Only 1 in 4 (27%) Teens Ages 15 to 17 Have Ever Had Sex

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸…? ⁣

⁣

Only 1 in 4 (27%) teens ages 15 to 17 have ever had sex.⁣

⁣

Teen births in the US have declined over the last 20 years to the lowest level ever recorded, but still more than 86,000 teens ages 15 to 17 gave birth in 2012. ⁣

⁣

Giving birth during teenage years has been linked with increased medical risks and emotional, social, and financial costs to the mother and her children. Becoming a teen mom affects whether the mother finishes high school, goes to college, and the type of job she will get; especially for younger teens within this age range.

⁣

More can be done to prevent younger teens from becoming pregnant, particularly in health care. Parents, if you are feeling uncomfortable or unsure of what to say, have you thought of asking your child’s physician? They most likely have lots of resources to help you navigate these conversations with your teens. The best thing we can do as parents is to educate our children on the risks of having sex too young.