Why does teenagers fall pregnant

Minus Related Pages. Births: final data for Natl Vital Stat Rep. The Importance of Prevention. Explaining recent declines in adolescent pregnancy in the United States: the contribution of abstinence and improved contraceptive use.

Am J Public Health. Understanding the decline in adolescent fertility in the United States, — J Adolesc Health. Adolescent pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates across countries: levels and recent trends. Reduced disparities in birth rates among teens aged 15 to 19 Years—United States, — and — Boonstra HD.

Teen pregnancy among women in foster care: a primer. Guttmacher Policy Review. Accessed March 31, Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. Girls must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures and have access to appropriate healthcare services and education. Girls who have received minimal education are 5 times more likely to become a mother than those with higher levels of education.

Pregnant girls often drop out of school, limiting opportunities for future employment and perpetuating the cycle of poverty. In many cases, girls perceive pregnancy to be a better option than continuing their education. In addition, the unique risks faced by girls during emergencies increase the chances of them becoming pregnant.

Factors include the desire to compensate for the loss of a child, reduced access to information and contraception and increased sexual violence. A new smartphone app is helping combat teenage pregnancy in Timor Leste by providing teenagers with sexual and reproductive health information.

Learn more. Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality. Complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged globally. Pregnant girls and adolescents also face other health risks and complications due to their immature bodies. Babies born to younger mothers are also at greater risk. For many adolescents, pregnancy and childbirth are neither planned, nor wanted. In countries where abortion is prohibited or highly restricted, adolescents typically resort to unsafe abortion, putting their health and lives at risk.

Make sure your doctor knows about any over-the-counter OTC medicines you are taking. In the last months of your pregnancy, you may see your doctor every other week, ending with weekly visits in your final month. These visits are to make sure you and your baby are healthy. As your baby develops, the doctor will feel its position and listen for its heartbeat. According to a study published in the journal PLoS One , an abstinence-only sex education was positively correlated with an increase in teen pregnancies.

Some programs offer peer counseling, since it might feel more comfortable talking to someone your own age. Contact your health department for information on programs in your area. An intrauterine device IUD is a device a doctor implants in your uterus. The IUD prevents pregnancy by various mechanisms. It has a 99 percent rate of effectiveness, according to Planned Parenthood. The most effective is a birth control implant , also called Nexplanon.

Implants stay in place for up to three years. They have a 99 percent rate of effectiveness. Birth control pills , shots , and patches also affect your hormone levels. They have an effectiveness rate of 91 to 94 percent. Examples of available brands include:. They block sperm from entering your uterus.

The effectiveness of these devices is 71 to 88 percent. You can also buy over-the-counter OTC birth control at a drugstore and some supermarkets. These methods are not as effective as prescription birth control, but they do reduce your chance of getting pregnant.

Teen pregnancy rates have been dropping in the United States for at least 25 years. Experts think this is because more sexually active teens use condoms. Proper use of a condom can keep you from getting pregnant. When used correctly, condoms also protect you from many sexually transmitted infections STIs.

The effectiveness of condoms is 85 percent. Sponges treated with spermicide also block sperm from entering your uterus. Used properly, these methods prevent pregnancy with an effectiveness of 76 to 88 percent. The brand of sponge sold in the United States is called the Today Sponge. Available from the brands Plan B One-Step, Ella, and Next Choice, this medicine contains hormones that prevent your body from releasing eggs into your uterus and cause the lining of the uterus to shed, inhibiting implantation.

Eggs have to come into contact with sperm for you to get pregnant and need to implant in order to start developing properly. Women 17 and older do not need a prescription for the morning-after pill. The effectiveness of the morning-after pills such as Plan B One-Step and Next Choice is 75 to 89 percent if taken within three days of having unprotected sex, according to Planned Parenthood. The effectiveness of the Ella morning-after pill is 85 percent if you take it within five days of having unprotected sex.

Although teens can often safely deliver healthy babies, there are possible health concerns for both mother and child. If you become pregnant, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your pregnancy. There are many methods available to help prevent pregnancy, including IUDs, birth control pills, and condoms.

You should also be sure to look for regional groups in your state or city.