Despite a recent decline in teen pregnancy and birth rates, teen pregnancy remains a significant problem in this country.

• The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate among developed countries.
  
• About 1 million teens become pregnant each year.
  
• Nearly 80 percent of these pregnancies are unintended and almost 50 percent end in abortion.

Having babies at such a young age comes with a number of possible physical problems. Younger mothers have, on average, more babies with a low birth weight, which can cause health complications for the child. Younger women also experience higher rates of infant death than women who have children at a later age. Many of these problems stem from the fact that a teen's body is still developing, and the stress of pregnancy can cause complications.

This section provides information about teen pregnancy, how to prevent becoming pregnant and what you can do if you think you might be pregnant.


Last reviewed January 2008