Contraceptive use rose during the 1970s, preventing even greater increase in teen pregnancies, given how much sexual activity increased. The average time between initiation of sexual activity and first using birth control is about one year. This lapse has been a consistent finding since the early 1970s. Several factors have been found to be positively associated with teens using birth control. Underlying many of these factors is the degree of an adolescent's cognitive development.
Many teens believe that they are personally invulnerable to harm.
Several conceptual and programmatic approaches to pregnancy prevention exist. Although different approaches to pregnancy prevention generate tremendous public and political debate and disagreement, there is not adequate research evidence suggesting which is the most effective. Evidence exists that programs which are comprehensive in scope tend to be the most successful. It is clear that no one single element can eliminate unwanted pregnancies among teens. In recent years more pregnant teens have chosen to resolve a pregnancy through abortion, while adoption has declined precipitously.