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Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Yep. Up until last week, I didn't know we had one of those either. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 3 in 10 teen girls in the U.S. will get pregnant at least once before turning 20. Here are some other facts about pregnancy, pregnancy prevention, and...Ryan Gosling.
+ 8 out of 10 teen fathers don't marry the mother of their child.
"If you impregnate it, then you shoulda/coulda/but didn't put a ring on it!" 'Scuse me while I remix a Beyonce classic. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, only 20% of teen moms get a ring put on it. Seriously, ladies. Hold out for Ryan Gosling. He breaks up street fights, saves women from oncoming traffic, and -- when you're ready, many years from now-- will make an awesome babydaddy.
+ Ryan Gosling makes American youth really horny. Both Germany and France have teen pregnancy rates four times lower than the U.S.
Although France has the city of love (Paris), and Germany's "sex for sale" laws are quite lax, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy says that the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is four times higher than it is in either sexy European country! Must be because we have Ryan Gosling.
+ Nearly one-fourth of teenage mothers will have a second child within two years.
According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, one in four teen moms will have a second child within 24 months of having their first. This statistic reminds me of Pringles ads in the '90s. "Once you pop, you can't stop!" Sorry, couldn't help myself.
+ Less than one half of teens in high school have had sex.
If a part of you (or someone you know) wants to have sex because "everybody else is," you may be surprised to learn that they're not! According to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, fewer than half of teens in high school have had sex. Nobody's racing here! Sex is an enormous physical (and emotional, if--like me--you were born with your hoo-ha wired to your heart) commitment; one we shouldn't take on until we are totally ready for it.
+ Less than half of teen moms under 18 finish high school, and only 2% of teen moms earn a college degree by 30.
In high school, I could hardly dress myself and effectively separate the good Skittles from the bad ones, much less feed, dress and raise a child. After reading this statistic, I gained a newfound respect for teens who are raising children and finishing school. However, this should never become the norm. Every day should be the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Let us celebrate this odd holiday with sex ed., birth control, and by convincing every teenage girl that she should hold out for Ryan Gosling. Heck, I still am.
+ When used properly, the pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Okay, so maybe holding out for Ryan Gosling is not the answer. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, while condoms are 98% effective. This is assuming you use them correctly, every single time. And remember, condoms can help protect against STDs, but the only foolproof way to prevent pregnancy and the spread of STDs is abstinence and...um...things that require you delete your browser history when you're finished.
+ MTV's hit show "16 & Pregnant" has been credited for a decline in teen pregnancy rates.
Even I was a "16 & Pregnant" skeptic until learning that, in a report by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned pregnancy, 82% of teenagers credited the show with helping them understand the challenges of young and unexpected parenthood. Do you think "16 and Pregnant" is a good or a bad influence on youth? Share your opinions in the comments section below!
