American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [227]
Most teenagers are not adequately educated about their reproductive potential and the risk of unintended pregnancy. Timing sex based on a girl’s menstrual period, either by having intercourse only during a girl’s period or by using the rhythm method (see page 474), is not reliable; sperm can live for up to 7 days after intercourse and the release of an egg may not occur at the same time every month (or may occur more than once in a cycle).
Some teens think that a girl will not get pregnant if she does not have an orgasm during sex or if they have sex in particular positions (such as while standing up or with the girl on top). These misconceptions frequently lead to unexpected pregnancies. If a teen is ready to have sex, he or she should seek information in advance about sex, reproduction, and contraception. Teens can get information about contraception from their doctor or a family planning clinic such as Planned Parenthood; all inquiries are confidential and will not be shared with parents or anyone else without the teen’s permission.
If a pregnancy occurs, both partners should talk to their parents as soon as possible. The earlier they talk to someone and get help, the more options they will have. The girl should see her doctor right away—girls younger than 16 who are pregnant are at high risk for disorders such as anemia (see page 610), high blood pressure (see page 574), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs; see page 477), and difficult labor.
The girl will have to decide whether to continue with the pregnancy (and raise the child or arrange for an adoption) or have an abortion (see page 506). If she decides to have an abortion, it is safer and easier to do so as early in the pregnancy as possible. Because there are legal restrictions on the availability of abortion to minor children in some states, talk to your doctor or call your local chapter of Planned Parenthood for information.
Boys and girls are equally responsible for supporting a child. Either can be held legally responsible for child support until the child is 18 years old. When a pregnancy occurs in very young teenagers, legal issues may need to be explored, such as the possibility of incest or sexual assault.
Practicing Safer Sex
Each year, more than 3 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs; see page 477) occur in children between ages 10 and 19. Chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most common STDs, occur more often in teenagers than in any other age group. One in five people over age 12 has genital herpes, which is incurable. Most people who develop AIDS in their 20s were infected with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) in their teens. The more people a teen has sex with, the greater the risk of acquiring an STD. Many teens are infected with STDs and don’t know it. The most reliable way to protect against STDs if you are having sex is to use a latex condom correctly every time you have sex—although condoms are not 100 percent reliable in preventing STDs. If you are diagnosed with an STD, your partner should also be treated.
Abstinence
The only sure way to avoid STDs is not to have sex. Teenagers benefit from putting off sex and learning other ways to be involved in a close relationship. Having sex does not solve relationship problems, and is often the cause of new problems. Teens who abstain from sex—that is, who avoid oral, anal, or vaginal contact—eliminate the risk of an unwanted pregnancy or an STD. Without the maturity that a healthy sexual relationship requires, teenagers can more safely and easily develop a trusting relationship based on friendship and mutual understanding and respect.
Each person in a relationship should expect his or her feelings