Contraception in teens

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• Many teens who have sex either don't use contraception at all or use it inconsistently. Nearly one-third (31%) of teen girls were completely unprotected the last time they had sex¹ and although 90% of sexually active males ages 15-19 said they used a condom at some point in the previous year, only 44% used condoms every time they had sex during that year.²
• Contraceptive use at first sex has increased… In 1988, 65% of females aged 15-19 reported using contraception the first time they had sex. By 1995, this had increased to 76%.³
• …but contraceptive use at most recent sex has decreased. In 1988, 77% of females aged 15-19 used contraception the most recent time they had sex. By 1995, only 69% reported using contraception at most recent sex.⁴
• Teens are much more likely to have unplanned and unprotected sex when they are using alcohol or drugs. Using alcohol, cigarettes, and/or illicit drugs significantly increases the likelihood that boys and girls will begin having sexual intercourse before age 16. And teens 15 and older who drink are seven times likelier to have sexual intercourse and twice as likely to have it with four or more partners than non-drinking teens.⁵ More than one-half of teens (53%) say the main reason teens do not use protection is because of drinking or using drugs.⁶
• Many teens feel pressure not to use protection. More than one-half of teens (52%) surveyed recently said that one of the main reasons that teens do not use birth control is because their partners don't want to.⁷
• The younger teens are, the less likely they are to use contraception or to use it effectively.⁸
• Teaching teens about contraception does not make them have sex. Research is clear on this point: sex education does not increase sexual activity. In fact, in some cases, teaching teens about contraception seems to delay their sexual activity.⁹

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