Most people say teens should remain abstinent but should have access to contraception. Ninety-four percent of adults in the United States-and 91 percent of teenagers-think it important that school-aged children and teenagers be given a strong message from society that they should abstain from sex until they are out of high school. Seventy-eight percent of adults also think that sexually active teenagers should have access to contraception.17

National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. (2003). With one voice: America's adults and teens sound off about teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: Author.


Contraceptive use among sexually active teens has increased but remains inconsistent. Three-quarters of teens use some method of contraception (usually a condom) the first time they have sex.18 A sexually active teen who does not use contraception has a 90 percent chance of pregnancy within one year.19

Alan Guttmacher Institute. (1994). Sex and America's Teenagers. New York and Washington, DC: Author.


Teaching teens about contraception does not make them have sex. Research is clear on this point: sex education does not increase sexual activity. In fact, in some cases, teaching teens about contraception seems to delay their sexual activity.5 And teaching young people the facts about contraception is not necessarily inconsistent with a strong abstinence message.

Hutchins, J. (2000). The Next Best Thing: Helping Sexually Active Teens Avoid Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.


Access to contraception is necessary but not sufficient. Restricting sexually active teens from having access to contraception would be a mistake, but simply making contraceptive methods available to teens is not enough to motivate them to protect themselves. Research suggests that making contraceptives available to teens in schools does not increase their sexual activity, but it also doesn't seem to markedly increase sexually active teens' use of contraception either.6

Hutchins, J. (2000). The Next Best Thing: Helping Sexually Active Teens Avoid Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.


Sorry, it would appear that you are the one who doesn't have his facts straight in this case.