9781422270165

an older sibling, cousin, family friend, or neighbor, this trusted person can provide their personal experience, advice, and knowledge. Myths About Teen Pregnancy Myth 1: Only irresponsible teens get pregnant This is untrue, and it can be damaging to teenage girls and women to think this way. Unwanted pregnancies are accidents that can happen to teens even when they use protection. Most forms of birth control have high efficacy rates, but there is still some small room for error. Myth 2: A woman can’t get pregnant while on her period While it is much less likely that a woman could get pregnant during her period, it does happen. If a woman has had sex during her period, the sperm can stay inside the reproductive system for up to five days and fertilize the egg then. Myth 3: Getting pregnant means you can’t finish school It’s important for teenage girls to understand that getting pregnant doesn’t mean their lives are over or that they cannot pursue their dreams because they can’t finish school. Getting pregnant may not be what they planned, but pregnant teens have many options to continue their education and pursue their

goals post-pregnancy. Contraception

Thanks to many different forms of contraception, teen pregnancy is entirely preventable. In the last decade, new contraception and birth control methods have become easier to access for sexually active teenagers that adequately meet their lifestyles and physical needs.

9

Chapter 1: Pregnancy Prevention