Alternatives Pregnancy Center > issues

Teen pregnancy is closely linked to a host of other critical social issues – poverty and income, overall child well-being, out-of-wedlock births, responsible fatherhood, health issues, education, child welfare, and other risky behavior. There are also substantial public costs associated with adolescent childbearing. Consequently, teen pregnancy should be viewed not only as a reproductive health issue, but also as how we can work to improve all of these measures.

Unplanned pregnancies among teens are frequently resolved by abortion. One-third of our clients are under the age of 19. Teens and their families are vulnerable to social pressure that leads them into hasty, devastating decisions.

A planned or unplanned pregnancy can be a scary event. At the Pregnancy Resource Center, we want to support the client in every situation. We have counselors and resources available for everyone involved. We also have medical professionals available to provide support including limited ultrasounds to those clients that qualify. We want the clients to have the time and resources available to sort out their feelings and think through their options

You may be wondering about the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy. A teenage girl may become pregnant as a result of many different situations. Some teenage girls become pregnant while involved in long-term dating relationships. Other girls become pregnant after hooking up. And, some girls may become pregnant as a result of a rape situation.

All teenage pregnancies are the result of sexual activity, whether voluntary or involuntary. No matter what measures are taken for birth control, the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy is abstinence from all sexual activity. Only abstinence is guaranteed not to cause teen pregnancy.

Common methods of birth control include:

the birth control pill or patch
condoms
intrauterine devices (IUD)
the Depo-Provera injection
diaphragms
spermicides
cervical caps

Each of these birth control methods can fail even when used correctly. However, studies show that teens are more likely to use birth control methods improperly, leading to a higher likelihood that they may fail and cause a teen pregnancy to occur.

Effects of Pregnancy on Teens

Facing an unplanned teen pregnancy can be hard. The effects of teenage pregnancy are not limited to having to decide whether or not to keep the baby, how to cope with motherhood or whether to make an adoption plan. One of the most immediate effects of teen pregnancy is how the growing baby changes a teenager's body as well as their lifestyle.

Because a teen's body immediately begins the process of carrying a child and preparing for childbirth, a teenager needs to consider the effect that her physical activities may have on her developing baby. A variety of activities common to teens may have a negative effect on a developing baby:

Drinking alcoholic beverages
Smoking cigarettes or marijuana
Lack of sleep
Unhealthy eating patterns

Other physical changes that take place as her uterus expands may impact things as simple as clothing choices or her ability to safely participate in sports. This means that an average teenage girl will need to speak with her doctor about what activities need to be limited during her pregnancy as well as what changes she might need to make to her diet.

Emotional Effects of Teen Pregnancy

Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing. Some of the emotions that you may encounter when facing an unplanned pregnancy are:

Initial excitement
Confusion
Fear
Resentment
Frustration

It's a natural response for you to think about and want to protect the baby that is growing inside you. It is also natural for you to be scared and confused about how to deal with this unplanned pregnancy.