Podbielska 1

Marta Podbielska
1102-096
T. Sotirakoupulos
5/7/2016
Birth Control
There have been 249,078 babies, born to girls between the ages of 15-19 in 2014 (CDC).
249,078 babies who are being raised by girls who are just babies themselves. Teen pregnancy is
an epidemic that needs to be addressed and handled. The United States is the top industrialized
nation in the world with the highest birth control rates (Teen Pregnancy). As a nation, we have to
look out for the upcoming generations. We have to raise our children right so they are aware of
safe sex and know how to prevent teen pregnancy. As a nation, we have to educate our youth
about birth control starting in high school health classes. Teenagers are very experimental with
sex in high school and everyone has to step in and teach them how to practice safe sex.
Throughout this paper, I will explain why we have to educate our teens, how we have to educate
them, what types of birth control is out there, and explain why we have to change the sex
education curriculum in high schools throughout the nation.
For centuries, schools have had implemented abstinence only sex education classes in
high schools (Kohler). It is time to change. No matter how much everyone turns their back
towards the idea of teenagers having sex, it happens. Every year thousands of girls get pregnant
and get blamed for it (Kohler). No one looks at a pregnant teenage girl walking down the street
and thinks, wow the sex ed classes in high schools are ineffective. what comes to mind first, is
the fact that they were irresponsible and had sex. No matter how much high schools talk about
abstinence and incorporate that into their curriculum, teenagers will have sex. In a survey

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conducted by, Pamela Kohler, a professor at the University of Washington, she asked teenagers if
they have had sex education courses before partaking in sexual intercourse. More than half the
students responded that they have been sexually active before they were taught in school
(Kohler). Teenagers in this day and age, think they are more and more mature. They believe that
they can have sex and nothing will happen. They believe they are invisible and they wont get
pregnant even though so many do. With the younger generations having sex so early, the sexual
education curriculum has to be adjusted. It is up to the schools to start teaching students to be
safe in high schools. Professor Kathrin F. Stanger-Hall, at the University of Georgia, explained
how over decades the U.S. government has funded abstinence only sexual education courses. She
also explains that the public has been very concerned that these programs are ineffective and still
nothing is being changed (Stanger-Hall). Many people see that this is a problem that needs to be
addressed. Instead of turning heads, it is our responsibility to educate girls about different ways
to prevent teen pregnancies.
Many teenagers, nor adults know the different types of birth control that are out on the
market. In order for teenagers to practice safe sex, they have to be taught about pregnancy
prevention methods such as birth control. In another survey conducted by Pamela Kohler, she
asked students how many of their parents talked to them about safe sex and birth control. To her
dismay, only 32% of parents informed their kids about safe sex and prevention (Kohler). That is
insane, less than half of our youth is being informed about pregnancy prevention. Parents might
try to avoid the fact that their kids are having sex but that doesnt mean dont educate them at all.
When many parents when find out their daughter got pregnant, they blame the teenagers but
dont look at the fact that they never sat down with their son or daughter and taught them
correctly how to prevent this mistake from occurring. Another survey was conducted by

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Agnieszka Skrzeczkowska, a teacher in the Health and Science department at Wroclaw Medical
University of Poland, she surveyed 219 students between the ages of 17-21 about their
knowledge about contraceptives. More than 70% of students considered the internet and their
friends as primary sources of information about contraceptives and safe sex. She also found out
that teenagers are too scared and embarrassed to ask questions in health classes in front of their
peers (Skreczkowska). It is quite sad to know that teens are too scared to ask questions even
when they are worried and concerned. They dont want to be made fun of in school but then they
cant even go home and ask their parents for advice because they are too scared to get yelled at
or grounded. As a society, we have to stay more open to the fact that teens will continue to have
sex. The age of first sexual experiences has been decreasing and the knowledge about sex and
birth control is frequently inaccurate (Skreczkowska). Schools who teach their students about
birth control and different ways to practice safe sex, have much lower rates of teen pregnancy
(Stanger-Hall). It is our responsibility to teach our youth and let them ask questions in safe
environments.
In the world today, there are more and more birth control options that are available to
teenagers. If high school health classes incorporated teaching students about birth control we can
decrease teen pregnancy rates as a nation. The most common types of birth control methods
other than abstinence are, the condom, the pill, the patch, the shot, the ring and the implant.
Many people are only aware of a few of these or none at all. The most familiar method of birth
control is abstinence, because throughout life everyone is taught to stay away from sex. But
clearly that is not working if 249,078 babies were born to teenage girls in 2014 alone (CDC). In
the article, Types of Birth Control, published on Marshall Universitys website, they list various
methods of contraceptives and what there is to know about each type.

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The first type of birth control method, who most are familiar with is the condom. A
condom is a latex material that the male puts on the penis. It is 90% effective and is the most
common for teenagers to use. Condoms are sold at any drug store or gas station and anyone can
buy them. Teens resort to condoms because they are the most discrete method without a parent
knowing they purchased them. The second most common conceptive is the pill. The pill is 9299% effective when taken around the same time every day. The pill also helps regulate periods, is
cost efficient and is easy to get through a doctor. Many girls are put on the pill once they begin
sexual acts, but it is really tough for many to take at the same time every day (Types of Birth
Control).
The next type of birth control is the shot, when the shot is given it shoots progestin
(hormones) into the body that prevent sperm from reaching the egg. The shot is about 99.7%
effective and is given every 3 months. The shot is great for girls who dont want to worry about
taking a pill every day and still want to be safe. There is a down fall with the shot though, every
time someone is injected with these very strong hormones it messes with the body. Throughout
the period of 3 months it slowly wears off and then once 3 months is up, you have to shock the
body with more hormones. It fluctuates within the body so much, some women cannot handle all
of the hormones (Types of Birth Control).
Another type of birth control is the ring, it is about 2 inches in diameter and is inserted
into the vagina. It is worn for 3 weeks, then taken out when a women is menstruating. The ring
releases hormones and is about 92-99% effective if used properly (Types of Birth Control).
Another type is the patch, most commonly worn on the lower abdomen, butt or upper body on
the skin. The patch releases hormones into the bloodstream which prevent pregnancy. A patch

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can be worn for one week at a time and is about 92-99% effective. There has been evidence that
shows it is less effective in women who weigh more than 198 pounds (Types of Birth Control).
One more type of birth control is the IUD (Intrauterine device), this is a thin T-shaped
device which is inserted into the vagina by a doctor and this device can be effective for 3-5 years.
The IUD is 99.8% effective, more than any other birth control out there. The IUD is also
reversible, so when a women is ready to conceive, she goes and has it taken out by a doctor
without any worries (Types of Birth Control).
Although it may seem that there are many different contraceptives, these are only a few
that have been discussed the most, there are a lot more. Without proper sex education classes,
teenagers are not aware of the plethora of options they have. Many adults arent even aware of
the different types of contraceptives, and if birth control was added into the curriculum in high
schools we would be able to decrease the number of teen pregnancies.
In a survey that I conducted, called Learning about Birth Control in Schools, I found
some interesting results. I did share this survey to my personal Facebook page to get a variety of
results from people between the ages of 14-60. The survey did only consist of 100 people and
85% of people were between the ages of 16-20 but the results I received were what I had
predicted. One of the first questions I asked was, In your opinion what is the main reason why
teens get pregnant? 30% of people said it was a mistake, and 53% said it was carelessness.
Which really is the case, sometimes even when teenagers use condoms, they break and it can be
a problem which may lead to pregnancy (Podbielska). I also asked, Do you believe that learning
about birth control in schools can reduce teen pregnancy? 73% of people answered yes, 20%
said sometimes and 6% said no. If 73 people out of 100 believe there is a chance that teen
pregnancy can be reduced, why are we not taking further actions to change health education

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curriculum? Another question asked was How familiar are you with the following
contraceptives? and these are the results that I received. The first column is not familiar, the
second is somewhat familiar and the third is very familiar. Though I do

Learning about Birth Control in Schools

Not Familiar

Somewhat Familiar

Very Familiar

believe some people did not take the

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people actually know about each type of birth control and how accurate is their knowledge is.
Some may only know a couple things, but another person who may have answered very familiar,
may have the wrong information about the certain birth control. Everyone should be fully aware
of all the different types of birth control options. Changing the health curriculum would
definitely benefit our country (Podbielska).
Some may argue that abstinence sex education courses are the only way to prevent teen
pregnancies. They believe that if you start teaching kids about birth control you are giving them
the freedom to have sex (Teen Pregnancy). I do understand why some parents might believe this
theory, but in retrospect, teenagers will have sex with or without permission. In my survey, I
asked Do you believe that abstinence only sex education is effective in preventing teen
pregnancy? 72% of people said no, 24% said somewhat and only 2% said yes. Since most of the
people who took my survey were teenagers, they have experienced the sex education classes
recently and know that it does not help prevent teen pregnancy. Teenage years are the ones where
kids are rebellious and experimental. Though some parents may believe in strict rules around the
house about sex, we have to educate these children either way. Just because children are being
educated about birth control, it does not mean we are giving them a key to a forbidden city.
Instead we are giving them the power of knowledge to protect themselves and allow them to
have a future without a baby, until they are ready for one.
It is clear to see that teenage pregnancy is an epidemic and our high school health class
curriculum is out dated. We as a nation have to change the way our children learn about big
topics such as protection, prevention and contraceptives. Our teens have to be more informed
about the different birth control types just so they are aware of their options. Whether they are
going to be having sex now or in the future, it will be good information to have. Times have

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changed since the implementation of the abstinence only sex education curriculum and now we
have to change the curriculum. It is time for us to take a step and try to reduce the amounts of
teenage pregnancies throughout the United States.

Work Cited
"About Teen Pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 14 Mar. 2016. Web. 09 May 2016.
Kohler, Pamela K., Lisa E. Manhart, and William E. Lafferty. "Abstinence-Only and
Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy."
Journal of Adolescent Health 42 (2008): 344-51. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Apr.
2016.
Podbielska, Marta. Learning About Birth Control in Schools. Survey. SurveyMonkey.
SurveyMonkey, 03 May 2016. Web. 09 May. 2016
Skrzeczkowska, Agnieszka, et al. "Knowledge Of Contraceptive Methods Among
Adolescents/Young Adults." Polish Journal Of Public Health 125.3 (2015): 144-148.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F., and David W. Hall. "Abstinence-Only Education And Teen Pregnancy
Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education In The U.S." Plos ONE 6.10 (2011): 111. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

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Teen Pregnancy. Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 6 July 2007.Web. 24 Apr. 2016
"Types of Birth Control." Womens Center. Marshall University, 13 Apr. 2015. Web. 09 May
2016.