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Stay Young, Stay Protected, Stay Child-free: Should teens have free, easy access to

contraceptives?

Would you want your child to become a teen parent? Would you want your grandchild to come

into the world with complications? Would you want your teen suffering from emotional, physical

suicidal thoughts from an abortion? “Did you know that 1 in 4 teens contract a sexually

transmitted disease every year?” (DoSomething.org 1). Teen pregnancy is an important issue for

several reasons. For example, there are health risks for the baby and children born to teenage

mothers are more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems than children born to

older mothers. Teenagers should have free, easy access to contraceptives because it will

lower teen pregnancy rates, lead to less abortions, and it will be fewer diseases going

around.

Teens should have free, easy access to contraceptives because it will lower teen pregnancy

rates. According to CDC.gov, in 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to girls aged 15-19

years (cdc 1). “This study shows that teenagers were getting pregnant at an early age. Births per

1,000 females aged 15-19 received lower from 2007-2015 because some teens were abstaining

from sex, others were using birth control” (cdc 1). This quote is supporting the argument that the

pregnancy rates obtained lower because teens started having safe sex or no sex at all. Teens have

sex at a young age and have unwanted pregnancies.

Teenagers should have free, easy access to contraceptives because it will lower pregnancy

rates. “According to a passage from ourbodiesourselves.org, the majority of teen pregnancies are

unintended.” (ourbodiesourselves 1 ). In other words, teens have sex and they want to be able to
protect themselves from pregnancies but often slip up. “The adolescent pregnancy rate of the

United States is 52 per 1,000 females.” (ourbodiesourselves 1). This shows that although the

rates are not as high, they are still up there and it’s caused by unprotected sex. Teen pregnancy is

also way down because of the use of contraceptives.

A study suggests that the reason teen pregnancy is lower is because increasingly effective

contraceptives. “According to Rovner, in drop in teen pregnancies is due to more contraceptives,

not less sex, if teens use no method, they have an 85% chance of getting pregnant.” (Rovner

2016). This study shows that if a teen uses no form of contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, the

more likely she is to become pregnant. This article also states, ‘if teens are having the same

amount of sex but getting pregnant less often, it’s because of the use of contraception.” (Rovner

2016). This shows that contraception can prevent pregnancies, not all the time, but they are less

likely to get pregnant than someone not using any contraceptive. Teens can easily get pregnant if

they are not using contraceptives. If teenagers are given free contraceptives, it will also lower

the abortion rates.

This graph shows how much teen pregnancy has declined since the 1990s. The effective use of

contraception or abstinence has caused the rates to steadily decrease.

Second, teeenagers should have free, easy access to contraceptives because it will lower

abortion rates. “According to Welton, in teenage abortion facts, 35% of pregnant teenagers have

an abortion.” (Welton 2017). This reveals that teens have unprotected sex and unwanted

pregnancies and tend to get rid of a child. In this article it also stated, “ More than half of

abortions are obtained by women under 25 years of age.” (Welton 2017). This shows that plenty

of young adults have abortions either because of unprotected sex or rape and they often don’t

want to live with the constant reminder so therefore, they should be given birth control ahead of

time to prevent any pregnancies and getting rid of a baby. Free birth control also leads to the case

of less abortions.

Giving teens free access to birth control leads to less abortions. “According to AP, in Free

birth control leads to way fewer abortions, free birth control led to dramatically lower rates of
abortion.” (Ap 2012). Studies have shown that as pregnancy rates went down so did abortions

and it was because teens were given free contraception. “This article also states that when price

wasn’t an issue, women flocked to the most effective contraceptive.” (Ap 2012). This proves that

because of the prices of the contraceptives, some people weren’t able to get a hold of any

contraceptives. Another reason why abortion rates are low is because ,teens were also given

their pick of birth control.

Giving teens free, easy access to contraceptives leads to less abortions. “According to

time.com, when girls are counseled about the most effective contraceptives and given their pick

of birth control at no cost, they get 76% fewer abortions.” (time.com). This shows that girls were

given a birth control of their liking and got 76% fewer abortions than those not using any form of

contraception. “This article also states that three in 10 teenage girls in the United States become

pregnant each year.” (Time.com 1). Although, the rate is not as high, teens still get pregnant each

year and a few of them get rid of the child. Giving teens free contraceptives will also decrease

diseases going around.

Finally, it will be a decrease in diseases if teens were given free contraceptives. “According to

Hirsch, in about sexually transmitted diseases, latex condoms are the only form of birth control

that can reduce your risks of getting an STD.” (Hirsch 2014). This shows that, latex condoms are

a form of contraceptive that protects you from an STD. “This article also states that, the younger

a person starts having sex, the greater his or her chance of becoming infected with an STD.”

(Hirsch 2014). This proves that plenty of young people have unprotected sex and have a higher

risk of getting an STD. Younger people aged 15-24 account for half of the 20 million new STDs.

It will be a decrease in diseases if teens were given free contraceptives. “Cdc estimates that

youth ages 15-24 make-up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for
half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the U.S. every year.”

(cdc.gov 2017). This shows that plenty of teens, young adults have sex and get an infection.

“This article also states that STDs take a particularly heavy toll on young people.” (cdc.gov

2017). This proves that young people have a high rate of STDs since they are basically still

growing up and don’t know the half about the consequences of having sex. Another reason why

teens should be given free contraceptives is because a few teenage girls have had a serious STD.

It will be a decrease in diseases if teens were given free contraceptives. “According to

HHS.gov, in Adolescent development and STDs, two in five sexually active teen girls have had

an STD that can cause infertility and even death.” (HHS.gov 1). This study shows that a few girls

can get a serious STD that could possibly ruin them if they are not careful. “This article also

states, “if teens are having sex, they should be using a condom correctly and with every sexual

act.” (HHS.gov). Anybody can get an STD if they are not protecting themselves.

While some people may argue that “teens should have free, easy access to contraceptives”,

teaching abstinence can often be quite better than giving contraceptives. “According to WebMD,

condoms can’t stop AIDS all the time and won’t prevent pregnancy all the time.” (WebMD 1).

This shows that even though most teenagers often run to contraceptives, it is not always safe and

effective. This article also stated “the supporters of abstinence argue that it is the only infallible

way to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancies.” (WebMD 1). Abstinence should be taught

through schools because it is very effective and it’s really the only way to prevent anything and

keep yourself safe.

If teenagers are given free contraceptives, it would basically be a great thing because it could

prevent a lot of things and protect them more in the long run. Teens would basically have low

pregnancy, abortion, and disease rates. If a teenager can get a hold of free contraceptives, they
would be able to keep them child-free and protected and i’m sure no one wants their child to get

pregnant at an early age or have their grandchild come out with complications. This topic is

important because we have a great deal of problems going on in the world today as it is and teen

pregnancy is one of them. If we were able to get the teens what they need, it would be less

problems going on in the world and keep our children safe and protected.
 Works Cited

“About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Edited by Larissa Hirsch, KidsHealth, The

Nemours Foundation, Jan 2014.

Ap. “Study;Free birth control leads to way fewer abortions.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 5

October, 2012.

Health, office of Adolescent. “Adolescent Development and STDs. “HHS.gov, US Department

of Health and Human Services, 12 September, 2016.

“Reproductive Health: Teen Pregnancy. “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 May, 2017.

Rovner, Julie. “Drop in Teen Pregnancies is Due To More Contraceptives, Not less sex.” Npr,

NPR. 31 August, 2016.

“Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 22 September, 2017.

Teenage Girls Given Free Contraceptives Have 76% Fewer Abortions.” Time, Time.

“Teen Pregnancy rates Decrease Because of more Contraceptives (not Less Sex).” Our Bodies

Ourselves, 6 September, 2016.

“Abstinence vs. Sex Ed.” WebMD, WebMD, November 09, 2017.

Welton, Rose. “Teen Abortion Facts.” LIVESTRONG.com, Leaf Group. 14 August, 2017.

“11 Facts About Teens and STDs.” DoSomething.org/ Volunteer For Social Change, November

13, 2017.