Teenage Birth Rate Sees First Rise Since 1990s

After nearly 15 years of fewer teens having babies, the number of births by teen moms (ages 15 to 19) went up 3% in 2006 — the first increase since 1991, says a new government report.

And 39% of all births in 2006 were from unmarried mothers — an all-time high, according to the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report does boast a bit of good news on the teen pregnancy front — births by girls 14 and under dropped, even if only ever so slightly (1/10^th of a percent). The findings also show that three times more 18- and 19-year-olds are giving birth than girls 15 to 17.

Why are more kids having kids of their own now versus almost 15 years ago? Ask different experts and they're likely to give different reasons. But one commonly accepted reason is that many teens feared AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) during the 1990s, which scared more of them into using condoms, choosing fewer partners, or opting out of sex altogether. But as AIDS publicity diminished and treatments advanced, teens became less spooked about the dimming prospect of dying from being sexuality active.

Now, many teens today are deciding to have sex — often unprotected — as nearly 1 million teenage girls in the United States give birth every year. And although AIDS gets less media attention than it did in decades past, an estimated 42 million people worldwide are still living with AIDS or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS), with more than 3 million dying every year from AIDS-related illnesses.

And human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is also a serious, though relatively new, concern. It's the leading cause of cervical cancer and genital warts, affecting more than half of sexually active people at some point in their lives — about 6.2 million each year.

What This Means to You

Whether kids are 2 (and asking about why brother looks different in the bath) or 12 (and inquiring about tampons vs. pads), talking about sexuality can be tricky and downright uncomfortable at times. But it can take some of the stigma out of the "big talk" if you don't wait to have it all in one big, potentially awkward session.

Instead, try to establish an ongoing dialogue about sexual development, decision-making, and values as children grow. This can help kids feel far more prepared when they start experiencing some new and often really confusing feelings and changes. Plus, they'll feel a lot more comfortable coming to you if they have any questions, no matter what they are.

Of course, lots of schools start sex education in the classroom in the fifth or sixth grade, covering topics like anatomy, abstinence, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy. But it's wise to begin the conversation long before this, when kids may already be starting to go through some of the emotional and physical changes of puberty.

Still, how and when you talk to your children about sex is a very personal decision. Here are a few ways to keep the lines of communication open: