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Teenage Pregnancy, Teenage Pregnancy Facts, Teenager Pregnancy
The UK has continually seen high annual teenage pregnancy rates, and despite recent initiatives by the government and community interest groups these levels are still rising each year. No one is certain why Britain has such a high number of teenage pregnancies compared to other European countries, but whether a teenager becomes pregnant by choice or by accident there is a lot of information and help now widely available from the Internet, GPs, guidance counsellors, teachers and various social organisations to guide pregnant teenagers and their families on the choices for the future.
A teenage pregnancy is technically a pregnancy experienced by young women from around the age of 12 through to 19, but most people use the term specifically for those that fall pregnant under the age of 16 years old. Some girls can start their periods from as young as 9 years old, and unfortunately pregnancies have been experienced in girls this young age, and this too would considered to be a teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies occur as the result of sexual intercourse just like all other pregnancies, but it is clear from research evidence that the majority of teenagers fall pregnant by accident, through broken condoms, incorrect use of contraceptive pills and more commonly through completely unprotected sex.
The rights and options for those teenagers in the UK that fall pregnant are the same as for any other expectant mother, and include giving birth and raising the child or putting it up for adoption, or having a medical procedure called an abortion to terminate the pregnancy. Abortions in the UK are available up until the 24th week of the pregnancy, but these procedures can only be carried out for under 16 yrs olds without parental consent if the Fraser Guidelines are met, which include the guideline that it would not be in the teenagers best interests to inform her parents of the procedure.
Teen pregnancies can be very difficult and even traumatic for both the teen and their families and there is plenty of help available both in terms of the pregnancy and what happens afterwards, so it is important to seek help early on, so that you can plan what is best for the future.
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