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.

 

John Stewart takes on Abstinence

Even though The Daily Show writers, and John Stewart, makes me laugh - the abstinence until marriage movement really isn't all that funny. In fact, I find it disturbing. It's disturbing to me that so much federal and state money is funnelled into programs that just DO NOT WORK!

It makes me outraged, but it also makes me want to do something. Actions such as educating people that while abstinence is a good option for teens, it's not always reality. Teens are having sex - so let's help them be prepared! Support comprehensive sex education programs, such as ones that Planned Parenthood provides. This is a better solution than ignorance!

Are you outraged? Are you doing something about it?