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TEENS
The term “teens” refers to
15–19-year-olds, unless otherwise specified.
Contraceptive Use Among Teens
Do American
teens typically use a contraceptive method the first time they have sex? How
about the most recent time they had sex?
Answer
The
majority of U.S. teens use a contraceptive method the first time they have sex
(78% of females and 85% of males).[48] Among teens who are already sexually active, more than eight in 10 female teens and nine in 10 male teens reported using a method the last time they had sex.
Which
contraceptive method is most commonly used by American teens?
Answer
The male
condom is the most common contraceptive method used at first sex, as well as at
most recent sex. Almost seven in 10 U.S. females and eight in 10 males used
condoms the first time they had sex, and more than five in 10 female teens and
almost eight in 10 male teens used it the last time they had sex.[48]
How do
American teens’ sexual behaviors compare with those of European teens?
Answer
Teens in
the United States and Europe have similar levels of sexual activity. However,
European teens are more likely to use contraceptives and to use more effective
contraceptive methods; therefore, they have substantially lower pregnancy rates
than U.S. teens.[51]
Do teens in
developing regions have adequate access to contraceptives?
Answer
No. Fewer than one-third of married female teens who want to avoid pregnancy use modern contraceptive methods. Among
unmarried teens who want to avoid pregnancy, almost seven out of 10 in South
Central and Southeast Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa, and almost half in Latin
America, do not use modern contraceptive methods.[13,50]
Do any U.S. states give minors confidential access to contraceptive services?
Answer
Half of
states explicitly allow minors to
obtain contraceptive services without a parent’s involvement or interpret the
absence of a law in favor of minors’ access.[52] The remaining states allow access to contraceptive services without parental involvement only for certain groups of minors, such as married teens.
What impact could U.S. parental involvement laws have on minors’
contraceptive use?
Answer
While
parental involvement can be helpful for some minors, others will remain
sexually active but will not seek contraceptive services if they are required
to tell their parents,[53] which puts them at increased risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Do sexually
active teens in the United States have a need for publicly funded contraceptive
services?
Answer
Some five
million U.S. teens are in need of publicly funded contraceptive services and
supplies. They represent
about 30% of all U.S. women with such a need. Many sexually active teens need
publicly funded contraceptive services so that they can obtain confidential
care without having to depend on their family’s resources or their private
insurance.[8]
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