Teen Pregnancy Up, Planned Parenthood Urges Education Changes

On the heels of a new study showing a rise in teenage pregnancy rates, Planned Parenthood is urging policymakers to make comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education a priority in local communities, and parents to demand it. The Guttmacher Institute study shows that teen pregnancy rates rose three percent in 2006 — the first rise in more than a decade.

“This new study makes crystal clear what Planned Parenthood has known for years — abstinence-only sex education for teenagers does not work,” said David Greenberg, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) President and CEO. “This study should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who still believes that teenagers aren’t sexually active or that abstinence-only programs curb the rate of teen pregnancy. Now more than ever, we must ensure that our teenagers receive medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education and access to contraceptives so they can make responsible decisions about their health.”

Planned Parenthood’s Education Department works with schools and organizations in Oregon and SW Washington to help provide young adults with comprehensive, evidence-based, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education. Last year, PPCW’s education programs reached more than 25,000 teens.

Unfortunately, after two decades of progress in reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy, we are witnessing a substantial increase in the number of teens who are getting pregnant. In addition, we are facing a crisis in the alarming rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young people. It is unacceptable that one out of every two sexually active young people has an STD by the age of 25.

Planned Parenthood applauds President Obama and members of Congress who have recognized that abstinence-only programs do not work, and who are investing in medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education for our teenagers. We urge local elected officials to do the same. An investment in comprehensive sex education is an investment in reducing unintended and teen pregnancies.

Nationwide, every year, Planned Parenthood physicians and nurses see nearly 700,000 teenagers who come to Planned Parenthood health centers with questions about their sexual activity and health. Moreover, millions of teenagers worldwide seek medically accurate information about sexual health on Planned Parenthood’s website PlannedParenthood.org.