TIPS FOR AVOIDING PREGNANCY

When it comes to pregnancy -- why it happens and how to prevent it -- teens get loads of advice from adults, but they aren't often asked to offer their own... so we asked teens from all over the country what they would say to other teens about sex, relationships, and avoiding teen pregnancy. As many of you have made clear, the teen years shouldn't be about pregnany, parenting, midnight feedings, and changing dirty diapers. We hope you find these ideas useful -- and that you might see your own ideas and opinions reflected in them.

  • Thinking "it won't happen to me" is stupid; if you don't protect yourself, it probably will. Sex is serious. Make a plan.
  • Just because you think "everyone is doing it," doesn't mean they are. Some are, some aren't -- and some are lying.
  • There are a lot of good reasons to say "no, not yet." Protecting your feelings is one of them.
  • You're in charge of your own life -- don't let anyone pressure you into having sex.
  • You can always say "no" -- even if you've said "yes" before.
  • Carrying a condom is just being smart -- it doesn't mean you're pushy or easy.
  • If you think birth control "ruins the mood," consider what a pregnancy test will do to it.
  • If you're drunk or high, you can't make good decisions about sex. Don't do something you might not remember or might really regret.
  • Sex won't make him yours, and a baby won't make him stay.
  • Not ready to be someone's father? It's simple: Use protection every time or don't have sex.

The decision about whether and when to have sex is major and it’s definitely not an easy call. Should you wait for the "perfect person"?  Just get it over with?  Can you stop once you’ve started?  Believe it or not, when it comes to sex, plenty more people are worrying about the same issues as you.  So how do you decide? Visit our Abstinence and Contraception sections to get some information that might help you make the best decision for you.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.