Teen Pregnancy

Agenda Definition of teenage pregnancy and statistics Maternal Development Maternal Complications Fetal/Newborn Complications Reasons why teens are choosing sex Contraception of teens

Teenage Pregnancy Numbers US has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of all developed countries About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year. –95% of those pregnancies are unintended –One third end in abortion

Definition of Teenage Pregnancy Teenage pregnancy is defined as females becoming pregnant between the ages of 11 to 18.

Maternal Development There are many complications and reasons why teen age girls should postpone pregnancy. The following are biological problems that these girls encounter due to becoming pregnant at such an early age.

Maternal Development Hips not widened enough because puberty has not completed. Also mammary glands may not have developed to the breast feeding stage due to puberty not being completed. Increased prevalence of toxemia. Increased prevalence of urinary tract infections. Increased chances of Cesarean delivery due to narrow hips.

Maternal Development Due to puberty not being completed, the internal female anatomy may not be completely functional.-Ovaries may not be producing sufficient amounts of estrogen and progesterone to maintain pregnancy and complete development.

Maternal Complications of Pregnancy During pregnancy, teenage girls are more prone to develop certain complications that more mature pregnant females do not develop.

Maternal Development Estrogen mature the internal organs, help the bony pelvis grow, stimulate development of uterus to carry a pregnancy, plus add to sex characteristics such as breast growth and therefore mammary growth. Because puberty has not completed-ovaries may not produce sufficient amounts of estrogen and progesterone to maintain and complete development.

Maternal Complications of Pregnancy Lack of proper nutrition to ensure self preservation and fetal preservation. Increased prevalence of anemia. Increased prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia).

Fetal / Newborn Complications Babies that are born to teenage mothers somewhat tend to have complications with babies that they give birth to.

Further Complications Increased chance of stillborn baby due to placenta abrupt because the uterus has not developed enough to maintain pregnancy. Some of these complications are due to the mothers biological immaturity, because she is still growing, or lack of proper nutrition. Some teenagers deny they are pregnant and fail to get proper prenatal care.

Teen Reasons for Pregnancy Love 46% Curiosity 35% physical attraction 8% Peer Pressure 5% Boyfriend’s insistence 5% Need for love 0.5% No reason 0.5%

Contraception Contraception is inconsistent and sporadic among teens.

Contraception Withdrawal Condom Birth control Pill Morning after Hormone implant and injections Spermacides Absents

One last Factor Sexually transmitted diseases are also contracted by teens due to not using proper barrier methods.