Teen Pregnancy

• In 2003 there were 540 teen pregnancies in planning district 16
• Most (390 or 72%) were in the 18-19 age group
• Most resulted in a live birth to a single girl
• Most (357 or 66%) were to white teens, although the rate of teen pregnancy for black teens is nearly double the rate in white teens
• The teen pregnancy rate in our region is 51 pregnancies for every 1000 teen girls aged 15-19 years
  
  

For more information on teen pregnancy visit the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's)

• 3/4 of a million teens in the U.S. contract a new STD each year
• Teens and young adults have the highest rates of Chlaymidia and gonorrhea of any population group
• Nearly 40% of diagnosed cases of Chlaymidia in this region occur in teens age 15-19
• The Human Papilloma Virus or HPV may affect as many as 80% of sexually active girls and is linked to 99% of all cases of cervical cancer
• 1 in 5 American over the age of 12 has genital herpes
• Most people with an STD have no symptoms and have no idea they have an STD. If you have been sexually active, get tested
• STD's have consequences that including permanent scarring of the reproductive organs, which can lead to chronic pain and infertility (the inability to have children)
• Some STD's including HIV, HPV and Syphilis can result in death
• STD's can be transmitted through any sexual activity, including oral sex
  
  

For more information on STD's visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Teen Sexual Activity in the United States

• More teens are saying NO to sex
• In 2003 only 47% of high school students reported ever having sex, down from 54% in 1991
• Abstinence from all sexual activity; including vaginal, anal, oral sex and genital to genital or genital to hand contact, is the only 100% effective way to prevent STD's and pregnancy
• Most teens (77% of girls & 60% of boys) who have had sex, wish they had waited
  
  

Click here for more facts on abstinence.

Is there any such thing as "Safe Sex"?

The only safe sex is in a long-term, committed, monogamous relationship. Until you find that person for you, abstinence is the only way to go. Any contact with another person's genital area can result in disease. Condoms do not protect against all STD's, but condoms do greatly reduce your risk of getting HIV, IF used correctly, every time you have sex.

For more information on condom effectiveness click here..