Teen Pregnancy in Oklahoma

The Guttmacher Institute released a study this month that shows teen pregnancy rates, abortion rates and birth rates have all decreased to a historic low in our nation. 

 “While there was a substantial drop in the pregnancy rate for
15–17-year-olds and 18–19-year-olds between 2008 and 2010,
pregnancies among 18–19-year-olds constituted the majority (69%)
of teen pregnancies. During this same time period, increasing
proportions of 18–19-year-olds reported having ever had sex,
yet fewer of them became pregnant. The likely reason is
improved contraceptive use and use of more effective methods.”

 This trend is cause for celebration! Not only do teens do better when they postpone having children, but children themselves have better outcomes when mothers wait until they are financially and emotionally prepared to raise them.

Tiffany Haddish
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign
Oklahoma City Metro Area

Despite the decreasing trends, Oklahoma remains in the top 5 highest ranked states for teen pregnancy. We need to keep talking to teens about safer sex, keep expanding access to contraception, and keep improving sex education. We are doing well, but we are not there yet. Statistics are certainly improving but we can do better, so keep it up Oklahoma!

Wrap Your Junk

Talking about STDs is hard. It's an embarrassing topic that many people just don't know much about, so having a productive conversation about STD safety can be tough. Take a few pointers from the creator of the Sex+ YouTube channel, Laci Green.

Laci lists several ways to start a conversation with your partner about using protection and getting tested for STDs. Starters like, "One thing that's really, really important to me is my sexual health and I get tested every few months. I was wondering if you would get tested before we go any further," can be a good way to break the ice in talking about your sexual history. This is a great way to emphasize that it's about both of your health, and not that you think something is wrong with them. 

If your partner does not like using condoms, do NOT feel pressured to continue with out one! Pressuring someone into unsafe sex is not acceptable. There are SO MANY kinds of condoms out there, you can certainly find a brand and size that work for you. There are lots of ways to start a conversation about using protection too, so have open dialogue about what you both like and have a plan before things heat up.

 

Vote for Instant Birth Control

“Instant Birth Control,” which provides women in Washington and Oregon with access to birth control pills and emergency contraception online, is one of 10 finalists in an international competition to identify “Disruptive Innovations” — replicable, sustainable ideas that could change health care delivery forever.

The competition is hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which makes grants to improve health and health care and by Change Makers.net.

The Instant Birth Control project, which is a collaborative effort among five Planned Parenthood affiliates in Washington and Oregon, is hosted through the online health center of the Portland, OR, affiliate, Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette (PPCW).

Cast your vote for the PPCW Instant Birth Control program. Scroll down and click on the register option just above the list of finalists. It won't take long — less than three minutes.

Free Birth Control for Pigeons

I read this story over at the BBC.

"Birth control is to be used on pigeons in California in an effort to combat the
"unmanageable" mess their increasing numbers are causing. OvoControl P,
which interferes with egg development, will be put in bird food in new rooftop
feeders in Hollywood. The pilot program is expected to show results within a
year. "

While I am not opposed to the program because I think it is a very humane way to deal with an overpopulation problem in pigeons (and whatever animal rights views you hold is irrelevant), I do get frustrated at the following:

College students are now paying an arm and a leg for contraception.

Many women do not have adequate contraceptive coverage on health their insurance plans

Pharmacists feel the need to refuse birth control and lecture women on their reproductive choices.

Rape victims still are not guaranteed an opportunity to have access and information about emergency contraceptive in Emergency Rooms.

Just a little bit of food for thought here...