Teen Sex and Parent Notification

Re: Milw. JS article "Study sheds light on Teen Sex" 1/19

1. Beware of the research.

• Has the net ever been more widespread (federally funded family planning clinics in 33 states) and the response so minimal? (1526 girls)
• The responses came from girls already sexually active; 40% of whom were hiding visits from parents
• The study was conducted by Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood
• The quoted percentages don't add up
• Much research on teen sexual activity use teens in detention facilities, or who are clients at family planning or STD clinics. It is easy on the researcher to have a captive audience. However, these results shouldn't be extrapolated to the general population.

2. Beware of the Results

• The purpose of the study was to show that if parent notification laws were enacted, teens would not curb their sexual activity but would "use no birth control or unreliable methods". 46% would use "OTC methods such as condoms" (check blog on OTC Emergency Contraception), 18% would not use birth control trying withdrawal or rhythm method, 7% would stop having sex.
• If 84% would do something different if their parents were notified, they must know their parents would not approve of their behavior. Therefore their parents have taught them values.
• These teens have been given a way to circumvent their parents and their parents have lost the opportunity to influence their daughters.
• Rather than proving parent notification laws are dangerous, encouraging girls to participate in unsafe sex, the opposite is proven. The laws might allow parents to moderate their daughters' activities with more scrutiny and stop the causal behavior.

3. Beware Researcher Bias

• "Rhythm...method...which is far less reliable". Modern Natural Family Planning methods have replaced the old rhythm method. Couples trained in NFP have success rates equal to the best of prescription contraceptives. The researcher obviously doesn't know that.
• Teens are, by nature, ill-prepared to manage the regimen of prescription birth control. If they were, family planning clinics wouldn't be putting them on the new long-lasting birth control. So to blame the method when teens are involved is in error. Teens will get pregnant, even when on birth control or using condoms, because of "user" error more often than product/method error.
• The only reason the number of unplanned pregnancies and STD will continue to increase is because teens are having sex, not because they aren't using birth control. No method of birth control will save a girl from any STD. The researcher concludes just the opposite.