Background Information

Why do some teenagers get pregnant the first time they have unprotected sex?

As soon as a girl begins to release eggs from her ovaries during puberty, she can get pregnant. As soon as boys begin to produce mature sperm, they can make a girl pregnant. Both sexes are at their most fertile in their mid- to late teens. Sexual emotions are very powerful, and if young people do not take precautions at every sexual encounter, there is a high risk of the girls becoming pregnant.

Both men and women become less fertile as they get older. Fertility can also be affected by the stresses and strains of everyday life. Women have to have a child within a certain time scale, as egg production stops after the menopause, whereas men can theoretically father children from puberty onwards, throughout their lives.

Why do teenage pregnancies cause so much concern?

Health
Teenage pregnancies cause concern for a wide range of reasons. While girls under 16 can be very fertile, they are often not physically mature enough to carry a baby. This can result in health risks for the mother and the baby.

Education, jobs and careers
Teenage mothers can lose out on school and higher education. This can make it difficult to find work later, and may result in low earnings. They then tend to be more dependent on benefits and help from others. This can take away their independence, and if they are not doing what everyone else their age is doing, they can feel isolated.

Social and moral reasons
Different groups in society, including religious groups, view sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancy in different ways. In some cases, there is a stigma attached to teenage pregnancy, particularly if the mother is not married.

Commitment and skills
Having a baby involves a huge commitment and changes the lives of all concerned. Babies can be rewarding, but they are also demanding and need a lot of looking after. People need the skills to be able to do this. Babies become toddlers, and they need people's time and attention to keep them safe and help them learn and develop. Throughout childhood and the teenage years they need help and support. Pregnancy is just the beginning.

Legal reasons
For those under the age of 16, there are legal issues relating to sex. See the 4Learning programme Off Limits: The A-Z of Love and Sex: Sex and the law.

Why do some people who use contraception still get pregnant?

There is a whole range of potential reasons for this. Here are some examples. Use the web links at the end of this section to find more information.

Condoms
Using a condom needs care and skill. The condom needs to be put on properly before there is any contact between the penis and a woman's genital area. The penis needs to be removed carefully from the vagina soon after ejaculation so that the condom does not come off. Then the condom needs to be wrapped in a tissue and put in a bin. The condom must be used within its sell-by date, and care must be taken not to puncture or tear it with nails, jewellery or teeth. If it splits during intercourse there is a high risk of pregnancy, and you must seek advice as quickly as possible.

Contraceptive pills
There is a range of these on the market, and doctors prescribe the most suitable for each individual. The main reasons for this type of contraception failing are:

• people forget to take a pill
• they do not take it at the correct time each day
• they are sick, for whatever reason, after taking it, which means that the hormones contained in the pill are not released into the body system

What other reasons are there for unplanned pregnancies?

Other reasons for pregnancy include:

• people having sex with each other on the spur of the moment, without intending to, or without being prepared
• alcohol and drugs misuse, which can affect people's judgement and put them at risk
• rape

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Remember, the pill does not protect from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV. Only barrier methods, such as the condom (if used properly), can prevent both pregnancy and these infections.