Thanksgiving is now behind us and the Christmas season is fast approaching.  With the hustle and bustle this time of year brings, I find myself in stores with all the other shoppers searching for that perfect gift or fun stocking stuffer. 

On this particular night, my husband and I went to one of our hometown shops to pick up pictures that I had had developed and to shop for filler gifts for our grandkids stockings.  One of our grandsons is soon to be 16 and is incredibly difficult to shop for so we felt as if we had hit a brick wall on what to get.  As we traversed each aisle, I finally stated that perhaps we just needed to get him a box of condoms.  My husband laughed, as did I and we continued toward the checkout, sans condoms. 

As I laid out our purchase on the counter, the cashier was giggling and said she had heard me tell my husband to get the condoms.  I just smiled as she continued to talk.  At that point, the cashier informed me that a man had just come up to the counter and purchased a box of condoms.  I stated that I was pleased that this individual was being responsible, then proceeded to tell the cashier that I was a sexual health educator within the community and that the mans purchase was my validation that people were beginning to understand the value of protection from an unwanted pregnancy and/or a sexually transmitted disease.  I do not think she heard a word I said because there was no acknowlegement as she continued in a hushed whisper, "and he was wearing a wedding ring!"  With a smug, triumphant look on her face, she took my debit card, gave me my receipt and told me to have a good evening.

Although this may not seem to be a huge deal, I find her insinuation rather unsettling.  Instead of congratulating someone on personal responsibility, this cashier implied something dark and perhaps unworthy of a married man.  Unfortunately, as a sexual health educator, this is common practice and until our communities begin to accept their responsibility regarding educating young and old alike on appropriate, medically accurate, sexual health education we will continue to hear the uneducated comments like those I heard while shopping. 

Consider this:
the young man who purchased the box of condoms is:

1. very considerate because his wife is allergic to sperm
2. minimizing the chance of an unplanned pregnancy because this is the only method of birth control he and his wife use
3. purchasing them for a friend
4. purchasing them for a family member
5. working at a shelter and wants to be sure the clients are safe

Spewing Misinformation and Ideology, A New York Times Op-Ed Spreads Unfounded Fears About Sex Ed

Spewing Misinformation and Ideology, A New York Times Op-Ed Spreads Unfounded Fears About Sex Ed

Teen Births on the Decline

Washington, DC) — The U.S. teen birth rate declined 9% in 2010 and is now at the lowest level ever reported, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).  The 9% drop is the steepest one-year decline since 1946/1947. 
“I am aware of no other social problem that has improved so dramatically over so many years,” said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.  “Progress in reducing teen pregnancy has been nothing short of remarkable—the teen birth rate has declined a stunning 44% between 1991 and 2010.  There have been impressive declines in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups.  Not so long ago, teen pregnancy was viewed as intractable and inevitable.  This report shows that too early pregnancy and child-bearing are 100% preventable.   
“The magic formula of less sex and more contraception is responsible for this great good news,” said Brown.  “Teens are being more careful for a number of reasons, including the recession, more media attention to this issue—including the ‘16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom effect’—and more attention to and investment in evidence-based programs.  But at the end of the day, the thanks and admiration go to teens themselves.”
Other findings from the new NCHS data include:

• Birth rates declined for teens of all ages.  The rate for teens 15-17 declined 12% in 2010 and has fallen 55% from its peak in 1991.  The birth rate for teens 18-19 declined 9% in 2010; 38% lower than in 1991. 
• Birth rates also declined for all racial/ethnic groups.  Among teens 15-19, the birth rate declined 9% in 2010 for non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, 12% for Hispanic and American Indian Alaska Native teens, and 13% for Asian Pacific Islander teens.
• The national teen birth rate fell to 34.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 in 2010, down from 37.9 in 2009 and 61.8 in 1991 when the teen birth rate was at its peak.

Visit www.cdc.gov/nchs to read the full 2010 birth report.  Visit www.TheNationalCampaign.org for more information.  The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families. Our specific strategy is to prevent teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults.

Uncle Sam Wants YOU to Be Sexually Healthy

Uncle Sam Wants YOU to Be Sexually Healthy

What's Your Relationship Reality?

What's Your Relationship Reality?

(un)Planned Pregnancy

In a society saturated with sexualization, it isn't often that something comes across our desks here at Teaming Together 4 Teens, that truly makes us look twice.

 However, we did more than just a double-take when presented with the latest data released by the National Campaign to prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.  Nearly one in ten unmarried young  women in their 20's has an unplanned pregnancy each year.  That is approximately 1.3 million unplanned pregnancies in this group annually-a 13% increase between 2001 and 2006!  The fact that fully 7 in 10 pregnancies among unmarried young women are described by women themselves as unplanned means that we have one of the highest unplanned pregnancy in the entire developed world.

As you may suspect, the consequences of unplanned pregnancy can be significant-interrupting education, higher risk of poverty, increased health risks for mother and child and more.

Interestingly, nearly all (91%) of unmarried young adults: 18-29 (both men and women) believe that pregnancy should be planned.  Moreover, 8 in 10 say that it is important to avoid getting pregnant or causing a pregnancy at this time in their lives.

So, what's going on?  The statistics above alarmed me to spread the word about a new campaign that seeks to address this disconnect between attitudes and action that helps young adults achieve, by helping young adults achieve goals they themselves say they want to achieve, by helping women find a method of birth control that fits into their lives.  The campaign-developed by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Ad Council-is reliable, funny and motivating...not always the words that come to mind when talking about  contraception.  The ads feature a montage of reliable and funny "sex mishaps" and conclude with th e line "You didn't give up on sex.  Don't give up on birth control."  Take a look here: http://www.youtube.com/bedsider.

The campaign directs to Bedsider.org. an online and mobile program with everything young women need to find the best method of birth control, stay on it and use it successfully-including easy ways to explore and compare various methods, videos of real women describing their personal experiences with each method, birth control reminders sent by text or email and funny myth-busting cartoons.  Bedsider's self-proclaimed goal to make birth control easier...maybe even fun.


Skeptical?  We thought we knew it all too-until we went to the site.  Did you know that an IUD provides up to 12 years of worry-free protection against pregnancy?  Do you know what a cervical cap looks like?  Or how you would use "the Ring" (not just a horror movie...it's actually a highly effective and easy-to-use hormonal method of birth control)?

At Teaming Together 4 Teens, we strongly believe that education is empowerment and for that reason would support this breakthrough new campaign.  Having options is always a good thing and with this understanding of your options about birth control, you are giving yourself power over your own body, sexuality and future.

Check out the campaign.  We think you will like what you see and hear.