Teen pregnancy- good or bad idea?

(May 6, 2010)

Pregnancy in teenagers can be caused for many reasons. It almost always involves sexual activity, which could be planned, unplanned, voluntary or involuntary. However, in most cases, pregnancy among teenage girls is unplanned. Many teenagers who indulge in sexual activities adopt various methods of birth control like condoms, birth control pills or patches, intrauterine devices, diaphragms, cervical caps and spermicidal measures. However, studies have revealed that due to lack of proper guidance, girls in their teens are quite likely to use these birth control methods incorrectly. This could be why the rate of unplanned pregnancies amongst teenage girls is very high. Therefore the most effective way in which teenagers can avoid pregnancy, is by abstaining.

Coping with an unplanned pregnancy can never be easy, especially in the case of teenagers. Apart from worrying about and deciding on whether they should keep the baby, make plans for adoption or raise the baby on their own, teenage girls have other several concerns. The need to consider the changes that their bodies will go through physically, as well as changes that may affect their lifestyles, families, education and career plans, etc. As soon as a girl gets pregnant, her body starts preparing for the process of carrying a baby and giving birth to it. This effects the girls entire lifestyle, eating and sleeping habits along with her ability to participate in various activities. Therefore, with so much going on, it is only natural for girls to go through stages of fear, confusion, frustration, resentment as well as excitement. The thought of going through the pregnancy is a lot more daunting for girls who may have to do this alone, without the support of their partners or their families.

Regardless of other factors, there is one other important point to be considered, which is the financial aspect of giving birth to and raising a baby. Unless the young parents to be have an strong support system, they may have to put their education and career on hold for a while, in order to look after the baby. This means that the parents’ prospects of getting good jobs that pay well, become quite slim, without a degree or a diploma. As everyone knows, bringing up a baby costs a lot of money.

Therefore, if a teenage couple is faced with the prospect of an unplanned pregnancy, they should weigh all their options carefully and try and get some advice from the adult members in their families, before taking any decisions

Submitted by P T on May 6, 2010 at 04:41