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

states require parental consent for minors seeking abortions

66%

of sexually active U.S. teenage women practice contraception

average age at first sex in the United States

Resources

April 2019 Policy Analysis
Radical Attempts to Ban Abortion Dominate State Policy Trends in the First Quarter of 2019

Elizabeth Nash, Olivia Cappello, Sophia Naide, Lizamarie Mohammed and Zohra Ansari-Thomas
March 2019 Opinion
What the Trump Administration’s Final Regulatory Changes Mean for Title X

Kinsey Hasstedt Health Affairs Blog
January 2019 Research Article
Trends in Receipt of Contraceptive Services: Young Women in the U.S., 2002–2015

Jennifer J. Frost and Laura D. Lindberg American Journal of Preventive Medicine
November 2018 Policy Analysis
Ensuring Adolescents’ Ability to Obtain Confidential Family Planning Services in Title X

Kinsey Hasstedt Guttmacher Policy Review
September 2018 Policy Analysis
A Time to Lead: A Roadmap for Progress on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Worldwide

Jesseca Boyer Guttmacher Policy Review
September 2018 News Release
Most Sexually Active U.S. High School Students Make Decisions That Support Their Sexual Health
September 2018 Report
Sexual Behavior and Contraceptive and Condom Use Among U.S. High School Students, 2013‒2017

Elizabeth Witwer, Rachel K. Jones and Laura D. Lindberg
August 2018 News Release
Improvements in Contraceptive Use Continue to Drive Declines in Pregnancy Among U.S. Adolescents
August 2018 Research Article
Changing Patterns of Contraceptive Use and the Decline in Rates of Pregnancy and Birth Among U.S. Adolescents, 2007–2014

Laura D. Lindberg, John S. Santelli and Sheila Desai Journal of Adolescent Health
July 2018 Policy Analysis
Proposed Changes to the Title X National Family Planning Program: Guttmacher Institute Comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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