Kelsey Lisowski Assignment 1A Argument of Fact Section HB- McGough 11/15/13 The Effectiveness of Sex Education & Contraceptives

Last year, 329,797 babies were born as a result of teenage pregnancy. Thirty one out of every 1,000 teenagers conceive a child during the ages of fifteen and nineteen. While staggering, these statistics lend to an important topic at hand. Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue in the United States. As a developed nation, the United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world, with a rate that is over five times higher than the Netherlands and three and a half times higher than Germany. The pregnancy rate, however, has been on the decline over the past few decades, namely because of an increase in sexual education and easier access to contraceptives. The majority of public schools have incorporated some component of sex ed into their health programs, and most of these programs teach about contraceptives and how to obtain them. As a result, students have made better choices about having sex and the teenage pregnancy rates have declined. More informative sex education and easier access to contraceptives is effective in reducing teenage pregnancy rates. Sexual education is not a new concept taught in schools. In fact, it has been around for decades. While this is true, there are varying degrees to which sex education is taught in schools. In the United States, it is required that public high schools teach about sex, but typically these discussions emphasize that abstinence is the best choice for students in high school. As a result, students are not educated on the importance of making safe decisions and instead act recklessly. It is extremely important, however, that students are well educated on sexual education in the United States. European countries have very low teenage pregnancy rates because of their highly informative sexual education programs. In the Netherlands, sex education is incorporated into all aspects of the students education, beginning in preschool. Their teenage pregnancy birth rate is only 5.3 per 1,000 (Weiss 3). Germany also has a more comprehensive program, and their teenage pregnancy rate is three and a half times lower than ours here in the U.S (Weiss 3). France is similar, with a program starting at the age of 13, and a teenage pregnancy rate three times lower than the U.S (Weiss 4). The United States has started to create programs similar to that of the European countries, and the results have been positive. Teenage pregnancy rates have decreased, but not as much as we would hope. This is due to the fact that not all schools teach the same thing. Most Americans agree that students should be educated about sex, but not all agree that students should be informed about homosexuality and abortion. Eighty percent of American adults believe that their children should be educated on sexuality, but only seventy five percent of Americans believe that they should be further educated on the use of condoms, dental dams, and other contraceptives (CDC). While it is okay for Americans to differ in their opinions, it is necessary for us to consider that we know that a

more thorough discussion about the material will lead to students making more informed decisions and ultimately, better choices. In states such as Minnesota and New York, the majority of parents believe that their students should be given access to condoms in their childrens schools. This is a positive thing, as the National Survey of Family Growth found that 86 percent of the decline in teen pregnancy rates through 2002 occurred because teens were using contraceptives more effectively (Fine). In Massachusetts, 42% of students reported not having sex, whereas the national average is 49% (Fine). This is due to the sexual education program that Massachusetts has implemented in its schools. Massachusetts is not the only place using sex education to help reduce teenage pregnancy rates, the Harvard Educational Review found that sex education is increasing contraceptive knowledge and use around the nation, which has already reduced teenage pregnancy rates. The journal also found that educational programs do not increase the number of teens who practice sexual intercourse, but actually delay it for many people. Most frequently, young women choose not to have sex because of the information they receive in school and from family planning counseling. Many women feel capable of making strong decisions on their own after receiving sex education through school or a counselor, which is why they say no to sex. They gain confidence in themselves that they didnt previously have, giving them the courage to say no when pressured into having sexual intercourse. Young women also realize that the responsibility of having a child can be overwhelming, more than what they can handle at their age. This is all due to the education and counseling they receive in high school. Teenage pregnancy rates have also been on the decline because of the nations efforts to provide easier access to contraceptives. There are now options besides condoms, such as birth control and Plan B. While Plan B is not a permanent form of birth control, it works well for young teenagers who do not wish to get pregnant after making a mistake the night before. Birth control is also helpful, because it is now easier to get through places like Planned Parenthood and womens health clinics. In many states, young women are capable of getting a prescription without the consent of their parents, which allows them to be safe and make responsible decisions on their own. Condoms are also helpful, as they are now being provided to students in certain schools as well as through drugstores and grocery stores. Students are taught about them early on and are not afraid to buy them because of how accessible they are. Both condoms and better sex education have helped to reduce the teenage pregnancy rate in the United States. It has already been proven that these two things are successful in reducing the teenage pregnancy rate, now it is necessary to implement programs that incorporate these two things into all health programs throughout the nation. Students would not only benefit because of reduced pregnancy rates, but because of the added information they would receive about sex and the ability for them to prevent mistakes in the future.

Works Cited Fine, Michelle. "Sexuality, Schooling, and Adolescent Females: The Missing Discourse of Desire." Harvard Educational Review 58.1 (1988): 29-53. Print. Weiss, Deborah. "Reducing Teenage Pregnancy." Planned Parenthood. Katharine Dexter McCormick Library, Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. "Teenage Pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. USA.gov, 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.