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April 2013

 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns

Preventing Repeat 

Teen Births

See page 4

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About 1 in 5 sexually active teen 

mothers use the most effective 

types of birth control after they 

have given birth.

1 in 5

183

About 183 repeat teen births 

occur each day in the US.

Nearly 1 in 5 births to teen mothers, 

ages 15 to 19, is a repeat birth*.

1 in 5

Although teen birth rates have been falling for the last two 

decades, more than 365,000 teens, ages 15–19, gave birth 

in 2010. Teen pregnancy and childbearing can carry high 

health, emotional, social, and financial costs for both teen 

mothers and their children. Teen mothers want to do their 

best for their own health and that of their child, but some 

can become overwhelmed by life as a parent. Having more 

than one child as a teen can limit the teen mother’s ability 

to finish her education or get a job. Infants born from a 

repeat teen birth are often born too small or too soon, 

which can lead to more health problems for the baby.

Repeat teen births can be prevented.

Health care providers and communities can: 

◊ Help sexually active teen mothers gain information 

about and use of effective types of birth control. 

◊ Counsel teens that they can avoid additional 

pregnancies by not having sex.

◊ Connect teen mothers with support services that 

can help prevent repeat pregnancies, such as 

home visiting programs.

*A repeat teen birth is the 2nd (or more) pregnancy ending in 

a live birth before age 20.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Division of Reproductive Health
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Too many teens, 

ages 15–19, 

have repeat births.

Nearly 1 in 5 births to teens, ages 15–19, 

are repeat births.

◊ Most (86%) are 2nd births.

◊ Some teens are giving birth to a 3rd 

(13% of repeat births) or 4th up to 6th 

child (2% of repeat births).

◊ American Indian and Alaskan Natives, 

Hispanics, and black teens are about 

1.5 times more likely to have a repeat 

teen birth, compared to white teens.

◊ Infants born from a repeat teen birth 

are often born too small or too soon, 

which can lead to more health problems

for the baby.

Working together, a sexually active 

teen and her doctor or other health care 

professional can decide on the best birth 

control method.

◊ More than 9 in 10 (91%) sexually active teen 

mothers used some form of birth control, 

but only about 1 in 5 (22%) used the most 

effective types of birth control.

◊ White (25%) and Hispanic (28%) teen 

mothers are almost twice as likely as black 

teen mothers (14%) to use the most effective 

types of birth control.

◊ Long-acting reversible birth control can be a 

good option for a teen mother because they do 

not require her to do something on a regular 

basis – such as take a pill each day.

◊ Hormonal implants and IUDs are two types of 

long-acting reversible birth control. These are 

some of the most effective forms of birth control.

1. How many teens have repeat births? 

There were 365,000 births to teens, ages 15–19, in 2010

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, teens, ages 15–19, 2010

66,800

57,200

8,400

1,200

repeat births

Problem
CA

FL

NY

WA

MT

OR

NV

UT

ID

WY

KS

LA

AL

NC

ME

WI

AR

IN

MI

AK

HI

AZ NM

CO

ND

SD

MN

IA NE

TX

MS

SC OK

MO

TN

KY

IL OH

WV MD

DE

NJ

VT

RI

CT

NH

MA

PA

VA DC

GA

SOURCE: Adapted from Trussell J in Contraceptive Technology, 2011, and FDA Office of Women’s Health Birth Control Guide 

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/FreePublications/UCM282028.pdf

2. Which states have the highest percentages of repeat teen births?

3. How effective are different birth control methods?

SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System, teens, ages 15–19, 2010

Percentages:

Less than 15%

15–19%

Greater than 20%

Sexually active teens should use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and consider using another 

type of birth control to further reduce the risk of pregnancy.

Risk of pregnancy 

with typical use Type of birth control* How to use it

Less than 1 

pregnancy per 

100 women in a year

Implant • Placed by health care provider • Lasts up to 3 years

 Intrauterine devices (IUDs) • Placed by health care provider • Copper IUD — Lasts up to 10 years

• Progestin IUD — Lasts 3–5 years

6-12 pregnancies per 

100 women in a year

Injectable • Given by health care provider • 1 shot every 3 months

Patch • Apply a new patch each week for 3 weeks (21 total days) 

• Don’t wear a patch during the 4th week

Ring • Place ring into the vagina yourself • Keep the ring in your 

 vagina for 3 weeks, and then take it out for 1 week

Pill • Swallow a pill every day

Diaphragm • Use correctly every time you have sex

18 or more 

pregnancies per 

100 women in a year

Male condom • Use correctly every time you have sex

Female condom • Use correctly every time you have sex

Sponge • Use correctly every time you have sex

Rhythm method • Use correctly every time you have sex

Spermicide • Use correctly every time you have sex

Withdrawal • Use correctly every time you have sex

*The most effective methods also include sterilization, but because this method is very infrequently used by teens, it was not included in the table.

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 www http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns www http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

For more information, please contact 

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Web: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

Publication date: 4/2/2013

CS238394B

Federal government is 

◊ Funding states and tribes through the 

Pregnancy Assistance Fund to provide 

pregnant and parenting teens with a 

complete network of support services. 

◊ Promoting home visiting and other 

programs shown to prevent repeat teen 

pregnancy and reduce sexual risk behavior. 

◊ Conducting and evaluating programs that 

work, as well as innovative approaches 

to reduce teen pregnancy and births in 

communities with the highest rates. 

◊ Helping other groups with information 

to duplicate teen pregnancy prevention 

programs that have been shown to be 

effective through rigorous research. 

http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oah-initiatives/tpp/

tpp-database.html

Doctors, nurses, and other health care 

professionals can

◊ Discuss with sexually active teens the most 

effective types of birth control to prevent 

repeat pregnancies. Refer to CDC guidelines: 

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/

unintendedpregnancy/USMEC.htm

◊ Counsel parenting teens on how they can avoid 

additional pregnancies by not having sex.

◊ Advise teen mothers that births should be 

spaced at least 2 years apart to support the 

health of the baby, and that having more than 

one child during the teen years can make 

it difficult for teen parents to reach their 

educational and work goals.

◊ Remind sexually active teens to also use 

a condom every time to prevent sexually 

transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. 

Parents, guardians, 

and caregivers can

◊ Talk about how to avoid repeat births with 

both male and female teens.

http://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/parents.htm

◊ Check with your insurer about coverage 

of preventive services. In some cases, 

preventive services, such as birth control 

methods and counseling, are available with 

no out-of-pocket costs.

◊ Talk with community leaders, including

faith-based organizations, about using 

effective programs that can help prevent 

repeat teen pregnancies.

All teens, 

including teen parents, can

◊ Choose not to have sex.

◊ Use birth control correctly every time if they 

are having sex. Use condoms every time to 

prevent disease.

◊ Discuss sexual health issues with their 

parents, partner, health care professionals, 

and other adults and friends they trust.

◊ Visit http://www.hhs.gov/opa to find a family 

planning clinic near them for birth control if 

they choose to be sexually active.

What Can Be Done