"Teens are complicated: They're forgetful, nervous, anxious, awkward, transitioning. Give them the option of an IUD or contraceptive implant and now their worries and quirks around sex and preventing pregnancy are taken care of in one setting for the next five to 10 years."For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- Dr. Jennifer Francis, Columbia University Medical Center (New York City)
Pre-teen Secret Gov't Uterus Tampering in Seattle Schools
President Obama's CDC Wants More Worry-free Sex for Teen Girls
Pediatricians Push IUDs & Implants on Teen Girls
U.S. Teenage Birth Rate Lowest on Record
Also read how public schools across America provide sex training for children.
In addition, read how Planned Parenthood teams up with schools by providing "kinky sex trainers" for kids across America.
-- From "How Colorado lowered teen pregnancy rate by 40%" by Ashley Welch, CBS News 7/7/15
From 2009 to 2015, the Colorado Family Planning Initiative provided women around the state with intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants, types of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) at little or no cost. During that period, teen births dropped 40 percent and abortions fell 35 percent, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The use of LARC methods has increased nearly five-fold over the last decade, according to a 2015 report from the CDC. And just last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations, suggesting IUDs and implants should be the "first line" of contraceptives in preventing teen pregnancy.
While LARC methods are covered under the [ObamaCare] Affordable Care Act, several loopholes exist and some insurers may not cover the full cost of the device and its insertion. Experts say confidentiality is also a problem, as teens are less likely to get IUDs when their parents' insurance companies send a letter home explaining the procedure.
[Dr.] Francis hopes the success seen in Colorado will influence broader policies ensuring access to LARC methods for women across the country.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado’s push against teen pregnancies proves huge success" by Sabrina Tavernise, The New York Times 7/5/15
Teenage births have been declining nationally, but experts say the timing and magnitude of the reductions in Colorado are a strong indication the state’s program was a major driver.
About one-fifth of women ages 18 to 44 in Colorado now use a long-acting method, a substantial increase driven largely by teenagers and poor women.
Women’s health advocates contend that long-acting birth control is giving American women more say over when — and with whom — they have children.
Proponents say the [Colorado] program is working. The state health department estimated that every dollar spent on the long-acting birth-control initiative saved $5.85 for the state’s Medicaid program, which covers more than three-quarters of teenage pregnancies and births. Enrollment in the federal nutrition program for women with young children declined nearly a quarter between 2010 and 2013.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colorado's Teen Birth Rate Fell 40 Percent Thanks To A Free Contraception Program" by Anna Almendrala, The Huffington Post 7/6/15
"The findings from the Colorado study are exciting, and highlight the importance of removing barriers to LARC use for all women, but in particular those at high risk of unintended pregnancy, such as adolescents and poor women,” said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology who specializes in family planning at Oregon Health & Science University, but was not involved in the Colorado LARC experiment.
In addition to being free, the program’s stunning success can be partly attributed to LARCs’ superior effectiveness rate. Short of permanent sterilization, IUDs and hormonal implants are the most fool-proof way to protect against pregnancy, with failure rates of less than one percent. Condoms, on the other hand, have failure rates of 18 to 21 percent with average use, while the pill, the patch and the ring have failure rates of nine percent.
Unfortunately, teens aren’t using LARCs at the same rates as older women, most likely because of the high upfront cost associated with the devices and unfounded fear and misunderstanding of LARCs, according to a recent CDC report.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Colo. won't fund birth-control initiative despite success" by Mary Bowerman and Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY 7/7/15
A much-heralded Colorado effort credited with significantly reducing teen pregnancy and abortion rates is searching for new funding after GOP lawmakers declined to provide taxpayer dollars to keep it going.
Started in 2009 with an anonymous private grant, the state-run Colorado Family Planning Initiative gave free or reduced-price IUDs or implantable birth control to more than 30,000 women.
Colorado Family Action, which opposed state funding for the program, said using taxpayer dollars would have inappropriately inserted the government between children and their parents.
"We believe that offering contraceptives to teens, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives, while it may prevent pregnancy, does not help them understand the risks that come with sexual activities," CFA said in a statement. "We should not remove parents from the equation — equipping teens for safe sex without their parent's involvement bypasses this critical parental right and responsibility. Parents need to be the primary educator when it comes to sexual education and the primary decision about healthcare choices for their children. Lastly, Colorado taxpayers should not be paying for the 'Cadillac' of birth control for minor children."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abstinence Education Effective, Federal Study Shows and another study shows Abstinent Teens the Norm, Moral Sex-Ed Works, but nonetheless, President Obama Wants an End to Abstinence Education, Favoring Anal Sex, and now a judge has ruled that Abstinence Education is Illegal in California.
