Teen Pregnancy Specialist in Arcadia, CA

The United States has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the Western industrialized world, with around 4 in 10 teen girls having at least one pregnancy before reaching 20 years old. Teenagers who become parents while still in school are far more likely to drop out of school, with only 2% of teen parents earning a college degree by the age of 30. Around one-quarter of those teen moms will become pregnant a second time within 24 months after having their first child. Becoming pregnant and giving birth is much less safe for those who are under the age of 20, leading to higher risk births with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weights. It is also fairly common for teenagers to not be able to receive the right vitamins and nutrients that are essential to maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy has several negative effects on both the child and the parents, with the mother being the most negatively affected by the pregnancy and early motherhood. Only about half of the girls who become mothers while in school will end up having their high school diploma by the age of 22, and only around 10% of them will receive a 2-year or 4-year degree, often leading teen mothers to have more restricted career opportunities and thus financial freedom than those who have children at an older age. Becoming pregnant and going through childbirth under the age of 20 is considered to be at a much higher risk of facing complications with their health as well as the health of the baby, predominantly due to a lack of information and access to proper health care throughout the entire pregnancy. Children of teen mothers are more likely to face educational and social struggles, particularly in the first few years of their lives, becoming more likely to drop out of school, become incarcerated, and struggle to find employment as young adults.

While the only certain way to prevent pregnancy is through abstinence, that is not reasonable to expect of every single teenager, so it is incredibly important to make sure that sexually active teenagers have access to all relevant information and resources to have safe sex. This means that proper education at some point before they become sexually active is vital to make sure they understand the risks involved and to give them the chance to have proper contraceptives before engaging in sexual activities. One form of birth control is not always perfect, especially since teenagers tend to not be consistent or practiced in using contraceptives, so it is recommended that either teachers or parents encourage their sexually active teens or teenagers that are showing interest in romantic relationships to know how to use condoms and are already using another form of birth control such as birth control pills, patches, shots, the vaginal ring, or have an IUD. To ensure that teenagers can access the contraceptives that they require to prevent pregnancy, it is essential that they have an adult in their life with whom they can discuss these topics and that they have access to a trusted family doctor who will be able to provide prescriptions and additional information or care to ensure they have everything they need to protect themselves against pregnancy.

It is possible to become pregnant within a couple of months after giving birth, but physicians recommend that women wait at least 18 months before becoming pregnant again, as any shorter period will not allow for the body to heal sufficiently in between pregnancies and childbirth, both through hormone depletion and healing scars (cesarian scars), often causing the following pregnancy to be at higher risk. After 18 months, there are pros and cons for having the next child within 2 to 3 years or with waiting longer, with children being very close in age often getting along a bit better but requiring quite a bit more from their parents at the same time. However, waiting too long between becoming pregnant could mean that the following pregnancy occurs when the mother is quite a bit older, depending on the mother’s age, increasing her chances of having a higher-risk pregnancy.

If you are pregnant in your teens or want to avoid pregnancy, we are committed to delivering compassionate care that is targeted to your specific circumstances. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Arcadia CA, Monrovia CA, Rosemead CA, El Monte CA, Pasadena CA, Alhambra CA, and Baldwin Park CA.