Teenage pregnancy, how can we as Christian parents and teachers of youth prevent it?

Question

A few days ago I answered a question about "Handing out condoms and promting 'safe sex' to teens in school". I said that was not a good idea and that to me it simply shows that parents and adults have given up all hope on the sexual purity or our children. I believe we should promote "No sex" until marraige as the only safe sex option. What do you think???

By the way I participated in a High School Health fair Friday, promoting our "Spiritual Health" at our Church. I saw 5 young pregnant girls there ages 14-16. Our safe sex talks are not working!!!

Answer 1

ARGHH!!

Why won't people understand? There is NO SUCH THING as SAFE SEX when you're unmarried.

Besides, how would your spouse feel, knowing you've "done it" with people other than him. It shouldn't be a contest!

Many people have tried saying condoms protect against HIV and STD's, when in reality, those viruses are SMALLER than the pores of the condom!

What the media also doesn't tell you is the danger of sex and its association with HPV and cervical cancer. Yes, it's caused by a virus, but that virus can be contracted through having multiple sex partners. Quite a shock, huh?

Teaching "Sex Ed" to teenagers is like saying, "Look, we don't want you to smoke marijuana, but if you're going to, this is how you do it."

x-((

Birth control is the same concept. You're telling teenagers NOT to have sex and NOT to get pregnant, but then you're justifying their behavior by allowing contraceptives to get into the hands of potentially sexually active teenage girls. That is completely taking the "punishment" out of the crime." A girl's chance of having sex is greatly increased when she knows she won't get caught (getting pregnant).

Cosmopolitan Magazine says that in one Americans lifetime, they will have an average of ELEVEN sex partners.

I'm working to bring down that average.

Going to a Catholic school, it's sad when I can name 5 pregnant girls right off the bat. We're a school of under 400.

Teenage pregnancies can many times end in abortions, which is an unfortunate truth. However, if our Christian communities work harder to promote chastity, we will definitely be making a change in my generation's future.

Try promotional t-shirts. My brother has one that says, "VIRGINITY ROCKS!" and on the back, "I love my wife, and I haven't even met her."

If all else fails, tell them to picture their parents having sex. That will certainly take away the thrill.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Stricter supervision of kids, for one thing. Parents are too willing to be "pals" and not be parents. Parenting is NOT a popularity contest. Parents should know EXACTLY where their child is at all times, who they are with, and what they are doing. If they aren't willing to put the time into this task that is necessary, then why are you bothering to have kids? A 13 or 14 year old getting pregnant is the result of a lack of effective parenting. Once they get to be older teens, out in the world, then parents should not be afraid to have frank discussions with their children regarding sex and birth control. A parent may stick their head in the sand, but if you have a teenager who has a "steady" boyfriend or girlfriend, then you're living in la-la land if you don't think the subject has come up -- assume that sex is going to be a part of the equation sooner or later. I'd rather buy my daughter a prescription for a birth control pill than pay for a maternity ward bill.

Answer 3

Having an open, honest and caring relationship with our children is number one, but other than that...

I think the biggest problem is pornography... If we could fight against porn we would make easier to not become addicted to sex. It is wrong and it destroys many young peoples lives. It teaches false ideas about love and sex.

At the same time we need to get them involved in good clean fun and activities. Like scouts, sports, music, service etc.

The Mormon church does these things and is working for them. It doesn't stop these things from happening, but it reduces it!


BTW: anyone who says we should give condoms out like candy is like saying, because there are school shootings and kids are gonna do it no matter what, we should just give every student a gun.

Thanks for the great question! Have a great day! :)

Answer 4

The more you say it is bad, the more people want to disobey, or find out what it is all about. I guess, from all the teenagers I see rebelling. Funny thing is, I'm an Atheist, and when a lady from some clinic for teen pregnancy came in, her first question was, "Is anyone here saving sex until after they're married?" Out of 27 people, most of who were some denomination of Christianity, I was the only one to raise my hand. I blushed, because everyone looked at me as if I was insane. I don't want to get hurt, so I won't have sex unless I am married. But, I also respect their decisions, even if I don't approve of them. It is their life, and it doesn't interfere with me.

I used to go to a Unitarian Universalist Church, and in eighth grade, they had sexual education every Sunday for the whole school year. We learned about different kinds of birth conception, STDs, to accept homosexuals (which I have already done. I have no problem with them. Their people. What goes on in their bedroom is none of my business, and the same goes for anyone else!), and we talked about abortion. We weren't forced to choose sides, and we didn't. It was probably a very good experience.

Educating people about sex is not saying that we have "given up all hope". It is just making sure they know the risks, and to think twice before doing something they may regret for the rest of their lives, because it can hurt them in more ways than one.

Answer 5

I just spent 2 months doing 17 iterations of an experiment I had been told was impossible. Yesterday I had successful results on iteration 17. Thomas Edison did over a thousand iterations of the light bulb before he was successful.

So far you have just learned a couple of ways that do not achieve 100% success in keeping kids celibate.

What success rate are you happy with?

What did you change in your approach?

Was the approach more or less successful?

How are you measuring the success rate?

1/3 of all brides were pregnant before they got married in the 18th century.

The only difference between today and three hundred years ago is that pregnant teenagers do not get married.

Truth is, teenagers listen and act out today just about as much now as they did three hundred years ago.

Talking works just as well as it will. Don't stop just because you get frustrated. Remember Paul.

Answer 6

Your safe sex talks don't work because "abstinence only" is a ridiculous belief! Being male and remembering those years, the only thing on a teen aged boys mind is sex. So not educating youth about options means that they will still have sex without protection. I see at least 3 pregnant teenage girls a day in my job. Usually between 15 and 17, sometimes younger. If they do not know the consequences of their actions, they can never expect to be prepared to accept them. The best way to prevent teenage pregnancy is to teach everything. Sex Ed in high school was the best thing that could have ever happened. For me, we where taught that pregnancy is the worst thing that can happen to you, and to take whatever means necessary to prevent it. And it worked. There where absolutely no pregnant girls at our high school. So lets give up on the "abstinence only" BS and start teaching real life!

Answer 7

Yes, I know what you mean. I've sat my kids down a few times and we talked. At this point they are committed to wait until marriage but I know that when the moment is there, much of our willingness and commitment can fly out the window. I think prayer is essential and probably the most important part. We can talk all we want, but God will be there with them when we are not. Not making sex sound like a crime is also important, because kids often tend to be defiant when it comes to No Nos. So, to talk about it in a way where they can come up with the answer of why they should not have premarital sex might be more successful because they will want it.

Answer 8

By having a more open relationship with our children. Make sure your children know they can come to you at anytime day or night and that you will not judge them for their questions. If children know that we as parents trust them and support them and talk with them openly about everything and what our views are on such things as sex before marriage, they will have a more understanding view of the rights and wrongs of sex before marriage, and about everything else that happens in life. Worked for me with my daughter and it worked for my parents as well. One must also realize it is not just about safe sex, but what can happen when sex is used as a game as so many kids think it is. I think every teen should go thru that class where they have a computerized baby they need to care for. It teaches them alot. And changes their view on sex before marriage.

Answer 9

Try discussing abstinence as a means of self-worth, not because sex is bad or all of the other things people say to teenagers. Parents often do not want to discuss this subject, as well as drugs and other things, because they feel they have nothing worth says. Well parents, you are parents and this is your JOB! Really talk with your children. LISTEN to them and do not preach. We've all known people who made life altering mistakes or we made them ourselves. Be honest with your children. Do you understand what the current peer pressures are? If not, find out! It is so much worse than when we were teenagers and it was pretty bad then.

Answer 10

Agreed. I am a part of the younger generation (15) and I think that we should start a no sex. save your purity until marriage campaign. I don't what we can do, but we should try something