Teen Pregnancy

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By the end of their senior year in high school, nearly two-thirds of American teens will have sex, and some 750,000 U.S. teens become pregnant each year. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school, live in poverty, and receive public assistance. Their children are more likely to die at birth or have health and developmental problems.

The best way to protect teens is to give them the information they need to make responsible decisions about their health and their futures.  They need comprehensive sex education that offers medically accurate, unbiased information about abstinence as well as about birth control and healthy relationships.

Yet, in the last decade, more than $1.5 billion in federal and state dollars has been wasted on dangerous abstinence-only programs that deny teenagers life-saving information that will protect them from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Planned Parenthood understands the power of a good education firsthand. Each year, Planned Parenthood affiliates provide comprehensive sex education to 1.2 million teens, parents, and communities across the country to make a difference in the lives of America's youth. 

Take Action

• Contact your members of Congress. Tell them to stop supporting dangerous abstinence-only programs and to support the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Sex Ed Act!
• Stay informed by join the Planned Parenthood Action Network (link)