United States

Teens

As a leading authority on teen reproductive health, the Guttmacher Institute estimates national and state-level teen pregnancy rates; documents teens’ access to sexual and reproductive health information and services; and promotes fact-based, comprehensive sex education and youth-friendly, confidential services.

Research Article

Trends in U.S. Adolescent Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive Use, 2006-2019

Report

Pregnancies, Births and Abortions in the United States, 1973–2017: National and State Trends by Age

Fact Sheet

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in the United States

66%

of sexually active U.S. teenage women practice contraception

states require parental consent for minors seeking abortions

average age at first sex in the United States

Resources

February 2021 Policy Analysis
Adolescents Deserve Better: What the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress Can Do to Bolster Young People’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

Leah H. Keller Guttmacher Policy Review
January 2021 Opinion
Has Sex Ed Even Changed From the ‘Bridgerton’ Era to Today?

Laura D. Lindberg Rewire
December 2020 Research Article
Sex Education: Broadening the Definition of Relevant Outcomes

Leslie M. Kantor, Laura D. Lindberg, Yara Tashkandi, Jennifer S. Hirsch and John S. Santelli Journal of Adolescent Health
December 2020 Report
Assessing State-Level Variations in High School Students’ Sexual and Contraceptive Behavior: The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys

Laura D. Lindberg, Zoe H. Pleasure and Ayana Douglas-Hall
November 2020 Policy Analysis
Not Up for Debate: LGBTQ People Need and Deserve Tailored Sexual and Reproductive Health Care

Ruth Dawson and Tracy Leong
November 2020 Research Article
Sexual orientation-related differences in contraceptive use: a brief report based on a cohort of adolescent and young women

Brittany M. Charlton, Colleen A. Reynolds, Elizabeth Janiak, Amy D. DiVasta, Rachel K. Jones, Jorge E. Chavarro, Vishnudas Sarda and S. Bryn Austin Contraception
October 2020 Opinion
COVID Won’t Stop Young People From Having Sex. Let’s Get Them the Health Care They Need.

Laura D. Lindberg Ms. Magazine
October 2020 Report
Pregnancies, Births and Abortions in the United States, 1973–2016: National and State Trends by Age

Isaac Maddow-Zimet, Kathryn Kost and Sean Finn
September 2020 Opinion
Age is More Than a Number: High Infant Mortality Among Births to Teen Mothers

Aletha Y. Akers Ms. Magazine
August 2020 Research Article
Parent, partner and individual contexts of very early first sex experiences among young men and their links to subsequent reproductive health outcomes

Asari Offiong, Laura D. Lindberg, Jacky M. Jennings, Patricia J. Dittus and Arik V. Marcell Culture, Health & Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care

Explore the Data Center

Hear from an expert

A lack of adequate and consistent resources can affect any of the services that school-based health centers provide, not just contraceptive services. Coupled with the seemingly ever-rising cost of contraceptive supplies to health care providers, it may make expanding the range of reproductive health services for students even more difficult

Heather D. Boonstra

Vice President for Public Policy