These include diseases, environmental risks, health behaviors, personal history, nutrition and exercise, perinatal risk factors, safety, and social situations of women of childbearing age, pregnant women, mothers, and children. Risks related to teen health include sexual activity, lack of effective contraceptive use, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy. The table below shows some risk factors for teen pregnancy and birth.
Young women are more fertile on average than older women.
12 Choosing sexual abstinence, family planning education and always using contraceptives when having sex can help prevent pregnancy and infections. 7 Contraceptive use at first sex Teens who used contraception at first sex are only half as likely to become teen parents as those teens who did not use birth control the first time they had sex. Less than half of male teens used condoms every time they had sexual intercourse during the last year. 26 Unintended pregnancy Unintended pregnancies are more likely to result in abortion, poor pregnancy outcomes and inadequate prenatal care. 33 Previous teen pregnancy Teens that have become pregnant once are at great risk of having another pregnancy during their adolescent years.