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Abstinence Some teens choose not to have sex at all; this is called abstinence . Whether for personal, health, or religious reasons, abstinence is 100 percent effective when it’s followed strictly. In the 15-to 17-year-old age group, 69 percent of boys and 72 percent of girls have not had sexual intercourse 4 . Instead, some choose to engage in other sexual activities, like oral sex, while avoiding intercourse. Choosing to abstain from sexual intercourse or any other sexual activity is a personal choice. However, it should be respected and supported by a teen’s boyfriend, girlfriend, or group of friends. Plan B Plan B is an emergency contraceptive used to reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception method used during sex did not work. Commonly known as the “morning-after pill,” Plan B is a safe method of birth control for teenage girls and women. It is a tablet that is swallowed and is most effective when taken within three to five days (120 hours) of having unprotected sex. In this time frame, Plan B can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent. 5 While Plan B is an effective method of preventing pregnancy, it is not designed to be used as a primary type of birth control or every time a person has intercourse. Instead, using the recommended methods of birth control listed above, including condoms, IUDs, or daily birth control pills, is the most effective way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. How Does Plan B Work? Plan B and other morning-after pills contain the hormone levonorgestrel, 6 which “prevents the release of an egg from

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You Are Not Alone: Teen Pregnancy