Teens and Sex : OC HIGH / STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS
Americans who think teens account for most out-of-wedlock births and unplanned pregnancies are wrong, according to a report released recently by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. Teens account for only 30% of all out-of-wedlock births, shows the Guttmacher report. And while 85% of teen births are unplanned, 55% of births by older women also are unplanned.
The report also found that rather than climbing, the pregnancy rate among sexually experienced teen-agers fell 19% between 1972 and 1990.
The institute, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood, said two-thirds of today’s sexually active teen-agers used some method of contraception the first time they had intercourse. And at least 70% continue to use contraception regularly.
The study also reported that 70% of all teens--male or female--are still virgins by their 16th birthday, and 18% remain virgins until at least their 20th birthday.
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