Parenting The Sexually Active Teenager - What Every Parent Needs To Know

Many parents have a good rapport with their childrenare between the ages of 15 and 19. In this same group,
and feel that they are able to have open and frank1 in every 5 women will become pregnant as a result.
discussions with their children. However, when it comesUnintended pregnancies make up 78% of all
to sexual activity, many teenagers give out moreaccounted teen pregnancies. These teen pregnancies
information about their own personal sexualalso go on to make up 25% of all unintended
experiences on their MySpace page than they willpregnancies each year.
ever give to their parents.Every year, almost one million teenagers get pregnant.
So when it comes to understanding the realities theirNot surprisingly there are more than 500,000 births.
teenagers' experience, it often turns out to be veryDue to their age and hormone levels, teenage girls are
different from what the parents might have expected.especially fertile. As a result, some experts state that
For parents interested in knowing more about the typea teenage girl has a 90% of becoming pregnant within
of online environment their teenagers actually live in,one year - regardless of the frequency of the sexual
specifically when it comes to teen sex, knowing someactivity - if she uses no pregnancy or birth control
vital statistics can help them become more proactive inmethods.
their attempts to both connect and assist their child inThe other side of the coin is just as dismal when it
overcoming peer pressure.comes to teenage boys acting as fathers. Statistically,
Many of the teens that do participate in premarital sexthe majority of teen age fathers leave when they find
are those that have both self esteem and peerout that their girlfriend is pregnant.
pressure issues. In many cases, teenagers hope theseAnd 78% of teenage pregnancies occur between
types of activities will aid them when it comes to socialunmarried couples. When compared to teenage
networking, only to be disappointed when theirmothers, the fathers of the babies are in most cases
pre-marital activities actually causes even lower selfolder than the mother by 1-5 years. In fact, 20% of the
esteem and negative peer approval.fathers are 5 years or older when compared to the
Here are some recent statistics that will help tomother of the child.
illustrate the prevalence of teen sex sexual activityBetween 1990 and 1996, the number of abortions as a
among the same age groups.result unplanned pregnancy due to teenage premarital
Some teenagers think that oral sex counts as sex,sexual activity declined substantially. This was in part
while others do not think that participating in oral sexdue to easier access for teens to obtain prophylactic
will count against one's virginity or should count as amedication and devices such as birth control pills and
valid example of a sexual partner.condoms.
Every year, 10% of all women that become pregnant