When condoms fail, free birth control can come in handy in preventing pregnancy–and abortion. | Source: Shutterstock

In news that will shock no one with a triple-digit IQ, a new study says that free birth control leads to way fewer abortions. Surprise!

The study tracked 9,000 women in the St. Louis area, a lot of whom were uninsured or poor (or, in many cases, both). The women were given a choice of pretty much whatever birth control method they wanted at no cost to them. Sweet deal, right?

It turns out that when price isn’t an issue, women and girls tend to spring for the most effective birth control options, which are usually hormonal implants. That leads to fewer unplanned pregnancies, which, in turn, leads to fewer abortions. The reason more women don’t go for hormonal implants to begin with? They’re pricey, and a lot of women and girls struggle with the upfront costs and copays to get them (even though years of birth control pills pretty much add to the same amount, pills don’t present a giant lump sum all at once). Additionally, a lot of young women don’t realize they’re an option, because docs don’t always mention them, either because they assume that implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) aren’t for young women (which was a common belief until recently), or because docs assume women would rather just snag the pill.

The free birth control had a huge effect on teen pregnancy rates. There were only about 6 births for every 1,000 women in the study, while the national rate in 2010 was about 34 to every 1,000. Not coincidentally, there were a lot lower abortion rates as a result: There were between 4 and 7 abortions for every 1,000 women in the free birth control study, as opposed to the national rate, which is around 20 to every 1,000.

The moral of the story? Give women access to free birth control and there won’t need to be so much of a pro-choice or pro-life argument. This is something everyone should be able to agree on: Pro-lifers will be preventing abortions by preventing unplanned pregnancies, and pro-choicers are preventing the very pregnancies they want to protect the right to terminate. Because the fact is, no one wants an abortion. It’s not something people do for fun, for sport, or for a hobby–it’s something someone does because they’re in a bad situation.

Those bad situations can be avoided by providing resources and funding to finance free birth control to those who need it the most. Now, some of you may argue that you should have to pay for someone else’s birth control, but hear us out: Doing so will save us all money in the long run, because birth control is a lot cheaper to fund than the necessary childcare, prenatal care, healthcare, and welfare programs to raise unplanned children (and telling people not to have sex doesn’t work). Often women and girls in lower income brackets don’t have the necessary education or funds to prevent pregnancy and nab contraception, and these are the women often most likely to seek out abortions. If we prevent pregnancies, we’ll prevent unwanted abortions, and maybe eventually phase out the need for a lot of them–because at the end of the day, every abortion is, on some level, unwanted.

Do you think free birth control should be available to everyone? Do you think free birth control will lower abortion rates on a national scale? Do you think free birth control would eventually phase out the need for abortion entirely? Tell us in the comments!

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Depending on the result of her pregnancy test, she may get expelled from Delhi Charter School in Louisiana. WTF?! | Source

What’s worse is that the school in question, Delhi Charter School, in Delhi, Louisiana, is a publicly funded school. That means your parents’ tax dollars (or yours, if you work!) are paying to support discrimination against pregnant teenagers, or even just any girl who stands up for the right to not be forced into a pregnancy test in order to save her chance at an education.

Take a gander at the actual inane policy from the student handbook:

“If an administrator or teacher suspects a student is pregnant, a parent conference will be held. The school reserves the right to require any female student to take a pregnancy test to confirm whether or not the suspected student is in fact pregnant. The school further reserves the right to refer the suspected student to a physician of its choice. If the test indicates that the student is pregnant, the student will not be permitted to attend classes on the campus of Delhi Charter School.

If a student is determined to be pregnant and wishes to continue to attend Delhi Charter School, the student will be required to pursue a course of home study that will be provided by the school  . . .  Any student who is suspected of being pregnant and who refuses to submit to a pregnancy test shall be treated as a pregnant student and will be offered home study opportunities. If home study opportunities are not acceptable, the student will be counseled to seek other educational opportunities.

Thankfully, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is all over this and ready to defend not only pregnant teenagers at the school, but also every girl’s right to refuse to take a pregnancy test. “The pregnancy policy violates the rights of every girl at Delhi Charter School,” the ACLU wrote furiously. “Every girl is at risk of being subject to intrusive medical testing, and possibly forced out of school, for reasons that have nothing to do with her education.” Can we get an amen?

The ACLU also points out that not only are the school’s actions and attitudes toward pregnant teenagers generally effed up, but they may also be unconstitutional–aka illegal. They noted that the pregnancy test policy “violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clauses of the U.S. constitution.” That basically means that the school is engaging in sex discrimination, and Title IX banned that. Further, the pregnancy test policy may also violate the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law (so men and women are treated equally!) as well as due process and the right to procreate.

The school’s pregnancy test policy may be an effort for the school to try to discourage teen pregnancy (which is already way down), but essentially slut shaming pregnant teenagers isn’t going to solve the problem. Educating girls and guys on safe sex and birth control is statistically proven to work a lot better than promoting abstinence exclusively. And what’s more, 70 percent of pregnant teenagers and teen moms don’t finish school as it is. If Delhi Charter School had its way, that number would soar up to 100 percent, further increasing not only the education gap, but also the eventual income gap between pregnant teenagers and their peers. As if these girls didn’t have enough to deal with, right?

While we’re stoked that the ACLU is doing their darnedest to take care of the pregnancy test policy, can we please talk about how sexist and effed up this is? First of all, pregnant teenagers don’t result from a bored girl with a turkey baster. It takes two. Why are pregnant teenagers–women and girls–being persecuted, but the presumed fathers of their unborn babies are free to study unscathed? In addition, what if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest? Isn’t the act punishment enough? When they came up with this pregnancy test policy, these school administrators showed that they are at best extremely ignorant and short sighted, if not outright sadistic.

Pregnant teenagers have enough to worry about besides expulsion. | Source

And let’s be real: Even–perhaps especially–if you’re not pregnant, how humiliating would it be to be forced to take a pregnancy test just because you’re a little bloated from lunch? All of this is absolutely ludicrous.

We’re glad there’s an uproar here, because there needs to be one. Slut shaming and expelling pregnant teenagers for “failing” a pregnancy test won’t make teen pregnancy go away. Education, information, and a stop to discrimination and rampant sexism within policies and politics, however, may well do the trick.

Do you think the pregnancy test policy is a good one? Do you think the pregnancy test policy discriminates against pregnant teenagers? Do you think being forced to take a pregnancy test isn’t a big deal? Do you think pregnant teenagers influence their peers? Do you think the pregnancy test policy will deter teen pregnancy? Tell us in the comments!

Here’s What One Teen Mom Thinks We Need

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Sex education is getting cut in a lot of schools. Is yours one of them? | Source

Fewer schools are teaching students everything they need to know in sex education, especially about HIV, which is super dangerous–because, as you know, HIV leads to AIDS. HIV and other STDs, in addition to teen pregnancy, are really risky, and if you’re not getting a full, comprehensive course in sex education–on everything from abstinence to condoms to LGBTQ issues–you’re probably going to be even more at risk for these dangers, because you won’t have all the info you need to prevent them and have safe, satisfying relationships.

What’s more infuriating and baffling about the lack of funding for sex education? The consequences of a lack of sex ed are a lot more expensive than simply teaching students how to make informed decisions about their own sexual health. The tax dollars that go toward public assistance for those with unplanned pregnancies, as well as the medical bills for those who contract sexually transmitted diseases, far outweigh the costs of teaching students how to use condoms, birth control, and maturity in sex education classes.

The lack of HIV education in sex education isn’t just because of less funding, though–it’s also because of fundamentals. A lot of conservative communities and school districts provide abstinence-only sex education, which was been proven time and again to not be very successful in terms of encouraging students to be safe once they do decide to have sex. Additionally, because of stigmas associated with HIV (many conservative groups still assume that it’s a “gay only” disease), a lot of schools don’t teach about it at all. WTF?!

What does work? Giving you all the necessary information about sex, STDs, birth control, and disease and pregnancy protection possible. When you have knowledge, you have power to make your own informed decisions for what’s best for you. You can’t do that if you don’t know what all of your options are.

On the bright side, students are taking a lot more responsibility and a lot more precautions in their sex lives despite the hindrances to sex education. The Center for Disease Control says that fewer than half of high school students have had sex, and that those who have had sex generally have fewer partners–and that 60 percent of those who were sexually active used condoms. That may explain the plummeting teen pregnancy rate, too!

Good job, girls–even though your schools may not giving you the best sex education, you’re still informed enough yourselves to make good decisions and stay safe.

Has your school been affected by the budget cuts for sex education classes? Does your school still offer sex education? Do you think sex education classes should be abstinence only or more comprehensive? Tell us in the comments!

What’s The Deal With Teen Pregnancy?

This won't be cute after five minutes. Seriously. | Source: Shutterstock

Babies are pretty cool. They’re usually happy to see you, they’ll always love you, and they’re super cute! But that doesn’t mean having a baby right now is a good idea. In fact, as a teen, it’s normally a pretty bad idea.

First off, babies are freakin’ expensive. We’re  gonna throw some numbers at you: 80 percent of unwed teen mothers have to go on welfare to support themselves and their babies. Having a baby makes going to school and/or work a lot tougher. Plus, it’s harder to get a good job considering only one-third of teen moms get a high school diploma. And with the economy being so rough that people with college degrees often work minimum wage jobs, you can’t even imagine how hard it’d be to get work with limited availability and limited education. And continuing on with your education is tough too–only 1.5% of teen moms go on to get a college degree. It’s a pretty vicious cycle, and it’s one best avoided completely.

Then there’s the emotional toll having a baby will take on you. You can pretty much say “peace out” to hanging out with your friends, going to the movies on a whim, or taking a spontaneous weekend road trip with your girls, because you’re going to need to hire a sitter–which usually costs money that most teen parents don’t have. It may be harder for you and your friends to relate to one another, because when they’re talking about who’s wearing what dress to prom, you’ll likely be stressing about onesies and Desitin.

And don’t even think that having a baby will keep your boyfriend around. In fact, stats show that he’ll probably bounce–8 out of 10 guys who get a teen girl preggers don’t marry her.

Additionally, you can bet having a kid–or even just announcing that you’re pregnant–will cause a big strain on your relationship with your parents. Your having a kid likely isn’t their fault–but it will inevitably become, at least in part, their problem. And that’s not really fair.

This won't be cute after five minutes. Seriously. | Source: Shutterstock

Oh, and dude, let’s not even get started on how gross diapers are. Do you really want to be responsible for something that poops up its own back? I sure don’t…yet!

Don’t believe us? Well, you can take a dry run at parenthood and see for yourself. You and your pals can test out DoSomething.org’s The Pregnancy Text for a day and see how having a rugrat of your own affects you. You’ll get text messages throughout the day that mimic taking care of a kid. It’s a wake up call for sure–and it’s only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the drama a real baby would bring you. What we love about this program is that it’s geared to girls and guys. So many teen pregnancy campaigns only target girls and we all know, boys make babies happen just as much as girls do. In addition to a hard taste of parenthood, participating will enter you to win a $2,000 scholarship to college. Teen pregnancy awareness and money for school, thanks DoSomething.org!

Having a kid when you’re still one yourself limits so many fun and exciting opportunities that you’d otherwise have. You have your whole life to get pregnant and start a family. It’s worth the wait to enjoy your youth while you can–and thankfully, a lot of teens are catching on, because the U.S. pregnancy rate is the lowest it’s been since 1940!

If you’re looking for someone who will always be happy to see you and drool on you (and that won’t talk back in its teenage years), your best bet now is to get a puppy–and use protection.

Have you ever thought about having a baby? Would you want to be a teen mom despite all the risks and hardships? Tell us in the comments!

Abstinence is the safest sex--but it's not always the most likely to happen. | Source: Shutterstock

Roosevelt High School in East L.A. is located in what experts actually call a “pregnancy hotspot,” because teen pregnancy occurs is two to three times more likely than elsewhere. With that in mind, you’d think that people would be stoked to have a Planned Parenthood sponsored clinic in Roosevelt High. Though a lot of you aren’t having sex, plenty of you are, so it’s important to have access to contraception, be it condoms, birth control, or, ideally, both. The clinic provides not only access to contraception, but also information–and considering a survey was released recently implying that teens weren’t too informed about safe sex, that may be the most important part of their work.

However, opponents to the program are pissed that the clinic is “normalizing” teen sex instead of promoting abstinence. But here’s a news flash: If enough teens are getting pregnant to make your high school a “pregnancy hotspot,” teen sex probably is pretty normal. That makes it more important than ever to go over the risks of unsafe sex, because people need to know how to protect themselves. While reps for the program say that they do go over abstinence, they recognize and understand that while abstinence is the only 100 percent safe sex, it’s also clearly not very likely. However, if students know about the risks involved with sex–pregnancy, STDs, emotional complications–they may actually be more likely to abstain on their own. And if they’re not, at least they know how to protect themselves.

Perhaps the opponents of the program will stop complaining once they see that it’s working. The year before Planned Parenthood’s clinic came to Roosevelt High, there were 32 pregnancies on campus. The next year? There were three.

More of one may mean less of the other. | Source: Shutterstock

While those numbers are admittedly gradually going up, they’re still far below what they were before the program began. Whether the drop can be attributed to teens having more safe sex or less sex in general, we think Roosevelt High is on the right track. The U.S. teen pregnancy rate is the lowest it’s ever been since 1940, and that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by making informed and intelligent decisions, whether you choose to have sex or not.

Do you think having Planned Parenthood in schools is a good idea? Do you think having Planned Parenthood in schools encourages teens to have sex? Do you think abstinence-only education is a better bet? Tell us in the comments!

Want To Know More About The Best Birth Control? Yes, You DO!

How much do you know about sex and how to keep it safe? | Source: Shutterstock

Stupid. Dumb. Uninformed. That’s what some experts think you are when it comes to sex. I can see your eye-roll now. Don’t think I can’t. But really, how much do you know about sex? If one survey is any indication, not much.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy called over 1,000 teens (and another 1,000+ adults) and their findings were pretty worrisome. A whopping 42% of teens they surveyed think that “it doesn’t matter whether you use birth control or not, when it is your time to get pregnant, it will happen.” Uh, really? It’s not like Storkzilla swoops down from a tree and VOILA–you’re pregnant! There are things like condoms and birth control pills that are scientifically proven to prevent pregnancy, people!

Anyway, this apparent widespread belief in Storkzilla is freaking us out, guys. While we have no idea about anyone the the campaign called other than their age range, it’s not a good sign that so many participants were so passive about their sexual health. Chances are if you use birth control correctly and responsibly, you won’t get pregnant. “Your time to get pregnant” will come a lot sooner if you ignore precautions like contraceptives and condoms. You guys are smarter than this!

Despite claiming to know about sex, a lot of people don't know how to use condoms! | Source: Shutterstock

As a matter of fact, most of the respondents even admitted themselves that they’re smarter than that: 86% of those surveyed said they had all the info necessary to prevent an unplanned pregnancy (that’s what we love to hear!). The bad news? Way more than half of the same group said they know next to nothing about how to use male condoms, which are a huge (or magnum sized, if you will) weapon in your arsenal of STD and pregnancy prevention tools. Those numbers do not add up, ladies–and may explain why the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the developed world.

A silver lining? Despite these findings, teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. are the lowest they’ve been since 1940 (good job, girls). But this survey suggests that a whole lot of work still needs to be done before a lot of us know about sex as much as we think we do.

Do you have sex ed in your school? How much do you think you know about sex? Do you think you and your friends need to know more about sex? Tell us in the comments!

Want To Talk To Your Dude About Condoms? Here’s How

Despite the popularity of shows like Teen Mom, the teen pregnancy rate is way down--but can still be lower! | Source: Shutterstock

The U.S. teen pregnancy rates are at an all-time low. There’s been a 44% drop in teen moms between 1991 and 2010, bringing us to the lowest number since 1946! Good job, girls!

What’s behind the decline? Experts suggest that better use of two contraceptive methods–like having your guy wear a condom even though you’re on the pill–contributed to the drop.

There’s still a lot that needs to be done, though. The United States still has the highest teen pregnancy rates–meaning the most teens giving birth–out of all the developed countries in the world.

Why is this happening? For one, birth control is expensive, especially if your insurance doesn’t cover it. Moreover, a lot of girls, including Jamie Lynn Spears, are too scared to ask for birth control. They’re afraid of being judged or that their parents will find out, which is understandable. But please remember that being safe and responsible is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about! Think of it this way: Wouldn’t it be easier to explain that you’re on the Pill than it would be to drop the “my eggo is preggo” bomb on your mom?

This is the one time you're probably hoping for something negative. | Source: Shutterstock

Recent studies show that some girls think parenthood is the only thing that will bring them happiness, because they think they don’t have much else going for them. Of course they’re wrong–you’re all brilliant and beautiful in your own ways, and we wish sooo much that more of you could see that! One expert put it this way: “If a young woman sees little chance of improving her life by investing in her education and career skills, or by marriage, she is more likely to choose the security, immediate gratification and happiness of parenthood.” These gals see parenting as the only way they’ll achieve anything, and that’s a frightening and heartbreaking idea, especially when you consider that less than half of teen moms will achieve a high school diploma by the time they’re 22. Without an education, it’s going to be harder for these girls to find jobs to support their kids.

Hopefully, more girls will realize how awesome and amazing they are–and how much they have going for themselves–so we can get this number down even lower next year.

What do you think is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy? What do you think is the biggest contributing factor to teen pregnancy? Are you a teen mom? How do you deal? Let us know in the comments!

Need To Get Your Guy To Wear A Condom? Here’s How!

Taking them every day takes responsibility! | Source

By the time we had a conversation about me being sexually active it was too late; I was a pregnant teen wanting an abortion and only told my mom because I had to.

If you’re even just thinking about being sexually active you should definitely have a conversation with your mom, dad, or parental equivalent about birth control. Just because our parents might feel uncomfortable talking about sex doesn’t mean that we have to. Here’s one area where we can lead the way.

Why it’s a good idea to talk.
Getting on birth control can mean many different things, but if you want to be on the pill it’s best to have a convo with Mom or Dad instead of getting a prescription through sneakier means. This talk can be the bridge to a healthier relationship with your parents. Plus, there’s also the issue of cost. You don’t want to start the pill and then skip because you can’t afford it. Lastly, for safety purposes Mom should always be able to tell a doctor what’s potentially in your system.

You're being responsible just by talking to her! | Source

Pick the turf and invite your most trusted parent.
Instead of just popping into the kitchen or meeting your mom in the laundry room, invite her into your bedroom. You say where and when. It well help you feel a little bit more in control of a potentially uncomfy situation and make the chat feel more official.

Address the elephant.
Feeling awkward? Tell her. Start off by saying, “Mom, I feel so nervous about this conversation.” She wiped your snotty nose and changed your poopy diapers. There’s no need to put up a pretense now.

Make your case.
Sounds hokey, but you can practice in advance what you’re going to say. Be clear, honest and succinct. Just put it out there: “Dad, I want to talk about birth control pills.” Once you just say the words you’ll feel so much better. Then you can really talk.

The real deal?
Your parents are not creatures from another planet. It may have been a million years ago, but they were your age once too; probably feeling everything you feel. At the end of the day, they may not express it well, but all of our parents want is what’s best for us. If your parents wig out, act actually scary, or are otherwise unavailable–talk to another trusted adult, like an aunt or guidance counselor.

Good luck! Just remember that you’re doing the right thing and being responsible–even if it takes your mom a little while to see that.

Have you had “the talk with your mom about birth control? How did it go? Tell me everything in the comments!

Worried About Going To The Gyno? These Tips Will Help!

What should you do when your partner doesn’t want to use a condom, but you do? Lena guides you through this touchy situation with reminders on why condoms are non-negotiable and how to keep safety your number one priority. Safe sex is the sexiest kind of sex. Take Lena’s tips on how to have safe sex, and you’ll both be happy you did!

Jamie Lynn and cutie Maddie | Source: Palm Place

Remember Britney’s cute but controversy-riddled little sister, Jamie Lynn Spears? She was on All That and then had her own show, Zoey 101, until she got pregnant in 2007 when she was just 16–and then she pretty much disappeared from the face of the planet.

Well, Jamie Lynn is back. She’s 21 now; is the mom to a super cute little girl named Maddie; and is working on a new album in Nashville, Tennessee. In an interview in Glamour magazine, she talks about the pressures put on girls to be good role models and says that she was afraid of what people would think if she (as a Disney star!) asked to be put on birth control.

Did you love Zoey 101 as much as we did? | Source: jamie-spears.com

When she got pregnant, lots of parent groups freaked out and said she was “glamorizing” teen pregnancy–but in reality, she was just a scared 16-year-old girl, like a ton of girls in America who get pregnant every year. Being in the spotlight made it extra hard to deal, which is part of why she disappeared for all this time.

A while back, Gaby Rodriguez, a girl who went to high school in Washington state, pretended to be pregnant for a class project–and recently, Lifetime made a movie about her called “The Pregnancy Project.” Only her mom, her boyfriend, her best friend, her principal, and a few other key people knew that she was pretending to be pregnant to learn about stereotypes and perceptions.

What she learned, she told me, was that “when people think you’ve made a mistake, the way they see you completely changes–they look down on you, they think of course you failed, of course you screwed up.” When her classmates found out she’d been faking her pregnancy, many were angry, but they also saw just how unfairly they’d treated her when they thought she was expecting a baby.

Jamie Lynn's celebrating her 21st birthday! | Source: Glamour

I hope people learn the same lesson from Jamie Lynn Spears–girls who get pregnant generally know that they’ve made a mistake! I mean, they’re the ones who either have to go through with the pregnancy or make the difficult decision to have an abortion. It’s not up to us as a society to vilify them or make them feel like they’re unwanted.

What we should do instead, is recognize that although some girls do make the choice to stay virgins until they’re older, nearly half of all unmarried teens in America admit to having sex (and that doesn’t include the many girls and guys who are probably too shy to say they’re doing it!). Shame, finger pointing, and nasty tabloid headlines aren’t going to fix the problem of teen pregnancy–but good sex education, easy and shame-free access to birth control, and a whole lot of support and open discussion can make a major difference.

I love that Jamie Lynn is talking about her experience, and wish her all the best. Don’t you?

What do you think about Jamie Lynn’s recent interview? Do you think she deserves a fresh start? Tell us in the comments!

Did You Know You Can Get Sick From Lipstick?! Read This Now!

jamie lynn spears