Teen Pregnancy Paper

Alternative Assignment for the Empathy Belly: Teen Pregnancy Paper Teen pregnancy is a serious problem in the US that can cause complications in both the mother and baby's life. Nearly 3 in 10 teen girls in the US will get pregnant before age 20. Thats over 700,000 teen pregnancies each year. While these numbers are alarming, they were much worse in 1991, when there were 117 births per 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 (compared to the 27 to 1,000 ratio today). Most teen pregnancies are unintentional, and they care caused by unprotected sex or faulty birth control. While condoms should always be used to prevent STDs, they are only 82% effective in preventing pregnancy. This means that 18 out of every 100 women who rely on condoms as their only form of birth control can become pregnant. If unprotected sex does occur, there is an emergency contraceptive or "morning-after" pill which has 95% effectiveness if taken within 24 hours and 85% effectiveness if taken within 72 hours. However, the effectiveness of the pill decreases significantly if the user is over 165 pounds and is completely useless if the user is over 175 pounds (even if you take double the recommended dosage). Since the average American woman is 166 pounds, this is an unreliable form of birth control and can result in many teen pregnancies. Teen pregnancy also affects the mother's life when they have the baby, and for the rest of their life. Teen mothers are at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression which can interfere with healthy teenage development. Without the support of parents who disapprove, teens can feel isolated and are less likely to eat well, excersise, and get enough sleep. Also, juggling school and a baby can be difficult. Pregnancy is the leading reason teen girls drop out of school. Less then 50% of teen mothers ever graduate from highscool and less than 2% get their college degree. Without a diploma or degree, many job oppourtunities are closed. Decreased job oppourtunities can lead to a smaller income. In fact, two thirds of all families started by teen mothers are poor. However, teen pregnancy is actually hardest on the kids. Teen mothers are more likely to have premature and low-birth-weight babies. The daughters of teen mothers are 3 times more likely to become teen mothers themselves, and the sons are twice as likely to end up in prison. It is also common for the fathers to not be around. While it may seem like a baby would make a relationship even stronger, the reality is that 80% of fathers won't marry the mother of their children. There are, however, many ways that teen pregnancy can be prevented. While abstinence is the best way to prevent pregnancy, not everyone is going to be abstinent. Educating kids about the many forms of contraceptives early on can prevent many teen pregnancies. And throwing condoms at students and saying "If you're gonna do it, be safe" isn't going to work either. As previously stated, condoms are only 84% effective. The most effective nonpermant form of birth control are IUDs (or Intrauterine Device) for females. This small, long-acting, reversible implant is over 99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy. It is a one-time procedure, so there's nothing to remember (like taking a pill). While condoms should be used along side the IUD to prevent STDS, this is the best way to prevent pregnancy.