancy to the mix, and the likelihood of divorce taking place is even higher among those young teen marriages. The correlation between teenage pregnancy and divorce indicates that the stress of marrying so young, on top of dealing with a teen pregnancy is one of the biggest factors in causing such a young marriage to struggle and fail to succeed.

According to teenage pregnancy statistics from a study done by  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 48 percent of those who marry before age 18 are more likely to divorce within 10 years of marriage. There is only a 24 percent divorce rate for those who marry after the age of 24. Because marriage requires partners to be less selfish and more giving of themselves and their time, this is not the ideal personality of a teenager. Teens are notoriously self-centered and likely to look out for their own best interests. Unfortunately this way of thinking is a breeding ground for divorce in a marriage.

Teenage Pregnancy and Divorce:

There are quite a few different reasons that contribute to the high correlation between teenage pregnancy and divorce. First, it is a struggle for any couple to have their first baby. Having children is already a stressful cause to any marriage, even for those who get married at an older age. Add the maturity level of a teen or young adult trying to take care of a baby, find fiscal responsibility and maintain a successful relationship with their spouse, the combination can be extremely tumultuous.

In past decades, teens who got pregnant were encouraged to make the “responsible” decision and get married for the sake of the baby. However, in many situations the teens were not truly in love and did not know or understand what it took to make a serious relationship like marriage work on top of trying to emotionally and financially prepare for having a baby and a family. The financial stress of trying to take care of a baby, affording rent or a place to live and purchasing food and other living expenses can quickly take a toll on a young marriage.

As studies on teenage pregnancy and divorce show, teens are not fully developed in their own self-identity. They go through such a vast period of growth and change during that transition from being a teen to an adult that so much about their life, interests and expectations for the future can change, which can cause major differences between them and their spouse. Trying to handle a young infant on top of all of that is just more stress to an already stressful situation.

Prevention:

The first key in preventing too young of marriage and divorce statistics is to work toward preventing teen pregnancy in the first place. By eliminating this factor, teens are more likely to wait longer to get married until they have figured out what they are going to do post high school like go to college, get certified in some job/career area, etc. Because of this teens are more likely to succeed financially and in their futures, get married later and have a more successful marriage and family life.

Ultimately because so many schools take an abstinence-only approach to sexual education, it is important for parents to take an active role in talking to their teens about preventing unintended pregnancy, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, through safe sex measures, condom use and birth control.

According to the teen pregnancy and divorce statistics from the CDC, it is also more likely to have teen pregnancy occur in families where the parents are divorced. Divorced or not, it is important for parents to continue to talk to their teens about safe sex and how to properly prevent pregnancy. Unfortunately teen moms who get married young and possibly divorce are also more likely to have their own children become pregnant as teens as well. It is a vicious cycle that needs to be stopped through proper education from the parents.

Sources: cdc.gov, divorce360.com

Many individuals in the public believe emergency contraception and abortion to be the same thing, which is why there is often such an outrage from individuals, groups and religious organizations to the availably of the emergency contraception pill, which is available over the counter without a prescription for women over the age of 17, in most states. To dispel these misconceptions about emergency contraception and abortion being the same idea – to medically induce a miscarriage – we are going to take a look at abortion vs. emergency contraception by looking at what each does and how it works to prevent or end a pregnancy. Keep reading to learn more about emergency contraception vs. abortion.

Emergency Contraception:

In the stores, EC is often referred to as the Morning After Pill or by its brand name: Plan B, Next Choice or Ella. Depending on the type of emergency contraception, you can get this medication in most pharmacies over the counter. If you are under the age of 17 in most states, you have to have a prescription or a parent’s permission. EC contains hormones similar to what is is the normal birth control pill, but simply more that work to effectively prevent a released egg from implanting if it is indeed fertilized. Because most members of the medical community including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the United States Department of Health and Human Services have taken the stance that pregnancy actually begins with a pre-embryo completes implantation into the lining of the uterus, preventing that process from happening is not considered abortion.

The emergency contraception is often most effective the soonest it is used after failed contraception or no contraception is used. Plan B and Next Choice are only considered to be effective if started with 120 hours of unprotected intercourse. The sooner the pill is taken, the better chance it has at preventing implantation and therefore pregnancy. There are other types of emergency contraception that only work by preventing ovulation or fertilization, which means the time frame in which it can be effective is even less because once the egg has been released and fertilized, it will no longer work to prevent pregnancy. The effectiveness of emergency contraception shows that if it is used within 72 hours after unprotected sex, it is about 75 percent effective. It is about 89 percent effective if used within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse. EC is considered to be safe for almost all women that take it. When considering the difference between emergency contraception and the medicated abortion, it is important to recognize that after the egg has fertilized and implanted with the uterine lining, the pregnancy cannot be ended by taking emergency contraception and will therefore not cause an abortion.

EC can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies for women and men over the age of 17. You can also get a prescription for the medication from your local Planned Parenthood or other women’s health center. The medication typically costs anywhere from $10 to $70.

Medicated Abortion:

On the other hand, medicated abortion does exactly that. The abortion pill (also known as Mifepristone, Mifeprex or RU-486) works to induce abortion if used within 63 days after the first day of the last menstrual period. It is used with another medication (Misoporostol) which is used to complete the abortion. It works to end the pregnancy by blocking the hormones that are necessary to maintain a healthy pregnancy. The second mediation is used to cause the uterus to contract and empty. A medicated abortion is highly effective if used within the time frame. It is also supervised by a doctor to ensure the induced miscarriage is successful and does not cause excessive bleeding or other complications with the pregnant woman. This process is considered safe for most women. There are risks associated with it however, just like with other abortion procedures. There is a rare case of death that has been reported with all types of abortion. However, it is still considered safer than carrying a pregnancy to full term.

A medicated abortion can be done at an local Planned Parenthood or through a private clinician. They typically cost about about $350 to $650.

Sources: plannedparenthood.org

Teen pregnancy is often considered to be a huge epidemic particularly in the United States. Unfortunately about $18 billion is spent each year in the United States on resources to help pregnant teens receive medical care as well as assistance for raising their children. Teen parents are also found to have less access to the knowledge and parenting education they need to make responsible parenting decisions. The teen drop out rate of high school for pregnant teens is about 60 percent. However, despite the struggles that many teens face when they get pregnant, that does not mean they are meant to struggle, drop out of school or become a weight on society. In fact, many teen parents are able to successfully become parents and raise happy and healthy children while leading a successful life themselves. Ultimately it comes down to how much the teen parents seek help and assistance in developing their parenting skills. Pregnant teens are wise to weigh the pros and cons of teen parenting before they make their decision on whether or not to keep the baby.

Teen Parenting Pros and Cons:

While teen parenting is one of the toughest undertakings a person can ever face, it is possible. Many teens find they have higher rates of success as an adult because of the struggles they faced during their teen years. In addition to the valuable experience of becoming a parent, many teen parents find the available resources that exist to specifically benefit those who decide on teen parenting versus alternative options during the pregnancy. Options that exist to help benefit teen parents include alternative high schools that offer daycare options for teens while they attend classes. This is a free service that teens can use to complete their high school education while being able to receive free child care where they can still attend to some of the needs of their babies during the day if needed since the daycare is located on the school campus.

Other benefits for teen parents include programs like Women, Infant, Children (WIC) that are designed to ensure proper nutrients for babies and breast-feeding mothers. Welfare programs and scholarships are also available for teen parents. Teens can rely on these programs even if they are not receiving financial or emotional support from their friends or families. So teens who feel like they have no options, there are options available for teen parenting assistance including parenting classes that teens can take while pregnant or after they have the baby. They can learn about breast feeding, teen parenting assistance programs, etc.

However, despite the many programs that are available for pregnant teens who decide on teen parenting, the struggles they face are incredible. These struggles include financial difficulty, troubles in finishing school and receiving financial and emotional support from their friends, family and parents. Teen parenting statistics show that teens are not only more likely to drop out of school and not pursue a college education, but they are also more likely to make up a good portion of those under the poverty level income. Teen parenting is one of the most difficult parts of teen pregnancy, but for some the troubles of becoming a teen parent are better than giving the baby up for adoption or deciding to terminate the pregnancy.

If you are a pregnant teen and are considering teen parenting as one of your options, it might be a good idea to examine what resources you have available. For some teens that have a strong family background and support, being a teen parent is not as difficult as those teens that don’t have that family support. Explore what options you have before  you make any final decisions regarding teen parenting and other options you have with teen pregnancy. Keep in mind that with so many resources available for teens as parents, it is possible for successful teen parenting among teens in the United States.

sources: practicenotes.org, insightstpp.org

There are many types of birth control ranging from hormonal methods that require a prescription to barrier methods that can be found over the counter. There are other types of birth control that focus more on timing and detecting ovulation and fertility times. Birth control is an important part of ensuring that you are protecting yourself against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases depending on the type of birth control being used. The most important thing to note for sexually active teens is that while many types of birth control are effective, the only way to 100 percent prevent against pregnancy and STDs is to practice abstinence. It is also a good idea to have a clear idea of all the different types of birth control out there, how they work and which method is best for you.

Hormonal Types of Birth Control:

When many people hear the term birth control, they make think of hormonal methods like the pill, the shot or the patch. There are many different types of birth control that are of the hormonal variety. Some of the most popular forms of the hormonal birth control is the pill. This is because it is 99 percent effective and only results in 1 out of 100 unintended pregnancies for those taking it correctly. Many like this type of hormonal type of birth control because it can also help with other PMS side effects like cramps, irregular periods, moodiness, depression and more. Other types of hormonal birth control include the implant that can be implanted into the skin of the individual. This must be inserted by a doctor or other health care provider and is often about 400 to 800 up front in cost. However, many health care insurances will pay for all or part of the implant. It lasts up to three years, and you don’t have to worry about taking a pill daily. However for teens that are concerned about their parents knowing their desire to get on birth control, a better way to get on a type of birth control like this is to consult a women’s health center like Planned Parenthood where the process can remain confidential. Doctors are also legally obligated to not tell anyone about your desire to get on birth control.

The depo shot is another popular type of birth control and must be given by a health care provider every few months. It also takes away a woman’s periods because there is no need to ovulate, when you are trying to prevent pregnancy. The intrauterine device is another popular form of birth control and also must be administered by a doctor. It typically is effective for up to five years. The patch is another type of birth control and must be replaced once a month. However, in recent studies this method of birth control has been known to have increased risks of side effects. All hormonal birth controls do come with some side effects, however like stroke, heart attack, blood clot and more. Women who are over the age of 35 or if they smoke are an increased chance for these risks. Because the hormonal methods of birth control are so effective, many women will overlook the risks that come with taking these types of birth control in order to not get pregnant. Hormonal birth controls are also not effective against protecting against STDs.

Barrier Types of Birth Control:

These are the types of birth control that are readily available over the counter and do not require a prescription to get access to purchase. Many teens use barrier types of birth control because they are easier to buy without their parents knowing. However, many teens should not be afraid to talk to their parents about birth control options and the various types of birth control to consider. Spermicides, sponges, the female condom, diaphragm, cervical cap and condoms are just some of the many different types of barrier methods that can be used to prevent sperm from fertilizing a ready egg. Many barrier types of birth control are also effective against STDs.

Natural Family Planning/Fertility Awareness:

For those looking to go the natural route, fertility awareness-based methods are among the most safe because there are no medical or physical side effects. You simply have to learn how to track your fertility. Most women are only fertility directly before, during and after ovulation time. This is a period of about 10 days throughout your monthly cycle. However, if you do not know how to accurately tell when you are ovulating, it is not a very safe method of birth control. If you are interested in learning more about being aware of your fertility, it is important to find a health center that has classes offered to teach about natural family planning as well as fertility awareness. Because teens have such irregular cycles, FAM and NFP might not be the most effective types of birth control. Similarly withdrawal is often used by teens to protect against pregnancy. However, this is another ineffective type of birth control because it can be difficult to manage effectively and to prevent precum from fertilizing that egg. Teens should be weary against using this type of birth control.

Ultimately the best way to choose between the types of birth control to find the one that is best for you, is to find one that works best with your cycle by talking to your health care provider or a parent to get the best advice on which type of birth control is right for you.

Sources: plannedparenthood.org, babycenter.com

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