Safe sex is a hard issue to discuss, but if avoided, the result may be a lifelong consequence.
Well, whose problem is it? According to Dr. Victor Strasburger of the University of New Mexico's school of Medicine, it is a problem that we all can help to prevent. "The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western world, despite the fact that our teens are not more sexually active than Swedish teen, or Canadian teens, or British teens. Why? Because we don't educate about birth control.we don't discuss it at home.Other countries do, and they are rewarded with low rates of teen pregnancy and teen abortions (Strasburger par. 1)." I agree with Doctor Strasburger's statement. I believe that if my mother would have been more open to discussing the importance of safe sex or abstinence, I would have been less likely to lose my virginity at such a young age.
So, how serious is the problem of teenage pregnancy in America? Here are a few facts from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
• The United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of all developed countries. .
• About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95% of those pregnancies are .
unintended, and almost one third end in abortion. .
• Public costs from teenage childbearing totaled $120 billion from 1985 -- 1990; $48 .
billion could have been saved if each birth had been postponed until the mother was at .
least 20 years old. .
• 8 nongovernmental organizations are supported to assist states to develop and implement .
strategies to prevent pregnancy among teenagers. .
The issue it too widely ignored by parents and teachers and facts like the ones above are the end results.
Sex has become like a big game to teenage boys and girls. The importance of relationships is diminishing, and many youth are practicing sexual acts with people whom they don't much about.
