Happy National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy! And we can really say “Happy” because there’s a lot to cheer about. The U.S. teen pregnancy rate has declined 42% from its peak in 1990 and is now at a nearly 40-year low. That’s terrific, BUT (there it is…) we still have a lot of work to do!

Today, almost 3 in 10 girls get pregnant by age 20. And compared with other developed countries in the world, the U.S. continues to have the highest teen pregnancy and birth rates.

Most parents believe that they have little influence over their teen children when it comes to sexual activity. Research proves that wrong. Parents’ opinions and expectations matter – but they can only make a difference if they are voiced to your children. Results from a recent telephone survey of 1,002 teens ages 12-19 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy showed that teens believe parents have the most influence on their decisions about sex. In fact, 87% of those teens said it would be easier to postpone sex and avoid the risk of pregnancy if they could have more open and honest conversations about sex and sexuality with their parents!

So use this National Day to make a statement – to your children, to your colleagues, to your friends. Start those important conversations about the risks of early sexual activity, and the prevention of unwanted consequences.

If you have teens, encourage them to visit StayTeen.org to participate in several online activities. They’ll be joining about a million other teens who will take the National Day Quiz that will put them in six risky situations and challenge them to think about what they would do “in the moment.” The message of the National Day is fun, educational and straightforward: sex has consequences.

Learn more about the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy here
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/default.aspx

then send your kids here:
http://www.stayteen.org/quiz

Don’t forget to bookmark these great resources!!

Emergency contraception (EC), marketed as the product Plan B, is largely misunderstood. As a parent, do you understand it? If not, you’re certainly not alone as evidenced yesterday by a surprising move by the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, who overrode the decision of the FDA to remove the age restriction on emergency contraception availability.  Using science and research to prove safety and effectiveness, the FDA concluded that Plan B One Step should be available over the counter to all ages and no longer require a prescription for those under 17. In political move that ignored the science, the decision was blocked.

As a parent of teens, and a physician to teens and their moms, I understand the concern about moving Plan B from behind the counter into the aisles so that anyone can pick it up along with condoms, pregnancy tests, cold medicine and band-aids. But even though it’s not readily available to all ages, all reproductive age girls and women should know about it and know how to access it, because knowing what to do in case of an emergency is always a good idea. And teens, in particular, need a Plan B (for themselves, or when they are helping a friend).

So, if you understand what EC is and how it works, you’ll realize that there’s little to worry about, but a lot to talk about – especially with your teen. Here’s the lowdown on Plan B.

If you have a teen approaching adulthood, you might think the Girlology blog is too youth oriented, and that ship has sailed. Well, pull her back into port, because post-sixteen is not too late for meaningful conversation.  In fact, we want to stress to parents, educators, coaches and any adults that care about young people that it’s never too late to talk. In fact, talking with your near-adult or young-adult children is even more important because relationships take on new depth, and sexuality becomes a more significant part of relationships.

In today’s high speed, sexually charged, just-do-it culture, who wouldn’t want a “super-protector” for their teen?  Super-protector.  That’s what leaders in the field of adolescent health have labeled the concept of parent-child connectedness.

This month the CDC released the 2007 data on US births.  Teen pregnancy rate went up 1% in 2007 but has increased 5% since 2005.  The good news is that preliminary data for 2008 may show a decline in teen childbearing, YEAH!  If you live in South Carolina like we do,   Our state ranked 13th nationally for teen births.  Top five states include Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.