Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
 

Teens, Parents and Birth Control:
Should Government Interfere?

  • Sixty percent of teenagers who have used a clinic for sexual health services say their parents know.

  • Among those whose parents are unaware, 70% would not use the clinic for prescription contraception if the law required that their parents be notified.

  • One quarter of teenagers whose parents are unaware would continue to have sex but would either rely on withdrawal or not use any contraceptives.

  • Just 1% say that their only reaction would be to stop having sex.

NEWS RELEASES

Back to School: Policymakers Legislate Against Teen Sex When They Should Be Promoting Education, Services and Support

Most Teens Tell Parents About Birth Control Use, but One in Five Would Have Sex Without Contraceptives if Notice Were Mandatory

New Studies Signal Dangers of Limiting Teen Access to Birth Control Information and Services

EXPERT STATEMENT

"It’s good news that most teens are talking to their parents about sexual health and birth control, but that doesn't make it good public policy to force them to do it," says Rachel Jones, senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute. "Mandating parental involvement for contraception could backfire, driving young people to have unprotected sex and putting their health and lives at increased risk."

To set up an interview, contact Rebecca Wind at 212-248-1953 or rwind@guttmacher.org.