Trojan Condoms

The average age of first sexual intercourse in the U.S. is about 17.5 years old, with young men typically having their first sexual experience at a younger age than young women do. Although the pregnancy rate among adolescents has declined steadily since the early 1990s, it remains a major public health problem and teen pregnancy and birth rates are among the highest in ‘developed countries’. The pregnancy rates among 15 to 19 year old American girls dropped by about 30% between 1990 and 2002. Nevertheless, approximately one million American teenagers continue to get pregnant every year (three quarters of these pregnancies are unintended). The teen abortion and birth rates have also declined significantly since the early 1990s (26% decline for birth rates).

The drop in pregnancy and abortion rates can be attributed to declines in sexual activity, and an increased use of condoms and hormonal contraceptives. The rate of STD infection among adolescents remains shockingly high, however. Between three and four million adolescents in the U.S. contract a sexually transmitted disease each year, and an estimated one-half of all newly contracted HIV infections occur among young people under 25, most through sexual practices. About 40% of HIV/AIDS cases contracted by adolescents in 2002 were contracted through heterosexual contact and 5% through drug injection.

Although statistics vary according to source and type of study, the trend is clear. Fewer young girls are getting pregnant, so there are less teenage abortions and teenage births. Still, the rates for unwanted teenage pregnancies, teenage abortions and teenage births remain among the highest in the West. Of even greater concern is the fact that the percentage of sexually active young people who are contracting STDs every year continues to be unacceptably high.

There has been an increase in condom use among young people. According to one study, nearly all 15 to 19 year olds who report having had sex also reported having used at least one method of birth control. The most common methods used were condoms (94%) and birth control pills (61%). Among 9^th to 12^th grade students, condom use increased from 53% in 1993 to 63% in 2003. Although both the increase in contraception use and the decline in sexual activity explain the drop in teenage pregnancies and abortions, recent studies indicate that only about 14% of this decline is due to teens’ increased abstinence from sex.

Factors Affecting Choice of Birth Control Methods

The three most common factors affecting a teenager’s choice of contraceptive method are:

• Effectiveness in protection against HIV/AIDS and other STDs (98%)
• Effectiveness in prevention of pregnancy (94%)
• The side effects it may have (93%)

Condom Use

Recent studies (2005) report that 70% of women and 69% of men aged 15 – 19 reported using condoms at first sex, and 63% reported using a condom during most recent sex - a significant increase from the 46% reported in 1993. Some factors associated with condom use among young people in the U.S. are:

• Positive beliefs about condoms (believing that they don’t reduce sexual pleasure)
• Believing in the effectiveness of condoms
• Perceiving that their peers approve of condom use
• Feeling confident that they know how to use a condom correctly, and how to broach the subject with their partner
• Not using drugs or alcohol during sexual activity
• The type of relationship (teenagers use condoms more often in casual relationships than in long-term ones)

Condoms are sold openly in the U.S., and there is no age restriction on their purchase. Admittedly, it can be daunting for young people to walk into a local drugstore or supermarket to buy a package of condoms – and in some cases they may be refused service by clerks. While some teenagers ask their parents to procure condoms for them, for other young people this option can be even more intimidating. The easiest, least ‘embarrassing’ option for a young person is to purchase condoms online. One of the advantages of doing so is that he (or she) can browse through a website and choose a condom, without feeling self-conscious or pressured. Condoms are often cheaper online too. In some parts of the country condoms may be obtained free of charge at clinics or health centers.

Most American teenagers may the necessary knowledge about contraception and condom use. Nevertheless, the high instance of STDs and the high (though declining) teenage pregnancy and abortion rates among young people are due to an obvious gap between the sexual knowledge teenagers have, and their actual sexual practices. Some of the reasons why teenagers don’t use condoms are:

• Boys believe condoms can reduce sexual pleasure
• Girls sometimes believe that having sex without condoms will endear them to their partners, prove that they trust them
• Some young people think not using condoms is a sign that the relationship is a ‘more serious’, adult one
• Not planning ahead
• Some young people will decide that their partner ‘looks clean’
• For many girls with self-esteem problems, it’s a way to get the love they don’t have
• Young girls have reported that if their boy-friend should propose condom use they would feel ‘insulted’ - and boys are afraid their girlfriends will be insulted

Teenagers who are having unprotected sex are ignoring what they should be doing. Parents and primary care-takers must educate their children on the meanings of relationships, love and sexual health.