Teen pregnancies
Wednesday 2 May 2007
A recent official report says that pregnancy rates for teenage girls under 16 in the UK continue to rise although the situation is getting better in some areas of the country where significant decreases have been reported.
The latest country wide figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 7,917 girls under 16 became pregnant in 2005, only a slight increase from the 2004 figures. Abortions in young teenagers are also on the increase.
However the UK teenage pregnancy rate still remains the highest in Western Europe and the government says that they now want to halve the conception rate in 13-17 year olds in England by 2010.
It is thought that many young people, particularly in the under 16 age group feel uncomfortable talking to parents or teachers about sex, which means that they're missing out on vital info that could avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
Are you ready?
If you're not sure of the full facts about sex, there's a chance you're not ready to do it. The age when you're legally allowed to have sex- the 'age of consent'- is 16. Although some people do it before they reach 16, you needn't feel any pressure to go along with it if you're not comfortable with it. All those rumours that go around about people 'losing their V' are just that: rumours. If you're not ready, you're not ready.
Protect yourself
The easiest way to not get pregnant, or get anyone else pregnant, is not to have sex. If you are going to do it, make sure that you use contraception, also sometimes known as 'protection'. It comes in many different forms and can be used by a boy or a girl. As well as help top prevent pregnancy, condoms can also help protect against sexually transmitted infections. Need2know's sexual health section has more details on sexually transmitted infections and the types of contraception available.
Talk about it
It can be an embarrassing subject for both you and your parents, but you might be surprised how helpful they can be. If you really can’t bring yourself to broach the subject with them you could try asking advice from the school nurse or your PSHE teacher. If the idea of speaking to a teacher about sex fills you with dread, organisations like Brook can help you get a clearer picture. Talking to friends can be helpful but remember that they may not have the accurate or full answers. It is always better to go to an older person for advice.
Who do you talk about sex and where do get most of your information from? We want to hear from you in our debate section.
For more information, take a look at our useful links.
