A Super Simple Way To Cut Teen Pregnancy and Abortion Rates by 75%

[applegrove]

A Super Simple Way To Cut Teen Pregnancy and Abortion Rates by 75%

by Tara Culp-Ressler at Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/10/02/3574948/iud-study-teen-pregnancy-drop/

"SNIP............................



Providing teenage girls with affordable access to long-lasting contraception, like intrauterine devices (IUDs), can cut their rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion by more than 75 percent, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday. The data suggests that teens can effectively prevent pregnancy when they’re educated about their full range of sexual health options.





The results come from a large research project, called the Contraceptive CHOICE study, being conducted in St. Louis. Researchers there are studying the impact of providing a group of low-income women with the birth control method of their choice free of charge, which is the same policy at the heart of the health law’s contraception mandate.

The latest data was derived from tracking a group of 1,404 teen girls enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE project, the vast majority of whom were already sexually active and at particular risk for unintended pregnancy. After those girls received counseling about their different birth control options, and were given a chance to select any method free of charge, 72 percent of the group opted for an IUD or an implant, which are more effective methods because they involve less user error. That’s dramatically higher than the national rate of teen IUD use, which currently hovers around five percent.

And after that, researchers observed a significant decline in the pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates among those teens. While sexually experienced U.S. teens have an annual pregnancy rate of 158.5 per 1000, for instance, that rate was just 34 per 1000 among the teen participants in the CHOICE project.



.............................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. Because if you did simple things then the rich would not get their tax cuts.

They like it when problems fester. Look at the way the Supreme court declared racism over. They want the country fucked up. Psychopathic way to keep their base dependant on them and only them.

[daleanime]

2. What? Help solve a problem.....

rather then use it for political gain?









just in case.

[unrepentant progress]

3. I think this is maybe a solution in search of a problem

Last edited Mon Oct 6, 2014, 11:40 AM - Edit history (1)

Teen pregnancy has been plummeting for decades. Guttmacher doesn't distinguish between "sexually experienced" teens and all teens, but even looking at sexually experienced teens we're still talking about 16% of teen women who have sex becoming pregnant. That's about the same as the mean failure rate for female condoms, and over 2 percentage points less than the failure rate for male condoms (according to the CDC). You'd have to practically implant an IUD in every single sexually active girl to budge those numbers. Providing free condoms to both guys and gals, as well as making sure abortions are freely available to pregnant teens who choose to go that route would be much more cost effective. Sadly, either of those things happening in these modern times is about as likely as IUDs being made available to teen women.

[progree]

15. Huh? Looks like a big problem to me

Reading the graph, the pregnancy rate is 56 per 1000 teen women, or 5.6%. And that's per year. Like you say, the Guttmacher statistics are for all teen women, not just the sexually active ones. So it's somewhat higher rate for the sexually active ones.

This from the Population Connection Reporter 10/2011 -

49% of US pregnancies a year are unintended. Unintended pregnancies cost American TAXPAYERS $11 billion a year for women and their infants up to age one (and of course still more after age one).

Only 0.8% of women using the copper IUD become pregnant within one year, and only 0.2% for the hormonal IUD. Hormonal implants (Implanon) have a failure rate of only 0.05% (1/2,000).

In contrast, the failure rate of birth control pills is 9% ((1 in 11 chance per year, or over 5 years a 38% chance (1 - .91^5) )), primarily through incorrect or inconsistent use.

As for access - many women do find the highly reliable forms of birth control to be prohibitively expensive -- according to The Nation 12/19/12, the IUD is $800 to $1000 up front (though it lasts many years). Thus they may opt for less reliabile methods such as birth control pills, which though they are inexpensive in the short run, still at $30 - $50 a month, it is still quite a hit on a low income person's budget.

That's why the Obama administration has pushed so hard to include free contraceptive coverage in the Affordable Care Act.

[progree]

17. The OP - that's quite a budge - from 158 per 1000 to 34 per 1000 (a 78% drop)

And that's for only 72% opting for the IUD or Implant. Think what it would be if 100% had opted for the IUD or Implant.

And after that, researchers observed a significant decline in the pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates among those teens. While sexually experienced U.S. teens have an annual pregnancy rate of 158.5 per 1000, for instance, that rate was just 34 per 1000 among the teen participants in the CHOICE project.

[unrepentant progress]

43. All this study really tells us is that IUDs are much more effective than barrier methods

Teen pregnancies are already low, and you would need a huge cash outlay per reduced pregnancy. The money would likely be better spent simply providing free condoms to all, and reducing poverty. It doesn't make financial sense.

The other factor not considered is that 2/3 of teen pregnancies are in 18-19 year olds, and the number one reason why teens don't use contraceptives is because it contradicts their religious or moral beliefs (38%, Guttmacher). I just don't see how free IUDs are going to help those young women who likely would not use them anyway.

[progree]

45. Good, I'm glad they are. So we can reduce teen pregnancy to European levels or below

[font color=blue]>>Teen pregnancies are already low<<[/font]
in your opinion, speak for yourself. U.S. pregnancy rates are much higher than the rest of the developed world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_teenage_pregnancy

[font color=blue]>>and you would need a huge cash outlay per reduced pregnancy.<<[/font]
I don't think so, would be very interested in seeing such an analysis.

[font color=blue]>>The money would likely be better spent simply providing free condoms to all<<[/font],
With their 18%/year failure rate, uhh, I don't think so.

[font color=blue]>>and reducing poverty<<[/font]
Sounds wonderful. World peace would be great too, as well as a $30 minimum wage and a 0% real unemployment rate.

[font color=blue]>>The other factor not considered is that 2/3 of teen pregnancies are in 18-19 year olds, and the number one reason why teens don't use contraceptives is because it contradicts their religious or moral beliefs (38%, Guttmacher). I just don't see how free IUDs are going to help those young women who likely would not use them anyway.<<[/font]

But sex doesn't contradict there religious or moral beliefs? Anyway, I'm content to work on reducing unintended pregnancies in the other 62%.

[NickB79]

59. How does this compare to other developed countries?

Western Europe, for example?

[marym625]

4. Damn I wish guys had to take responsibility for bc.

I want it to all be on them.
Nice post. Just would be nicer if guys were mentioned once.

[Lenomsky]

5. I did ...

Always got of the train before arriving at the station ... no mishaps (that I know of) but a realise far from ideal *blushes*

[marym625]

8. risky.

Hardly 100% but better than nothing!

[AtheistCrusader]

9. Biologically speaking, that's not safe at all.

Pre-ejaculate can (but does not always) contain live sperm.

[Kath1]

6. Damn right!

Guys hardly ever seem to take responsibility for birth control. That would be a very refreshing change.

"I want it to all be on them." - Same here!

[marym625]

7. Amen sister!

[Kath1]

10. Amen rightbackatcha, Sister!

Why should BC be all on the woman? Because she's the one who gets pregnant? I agree with you. Sick of the status quo when it comes to birth control.

[marym625]

11. There's not even a mention

Of guys having any responsibility. Like women get pregnant all alone.
Too bad we can't. Then we would actually have control of everything. Kidding! Well, sort of.

[Kath1]

12. Yes. I noticed that and it pissed me off.

"Well, sort of." - LOL! I get it!

[marym625]

14. LOL! got it!

Wish the OP poster would comment on the lack of males being mentioned.

Oh well.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

16. Condoms are still the most commonly used form of birth control amongst teens....

....and those in their early 20's.

[progree]

19. Condoms: not a very reliable method, something like 1 in 6 chance of a pregnancy per year

The only other male birth control is vasectomy, which is seldom reversible. Or abstinence of course.

I'd gladly take a pill or have an implant (if I was sexually active, sigh). Back in the good ol' days I worried about it a lot because I didn't want a kid and I couldn't get an abortion (because I'm a male) and couldn't make her get one, but I'd be fully responsible financially until the child is 18 (at least).

Fortunately I lucked out and none of the bad stuff ever happened.

[font color = red]Changed title to say:[/font] "not a very reliable method at all" to "not a very reliable method".

[marym625]

21. Well the upcoming generation will have that choice

Even back when I was a teen they were talking about creating a bcp for men. Surveys at the time showed men had no interest and wouldn't take it.

Now, they've created one that should hit the markets in a couple years.

I was a really uniformed teen. The first few years I was sexually active we didn't use any bc.

I was raped at 14 and became pregnant. (Not that being uniformed had anything to do with that) Thankfully, I had a mother who was pro-choice and a doctor who was very sensitive and understanding.

I can't believe how lucky I was at 17. I had a boyfriend, 10 years older, told me he had a vasectomy. He lied. He eventually told the truth but what an ass.

Frankly, it's one of the benefits of being with a woman. Don't have to worry about getting pregnant. Can't wait for menopause when I won't have to worry at all.

Glad to hear there are some guys that would take on the responsibility. Good for you.

I hope this doesn't sound bad, but here's hoping you get laid soon!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/09/we-ll-have-male-birth-control-by-2017.html

[Kath1]

27. That had to be a terrible experience.

Glad you had an understanding mother and doctor.

And yes, guys who are and caring enough to be responsible for birth control deserve to get laid!

[marym625]

29. More power to you my friend!! :)

Oops. Thought it was progree I was replying to.

Power to you too anyway!

[progree]

34. In all honesty, I wasn't a saint. My concern about bc was motivated more by selfishness than

altruism.

But thanks, this is a first for me on DU!

Glad to hear there are some guys that would take on the responsibility. Good for you.

I hope this doesn't sound bad, but here's hoping you get laid soon!

[marym625]

41. What, no kiss? LOL Kidding!

[progree]

46. The hugging was for the afterglow after the kissing :) n/t

[snooper2]

28. I'm pretty sure you just pulled that figure RIGHT out of the air right LOL

[progree]

32. CDC says 18% -- that's more than 1/6, actually 1/5.6

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm

Male condom—... Latex condoms, the most common type, help prevent pregnancy, and HIV and other STDs, as do the newer synthetic condoms. “Natural” or “lambskin” condoms also help prevent pregnancy, but may not provide protection against STDs, including HIV. Typical use failure rate: 18%.

[snooper2]

39. Is the failure rate just for getting pregnant..nuts, learned something new today

In all the times..bunches, I only had one break.

I thought they were in the 95% bracket

[marym625]

33. Accurate number

He pulled it from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm

[progree]

36. LOL, we're in sync again! Just one minute apart with the exact same reference n/t

[marym625]

42. Well, great minds and all

I hope the OP poster doesn't mind us taking so much of the thread up.

Sorry, applegrove, if this isn't cool.

[progree]

47. Speaking of being in sync again -- the same 3 people

applegrove, marym625, and progree

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016103399#post32
and #35 and #37

[marym625]

48. Oh how cool

That was us!

See, we do rock! guys! you too applegrove!!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

52. I think saying "Not reliable at all" is an overstatement, and not a good message to put out there

Kids should have condoms available to them in schools and thru their doctor, and sex education classes should discuss the proper usage so their effectiveness is increased.

Nevermind that it also protects against STDs, which the pill and implants don't.

[progree]

63. 18% failure rate per year, OK, that's not totally unreliable, its just the most unreliable of all

of the birth control methods, other than perhaps aspirin between the knees and the rhythm method.

Condoms don't protect against STDs when they fail. And certain condoms don't even when they don't fail.

“Natural” or “lambskin” condoms also help prevent pregnancy, but may not provide protection against STDs, including HIV
http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm

By the way, in #19, I said,

"not a very reliable method at all, something like 1 in 6 chance of a pregnancy per year"

I didn't say "Not reliable at all"

However, I will get rid of the "at all" since it isn't good grammar and it makes it unclear what I'm saying. I will continue to say, "not very reliable"

[marym625]

22. That's a surprising figure

I didn't realize how easy it must be to use a condom incorrectly. Turns out condom is the most used for first time sex with teens (hopefully with other teens) but not with sexually experienced teens.

The number here that is shocking to me, is the number of women that use sterilization as bc. It's the women that use that method that is shocking. Almost makes me wonder if women on public assistance of some type are pushed into the surgery. Certainly shows that other forms are not affordable.

It seems that condom purchases among teens is pretty equal between male and female.

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_contr_use.html

Then there's always the loophole

The Loophole by Garfunkel and Oates:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

53. Condoms protect against STDs, too

The AIDS scare really put it in everyone's head that condoms as a birth control method and to fight STDs were a necessity. They are easy to acquire and you don't have to convince your parents to bring you to the clinic to get "the pill". Hell they sold them in vending machines in the laundry room at my dorm. (The cheap ones, blah)

I went to college in the 90's. Both boys and girls kept a package of condoms in the top drawer as I recall. Though some collected dust.

[marym625]

61. yeah, I lived through that aids pandemic

Things really changed after that. The sexual revolution was no longer the fun it had been. Can't believe how many of us were SO LUCKY.

My cousin died in 1987 at the age of 35 from AIDS.

Judging from your little laugh, yours didn't

[IronLionZion]

25. Are there options beyond condoms and vasectomy?

[marym625]

26. see post #21

There's a reason those are the only 2 choices for men at the moment. And it's not the inability to have another choice. It's the lack of interest in men, until recently, to take responsibility.

While pharmaceutical companies have created more and more hormonal options for women, they haven't been working on creating the same for men. For a reason. They won't sell.

I did say I wish. I am not stupid. I know what's out there and I know why.

So stick that in your YouTube -> (Truly said in jest.)

[hifiguy]

37. I suspect that once such an option is available for men

it will sell far better than anyone anticipates.

[marym625]

44. I hope you're right

I'm really sick of seeing so many articles and studies that ONLY include females in the numbers when it comes to birth control and teen pregnancy. I realize guys don't get pregnant (too bad) but that doesn't mean the kid isn't theirs was well. I wonder what the numbers would be in female teens getting pregnant v teen males impregnating. HMMMM

[IronLionZion]

64. I wish there were more options for men

I would gladly take something. I don't want to impregnate anyone any time soon, but maybe a few years from now. The main issue with vasectomy is that its permanent.

I'm certainly sympathetic to the fact that the women's options tend to interfere with natural hormone balances and have adverse health consequences, which is why I mostly use condoms including polyisoprene and female condoms for those ladies who are allergic to latex. I thought I lucked out when I fell hard for a woman who was infertile, but she turned out to be so psychotic and abusive that I'm sure God didn't want her to have children.

I bet if someone would create something, men would use it. There was no demand for lots of things before they were invented.

*sigh*

Would that it were.

[marym625]

66. They have

Coming out in 2017. So just keep screwing with infertile whack jobs till then. (KIDDING)

I posted the link somewhere around this thread.

I don't mean any disrespect on your god idea, but if god stopped unstable people from having children, there would be much fewer children. Wish it were so.

Good for you though! Not all men feel and act like you do.

[awoke_in_2003]

69. Since no form of birth control was 100%

my partners were on the pill and I wore condoms. My wife had to have her ovaries removed shortly before we married, so there was no risk there.

[marym625]

70. I am sorry she had to go through that

[awoke_in_2003]

71. Well, they caught a problem in time...

before it had a chance to get worse, so that is a good thing. I have three stepdaughters, two of which gave me 5 grandchildren. Now that my wife doesn't have to work, she can have the time with her grandchildren that she missed out having with her daughters (due to dead beat men not wanting to work).

[marym625]

72. That's so sweet

You are obviously a good man.

[awoke_in_2003]

73. here is the youngest

Taken a few months ago. She will be 1 in 2 weeks and knows how to make Pappy do as she wants

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/owencopeland2000/14833116276/

[marym625]

74. OMG!

She's adorable!

Too sweet!

Thank you for sharing!

[awoke_in_2003]

75. no problem

I want the whole world to bask in her adorable-ness

[Heather MC]

13. My niece had a baby at 16. When she left the hospital NO ONE DISCUSSED

Birth Control with her. She should have left that hospital with a bag full of BC.

She is now 17 and Pregnant again, this time she may have an abortion. I advised her not to leave that Health Clinic without that bag of BC. And make someone explain all the options available to her.

[progree]

18. I'm surprised - I thought the ACA makes contraception free -- any kind of contraception, even the

most expensive (and most effective like the IUD and Implants (see my post #15)).

With certain exceptions for religious employers, and bozos like Hobby Lobby, thanks to 5 Catholic males on the Supreme Court.

(Yeah yeah, I know it's not free to the taxpayer and insurer -- ultimately meaning all of us -- but actually its cheaper than an unwanted pregnancy / unwanted childbirth)

[Orsino]

50. A few years of ACA are not going to undo...

...decades/centuries/millennia of cultural and "scientific" misinformation and disinformation.

Contraception must go hand-in-hand with comprehensive sex education divorced from religious dogma, and be given a couple of generations to work. Then people won't be captive to ignorance.

[progree]

51. I think the vast majority of women by now understand, and want reliable birth control

at some times of their lives. Even Catholic women, from surveys I've seen are in favor of contraception at about the same very high rate as the rest of the population (even though, of course their religious leaders preach against it). I just don't believe that religious objections to contraception among women is all that prevalent.

But a $1,000 implant up-front cost for an IUD (0.2% failure rate) or implant (0.05% failure rate) has been economically out of reach for many, who, at best settle for birth control pills (9% failure rate) which cost $30 - $50 per month.

A 9% failure rate corresponds to an 85% chance of getting pregnant one or more times in a 20 year period, i.e. near certainty. 1-(.91)^20 = 0.85

I think the main ignorance problem is about how much more reliable implants and IUDs are compared to birth control pills, or to put it another way, how unreliable birth control pills are.

I'm much more optimistic that the reliable methods will rapidly grow in use now that they are free to most women.

The only concern about religious objections I have are from those in power -- the Supreme Court, Hobby Lobby etc, and other nutcase religious employers. How much damage they will do -- time will tell.

[font color = red]Edited to add[/font] -- I think the contraception without copay provision of the ACA only began this year, so we've had it only a few months, not a few years.

[Orsino]

54. Time has already told.

I think it's pretty clear how much harm quasireligious, ignorant prudery and greed have done.

Unwanted pregnancy could have gone the way of polio--but I suppose you would point out that those in power are letting polio make a comeback, too. You'd be quite correct.

[progree]

55. I'm sorry, but the unwanted pregnancy rate has little to do with religion

I've read the literature for years, and I've never heard that as being much of a factor. Its the cost and unreliability of affordable birth control. And raging hormones and teens being just plain dumb and careless.

As for "time has already been told" -- the contraception without copay provision of the ACA has only been effect a few months, since the beginning of this year.

[font color = red]Edited to add[/font] And I'm an atheist. And I know how wonderfully progressive some people think it is to blame religion for everything. But I don't think religion is the root or cause of all our problems

[Orsino]

58. American prudery in the guise of religion...

...has been perhaps the most important factor in keeping birth control expensive and sex education half-assed.

[progree]

60. Not all prudery is religious -- I know religious people that are anything but prudes,

and I know atheists who are concerned about gratuitous prosmiscuous sex where there is no concern at all for consequences.

[Orsino]

62. Right. I think what we're really talking about is male supremacy.

That drives a lot of religion, prudery and certainly a lot of the anti-contraceptive nonsense.

At issue, ultimately, is female control of pregnancy.

[Kath1]

20. That is being responsible.

Last edited Mon Oct 6, 2014, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

I took my daughter to Planned Parenthood at age 16 for BC and education. They are wonderful and she still thanks me.

[marym625]

23. GOOD FOR YOU!

Wish more parents did that.

[Kath1]

30. I'm surprised that more don't.

I made the appointment for her and went with her the first time. She had a quick exam, counseling on safe sex and got a prescription for her birth control pills. After she got the prescription, she could stop in any time to pick them up. She could also pick up condoms for free at any time they were open.

[marym625]

31. Good for you!

My brother had custody of his three kids. Two older kids are female. When I talked to him about getting them to a gyn, informing them, all that good stuff, he told me I was nuts. That his daughters would never do that. MEN!

Luckily, they had a couple aunts, a grandmother and a mother that were more realistic.

[Kath1]

35. Good!

Lucky for them there were some reasonable women in the family!

[hifiguy]

38. Cearly, you are a sensible, rational person.

And your daughter was lucky to have a mom like you. As in most other areas of life, knowledge and education are the keys. Ignorance, superstition and dogma are ever the enemies.

[Kath1]

40. Thank you!

"Ignorance, superstition and dogma are ever the enemies." Yes, they are!

[applegrove]

49. Great.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

56. My god, what state did she live in?

Can't help but think it was one of those "Keep 'im dumb" areas of our wonderful nation.

[Heather MC]

65. Virginia

We had a keep 'em dumb Governor, last I heard that guy is on his way to jaik

[madokie]

24. What we practiced back in my day didn't work

lotta screwing going on with a lot of young women toting babies around who could and probably should have been doing other things. hormones have a way of controlling what many of us do in the early semi and adult years. Some sex education back then would have help tremendously but to educate was to admit that the young'ns were screwing around and many papa's and mama's didn't want to admit that.

[eastonb]

57. yes

this is what hilary has been arguing for since day one. give them access to contraception and we wont be talking about pro choice and abortions

[Ampersand Unicode]

67. We have 7 billion people on this failing planet

I was hoping the post would say something more immediate and sweeping like putting sterilants in the water supply or giving people financial incentives to get "fixed." But noooooo, we still have to give people "freedom" to "be fruitful and multiply." I say we need to give them a mandate to subtract. I'm all for preventing teen pregnancies, but why just limit prevention to teenagers? The more we keep breeding, the more we keep fucking things up. Not just for the earth and its millions of dying species but even for our own. As of right now birth control (however restricted its access might be) is still a voluntary measure. We need to start shrinking our numbers substantially and permanently -- and if necessary, involuntarily -- right now.

[progree]

76. Dramatic dot video of population growth. A world map beginning in 1 A.D. with 1 dot = 1 million

The dramatic dot video of population growth. A world map beginning in 1 A.D. with 1 dot = 1 million people
http://www.populationconnection.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_main

It is about 6 1/2 minutes long but you can skip the first 2 minutes -- the actual dot stuff begins at 2:00 and ends at 5:42. At 5:00 have reached about 1600 A.D. while the population is still quite modest outside of India and China. (So if you are in a time bind, you can start at 5:00 and watch just the last 42 seconds)

"As the film neared present day and the dots started flying onto the screen, there were audible gasps, wide staring eyes, and mumblings of "no way" and "I knew we were growing but not THAT much."

[tabbycat31]

68. On paper that sounds good

But what is being left out of all these discussions is that some people CAN'T use hormonal birth control for reasons other than religion. BCPs sent my sister to the ER with a blood clot and she was informed to tell any pre menopausal females in her immediate family about it. Even if I WANTED to use the Pill, it could potentially kill me.

I'm not sure what the numbers are for how many people have this blood clotting problem.

Personally I'd never use an IUD even if I could. I got really bad infections from having pierced ears and wearing earrings. I saw how painful my ears were, no way I want metal anywhere near downstairs.