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Parentpedia
Preventing Teen Pregnancy
What Experts Say
Undoubtedly, teen pregnancy can change your child's life -- and yours -- in an instant. We know that our children are not mature or responsible enough to have a baby; this situation calls for the expression "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, there is not empirical support that abstinence-only programs prevent teen pregnancy. Ultimately, it's your decision how to handle this subject. But even if you hope and pray that your child won't be sexually active, you might still talk to him (or her) about birth control.
Research suggests that a comprehensive sexual education, which includes information about birth control, can reduce teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Latex condoms are the only birth control method that also reduces the chance of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. It's important that both boys and girls know how to effectively use a condom -- how to put it on correctly and ensure that it stays on, what to do with a used condom, and the need to use a new condom each time. For the most effective birth control protection, condoms should be used in conjunction with another form of birth control such as the birth control pill or spermicidal gel.
Sure, this might be an incredibly uncomfortable discussion to have with your child, but it's nothing compared to the consequence of your child having a child. You might also want to consider talking to your child about how to access family planning services at a local clinic or with a family doctor.
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The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
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