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The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is falling dramatically. It just reached a historic low and has dropped by 61% since 1991. However, nobody really

The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is falling dramatically. It just reached a historic low and has dropped by 61% since 1991. However, nobody really knows why. Theres a lot of hypothesises going around (this being one) but the real reason is probably a combination of many factors. There is probably a positive feedback effect going on as well, lowering teen pregnancy leads to even lower teen pregnancy. I read an article several months ago that gave (I believe) 9 factors that probably play a role. Theres also a lot of successful programs going on at a very local level in many cities/towns/states such as this one in Colorado - http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-colorado-lowered-their-teen-pregnancy-rate-by-40/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-colorado-lowered-their-teen-... Addressing the teen pregnancies caused by birth control failure - The American Academy of Pediatrics just released their recommendations that IUDs should be a first line contraception for teenagers. 10 years ago they were only recommended for parous women (those who have given birth). The importance of this can't be overstated - IUDs are extremely effective as well as reduce the chance of human error to basically zero and require no maintenance by the user. I strongly caution giving too much credit to any one thing. Its all very fascinating stuff.

thrownaway2424 11y ago
Yeah in the 90s a friend of mine wanted to get an IUD but her gynecologist objected on the grounds that they were not appropriate for young women. I wonder if the technology changed, or just the doctrine.
- nommm-nommm 11y ago
  No technology, just doctrine. There was a bad IUD with a design flaw back in the 70s called Dalkon Shield which injured and killed many women and lead to many lawsuits and settlements. Dalkon Shield gave IUDs a bad rap in the United States and lead to a cultural idea that IUDs in general were risky. Now that IUDs are finally being accepted as a method of birth control for young and nulliparous women and teens there are new ones coming out designed specifically for them. Which is great, both from an individual and public health perspective.
- tricolon 11y ago
  Just three years ago, someone I knew had to find another gynecologist for the same reason.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
- nommm-nommm 11y ago
  "Just asking people" is a part of "conducting research." http://www.vox.com/2015/12/23/10652258/teen-birth-decline-map http://www.vox.com/2015/12/23/10652258/teen-birth-decline-ma... "Experts like Ehrlich know that the teen birth rate is dropping fast — faster than it has since the federal government began to keep count. They know that this is not about teens terminating more pregnancies; separate data shows the teen abortion rate has steadily declined since the late 1980s. What they don't understand is what, exactly, is driving the trend. But they do have lots of ideas. I've spent a lot of time talking to experts who study teen pregnancy. They all told me something pretty similar: We don't have one clear-cut explanation for why teen births are going down. And if anyone tells you they have the answer, you should be skeptical."
pasbesoin 11y ago
Pure speculation. 1) Internet, followed by 2) Ubiquitous smart phones making it to teenagers -- and/or the laptops that also seem to be ubiquitous in education, these days. A personal place to look things up, less monitored than the family or library computer. (So, the other side of the "porn epidemic"? To be clear, not attributing porn per se, but rather range of information available to those who seek it out.)
- CaptSpify 11y ago
  private incognito searching? I'd agree. I'd never have looked up something like that when we had a "shared" computer in our living room. But if I'd had my own device? absolutely

thrownaway2424 11y ago

Yeah in the 90s a friend of mine wanted to get an IUD but her gynecologist objected on the grounds that they were not appropriate for young women. I wonder if the technology changed, or just the doctrine.

nommm-nommm 11y ago
No technology, just doctrine. There was a bad IUD with a design flaw back in the 70s called Dalkon Shield which injured and killed many women and lead to many lawsuits and settlements. Dalkon Shield gave IUDs a bad rap in the United States and lead to a cultural idea that IUDs in general were risky. Now that IUDs are finally being accepted as a method of birth control for young and nulliparous women and teens there are new ones coming out designed specifically for them. Which is great, both from an individual and public health perspective.
tricolon 11y ago
Just three years ago, someone I knew had to find another gynecologist for the same reason.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

nommm-nommm 11y ago
"Just asking people" is a part of "conducting research." http://www.vox.com/2015/12/23/10652258/teen-birth-decline-map http://www.vox.com/2015/12/23/10652258/teen-birth-decline-ma... "Experts like Ehrlich know that the teen birth rate is dropping fast — faster than it has since the federal government began to keep count. They know that this is not about teens terminating more pregnancies; separate data shows the teen abortion rate has steadily declined since the late 1980s. What they don't understand is what, exactly, is driving the trend. But they do have lots of ideas. I've spent a lot of time talking to experts who study teen pregnancy. They all told me something pretty similar: We don't have one clear-cut explanation for why teen births are going down. And if anyone tells you they have the answer, you should be skeptical."

pasbesoin 11y ago

Pure speculation. 1) Internet, followed by 2) Ubiquitous smart phones making it to teenagers -- and/or the laptops that also seem to be ubiquitous in education, these days. A personal place to look things up, less monitored than the family or library computer. (So, the other side of the "porn epidemic"? To be clear, not attributing porn per se, but rather range of information available to those who seek it out.)

CaptSpify 11y ago
private incognito searching? I'd agree. I'd never have looked up something like that when we had a "shared" computer in our living room. But if I'd had my own device? absolutely