Why do young teenage girls continue to get pregnant despite all the help available today?

Question

I wasn't married with my first daughter, but I didn't have all the choices that young girls have today, either!
Abortions were illegal, the birthcontrol wasn't on the market (much less free), doctors told the parents everything, and no one talked about Sex!!
I'm just surprised that 2 of my granddaughter's friends, age 17 - 19, are dued within the next 2 months. No jobs, no marriage or live-in boyfriend, never even lived on their own, and they do have the knowledge of sex & birthcontrol.
Sex is great, but a baby at the wrong time, isn't great.
So, why get caught if you don't have to?

Answer 1

America is still a very puritannical country, the religious right continues to oppose sex education and distribution of birth control to teenagers.
keeping teens ignorant has not been shown to be an effective way to prevent teen pregnancy, quite the opposite, but this has not swayed the opinion of those who preach abstinence as he only birth control with God's seal of approval.

Answer 2

I agree. I just don't understand why so many young girls are still getting pregnant, and then they act like they are surprised it happened. With all of the open discussions on sex, birth control and STD's it is amazing that young people are still ignoring all of the information. I know that when you are young, you sort of feel invincible and think that those things only happen to "other" people. Also, I guess they get caught up in the moment and think that one time won't hurt. I'm not sure what else can be done to prevent teenage pregnancies. I still think the parents should be more involved in the sex education of their children. We have come a long way in this country on this subject, but I don't think a lot has changed in the family. Most kids still get their sex education from school and friends. It's sad that so many children are being brought into this world with such unstable futures.

Answer 3

Not a difficult issue. Unfortunately, many people make this more complicated than it has to be. Statistics don't lie, only people do. This happens mainly in poorer communities/families where the parents don't take full control of the situation when it arises. You hardly ever see upper middle class or higher families with teen pregnancies, although their teens are definitely having sex. The thought process in poorer teens is different ...mainly because they have seen many other teens have children and 'survive'; i.e. get by with a similar standard of living to their parents while having a child so young. The bar is lower for what constitutes a 'full life'. If everyone in your family goes to college and gets a degree, you tend not to mess that up by having a teen pregnancy. If such things are not expected of you...you have no reason to not have the baby. Nothing much will change in said teen's life in five or ten years if she is not pushed to pursue certain goals in life. She may still be living at home even if she didn't have the kid. It's really a socioeconomic status issue rather than an individual judgement issue.

Answer 4

Although they are many kind of help available today, I would say some teenage girls are under peer pressure. Its like when are few of their friends are pregnant and most of their friends say they have "done it", they get pressured to have sex and not be the odd one out in their clique. Without them using any form of contraception and a wide knowledge on sex and family planning, they get pregnant.
The media also play an important role. Every now and then, dramas, movies, shows have scenes about sex or anything related. This makes teenagers think that having sex and getting pregnant is cool.

Answer 5

Because all teenagers respond to the increases, or the surge of hormones responsible for the desire for sex. Parents will be wise if they understand that their teenage kids will probably begin sexual activity. The wisest thing to do is provide them with birth control. Condoms are the best way to prevent STD's, but are not always available when necessary. Birth control pills for the female are the best way to prevent conception that can, and usually does result from spontaneous sexual activity. The promotion of
abstinence is very inefficient. A strong effort illustrating the profound negative affect on the future of both teenage parents is the best educational tool available. If possible both males and females should have the experience of meeting with, and listening to the hardships and difficulty a baby that resulted from unprotected sexual activity will impose on their future.

Answer 6

To be honest I think that it is their parent's fault, for not caring enough to get them on birth control! I have a daughter that is 10 and I am very open and honest with her when it comes to sex, and if she has a questions about it I tell her no matter what the question is! And I plan on putting her on the pill as soon as she has any kind of interest in the opposite sex. (as soon as she is able to get pregnant) Because I don't want her to end up like me! I am a single mother, got pregnant with her when I was 20 and had her when I was 21. And I do blame my parents (to a point) for not taking the time to explain all that stuff to me, or give me the information that I needed so I would avoid getting pregnant! Because if they would have been more open and honest about sex with me I would have been more careful! Now I'm not saying that it is my parents fault that I got pregnant, because they weren't there pushing me into bed with my daughters father, but I was bring boyfriends home and actually got kicked out because of it! And if they would have took the time to talk to me about it instead of kicking me out I think things would have been a little different for me in the future. But they didn't and I now I have this wonderful little girl that is the light of my life and makes every day interesting and fun!!

Answer 7

The problem is not of education, information, guidance, consequences etc.etc. , the problem is the basic nature of the present younger generation, it is more adventurous and daring than say one or two generations back. Another factor that I would associate with this problem is the risk and tolerance capacity of the new generation which is far in excess of the generation just gone by. The present generation has shed or shedding partially or fully the clock of social bindings and taboos.

Of all the pleasures known to mankind , sex-game is the most potential, explosive , wholesome ,intense such that it shacks up the mind nerves and total muscular system of the body. It is this intensity that attracts the newer generation and they just go into it and mind it they also come out of it as well.

There fore to think "baby at this age or that age " is losing strength in the present teen explosion and experimental mind set.

If any thing to be changed to stop this trend than we need to change the ways of life, thinking, social values, responsible media. Create new avenues for this generation to utilize their bubbling energy, give newer directions which do not break them but bind them with the movement for a better way of life.

What they are today is because of our actions and only we can bring a change that is more acceptable to current social order and for the one they are going to face when they reach our age.

Answer 8

Simple answer is, they want a baby.

When I was 17, I had this incredible [biological] urge to have a baby. Even now, I can't explain it, but I HAD to get pregnant. So, I did.

A year after her birth, when I was just 19, I had to have an emergency hysterectomy due to a cancerous growth! No-one could have predicted this, and man, I was SO glad I followed my heart & ignored everyone else telling me I was too young to be a mum.

She's now 23 years old, and my best friend! I can't wait to be a grandma, but she's too busy with a career to bother with babies :(

Answer 9

Pregnancy among teenagers seems to be the norm across the world. Some teenagers often become intoxicated before engaging in sexual activities because it numbs the experience for them, making it less embarrassing and less emotionally painful. There are teenagers who were feeling pressure to have sex and some are being in a relationship where they felt things were moving too fast sexually, and others have done sex they didn’t really want to do.

The rising incidence of pregnancy among teenagers are mostly due to lack of knowledge of, or access to, conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be too embarrassed or frightened to seek such information

Answer 10

Many do not receive information, and do not even know that sex can make you pregnant.
The young also feel invulnerable, and taking chances and thrill seeking, such as unprotected sex, is okay with them.
Getting young people basic sex info is crucial, but many churches, and even the Federal Gov't under W (abstinence only teaching), is against this.