By Vianey, Peer Health Educator
Welcome to a one-stop shop for all your teen pregnancy prevention questions. Why is teen pregnancy prevention important today? Since 1991, teen pregnancy has declined by 52%, but there are still plenty of teens getting pregnant. When questioned, many teens do not want or do not feel ready to have a child, and that’s why teen pregnancy prevention is so important.
It is important to understand the consequences that come with teen pregnancy and the effect it has upon one’s life. By raising awareness for teen pregnancy prevention through various methods, unplanned teen pregnancies will significantly decrease.
What can I do to prevent teen pregnancy?
The best thing that you can do to prevent teen pregnancy is to become educated about your options as a teen. You should understand the consequences that come with having a baby, which can include not finishing school and financial difficulties. Understanding the reality of teen pregnancy will help you decide what is the best option for you.
You should understand that abstinence is the only 100% way to prevent both unplanned and teen pregnancies. If you are sexually active, you can still prevent pregnancy with birth control even if you don't have health insurance!
If I want to use birth control, where can I learn more about my options?
You can talk to your doctor about birth control and they will prescribe the best kind of birth control for you. There are many safe, effective options! If you feel like you can’t talk to your doctor for any reason, you can go to your local clinic and they will provide the services you need.
One easily and (practically instantly) accessible type of birth control is condoms. You can buy condoms many places - At your local drugstore, or grocery store. If you do not feel comfortable buying condoms, or if you can't afford them, you can check out TeenSource’s Condom Access Project (CAP) which can provide you with reliable condoms for free!
How do I talk to my partner about pregnancy prevention?
Make sure to talk about pregnancy prevention with your partner before you have sex. Doing this will also ensure that you are ready to have sex. Talk about your options for birth control and if they are right for you and your partner. Just make sure that it’s comfortable for the both of you.
You should also talk about the consequences of unplanned pregnancy so that your partner understands the gravity of the possible life changing consequences. To hear the perspective from one of my fellow peer health educators, check out this blog.