Teen Pregnancy Help

Unplanned pregnancy statistics are unfortunately on the rise among adult and teen women. However, teen pregnancy rates seem to be leveling out, according to recent unplanned pregnancy statistics. About four in 10 pregnancies are unplanned in the United States, alone.

These new numbers of unplanned pregnancy statistics show an increase among states mostly in the southern region of the country from women ages 15-44. These unplanned pregnancy statistics from the Guttmacher Institute show that the southern states and the cities with large urban populations see the highest number of unplanned pregnancies throughout the country. Pregnant teens are not the only culprit of these mistimed or unplanned pregnancies, according to recent unplanned pregnancy statistics. Unfortunately there are many reasons why there are so many pregnancies that end up being unplanned in younger women, teens and even older pregnant women. 

Researchers and administrative members of family-planning services throughout the United States attribute a lack of access to birth control as one of the most common reasons for these unplanned pregnancies. Many women and teens are living in a state of denial thinking that they will get lucky and won't get pregnant. However this is not the case. About 80 percent of women and teens that don't use contraception or birth control will get pregnant within a year. This high statistic is what leads so many mothers to get pregnant so unexpectedly. Unfortunately about 25 percent of these unintended pregnancies are unwanted and often result in abortion or adoption. About 27 percent of all teenage pregnancies result in abortion. These numbers of unintended pregnancies are more likely to occur to teens and women of lower class that do not have the money or resources to pay for birth control. These women also might not have access to pregnancy prevention education and don't know or understand what options they have when it comes to protecting themselves during sex. 

The women that get pregnant unexpectedly, because they are often of a lower social class, do not have the money or resources to pay for the unplanned baby's needs. Fortunately there are programs available through government funding like Women, Infant, Child (WIC) and welfare programs to assist these women and their babies. However, this is a service that costs tax payers an average of $18 billion each year in providing young mother and mothers would financial resources to care for their child. The lesson to be learned from these high unplanned pregnancy statistics indicates that unintended pregnancy is costing the people of the United States tons of money in tax payer dollars, and also unfortunately often compromises the health and welfare of the pregnant teen and of the child. 

Some unplanned pregnancy statistics show that about 48 percent of women who have had unplanned births were actually using a contraceptive during the month they became pregnant. Unfortunately, many teens that use condoms have been shown to not do so consistently, although condom use among teens is up. Others that use the birth control pill are not as diligent about taking the pill regularly, which can result in cases of pregnancy thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Also according to unplanned pregnancy statistics, the majority of teens and women to have unplanned or unintended pregnancies were of a minority group including black non-Hispanic women as well as Hispanic women.

Again, part of the reason these rates are so high among minorities and those with lower incomes is because of the lack of access to birth control and pregnancy prevention education. However recent legislation under the Affordable Care Act allows birth control to be available for free, without a co-pay for women on some sort of health care insurance plan. For the women that cannot afford health care, there are other programs that you can use to get access to free or discounted birth control at Planned Parenthood or other health care facilities. There are also ways to get free condoms and other contraceptives without having to pay at similar wellness center locations. Those who are sexually active should never assume that they simply won't get pregnant. It is important to look into the different types of birth control and contraceptives that are available, how to use them properly and where to get access to birth control and other ways to prevent unintended pregnancy. 

Sources: guttmacher.org, usatoday.com,