Why are birth control and condoms so important to South Carolina’s teens? 

Despite recent increases in teen pregnancy rates, data shows that between 1990 and 2004, U.S. pregnancy rates declined almost 40 percent among 15- to 19-year-old women. One study attributed 86 percent of the long-term decline in teen pregnancies to increased contraceptive use and 14 percent to increased abstinence.

While teens have steadily increased their use of condoms and contraception over the past 20 years, a significant number still do not use contraceptive methods effectively or consistently. Between 85 and 95 percent of sexually active adolescent women who use no method become pregnant within one year of initiating intercourse.  Becoming a parent as a teen can negatively impact young people's ability to achieve educational and personal goals and children born to teen parents often face significant health, economic and educational consequences.

Teens in South Carolina need information about birth control, including condoms and emergency contraception, well before they become sexually active. They need to understand how various methods of birth control work, the benefits and challenges of using particular methods, and where to get them. They need support and encouragement from their peers, adults, and the media to increase their comfort levels with condoms and birth control. Importantly, they need full access to confidential, safe, and convenient family planning services. Parents, teachers, health care providers, pharmacy staff, and peer educators can play a critical role in helping teens learn about, obtain, and use contraception effectively.