Teen Pregnancy Help

Unfortunately tween sex statistics are startlingly high for such a young age group. Recent tween sex statistics show that about six percent of students have sex before the age of 13. Tween sex statistics also report that tween-age boys are more likely to have sex than their female counterparts.

Tween sex statistics also show that teens under the age of 14 (tweens about 11-14) are beginning to dabble in sexual experiences. About 20 percent of tweens engage in some type of sexual activity. These tween sex statistics continue to be leveling out, similar to other teen sex statistics. However, the numbers are still so high and often result in the rampant spread among sexually transmitted diseases as well as teen pregnancy. About three in 10 teens will end up pregnant before they graduate high school. The number of tax payer monies that go toward the assistance of these often unwed teen moms totals about $18 billion in spending each year in the United States. Because these tween sex statistics are just a part of the problem, it is important for parents to take an active role in talking to their teen about sex, STD protection and birth control at a younger age, even if it seems like the teen or tween is too young to know about sex. Unfortunately with the portrayal of sex on TV, in movies and online, children, tweens and teens are going to know about sex whether adults want them to or not. 

Tween Sex Statistics:

According to numbers released by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, tween boys are more likely to have had sex before the age of 13 than in comparison to girls. About eight percent of tween boys have had sex, while only three percent of tween girls have had sex. However, so many more than that have engaged in sexual activities. Unfortunately, many of these tweens are not educated on topics like birth control and condoms yet because in many schools sexual education is not even discussed until teens are around ages 15 to 17. If teens and tweens are having sex at younger ages, they are not going to be nearly as informed about STD protection and unplanned pregnancy prevention as they should be. This is where parents really need to step in and stop being afraid to talk to their children about sex and STDs. 

Other tween sex statistics indicate that tween girls with minority backgrounds are more likely to be sexually active younger and throughout their teen years. For example about 48 percent of non-Hispanic black teens are likely to be sexually active compared to Hispanic an white teens. Fortunately these tween sex statistics have declined since the early 1990s. However, they are still too high and contribute to much of the teen pregnancy dilemma. Taking these tween sex statistics to the teenage level, about half of all high school students have reported having sex before graduating high school. Again, minorities are more likely to engage in sex and sexual activities while in their teen years. 

How to Talk to Your Tween About Sex:

To help decrease these tween sex statistics, it is so important for parents to take an active role in preventing their tweens and teens from having sex or engaging in unsafe sexual activities. Many parents hope and pray that their teens will not have sex, but according to these tween sex statistics, teens of all ages are having sex even younger and younger. Talking to your teens and tweens about having safe sex, encouraging them to wait, unplanned pregnancy risks and STDs, you are helping to cut down on the number of teens and tweens having sex as well as having unprotected/unsafe sex. 

It may be difficult or intimidating to have this conversation with your tween, but it is important to do so. Make sure you open it up for questions and discussion by asking open ended questions. Ask them what they know about birth control, condoms, STDs, the risks of unplanned pregnancy, etc. You can also make an appointment with your tween's pediatrician to help talk to them around age 11 or 12 to learn about these topics in a very scientific way. This is a great way to get your tween educated, so they can begin to make their own intelligent decisions. 

Sources: simplyparenting.com, thenationalcampaign.org