A recent comparison of data spanning 15 years showed increases in the number of US teenage females using highly effective methods of contraception, the CDC announced in a news release.
Researchers compared data from three National Survey of Family Growth cycles in 1995, 2002, and 2006 to 2010 dealing with sexual experience and contraceptive use among female teens. During that span, females aged 15 to 19 years showed a 16% decrease in having had sex (defined as vaginal intercourse) resulting in a decline in the national teen birth rate. Data showed that 56.7% of female teens from 2006 to 2010 abstained from sex, an increase from 48.9% in 1995.
The contraceptive methods of self-proclaimed sexually active female teens — who were not pregnant, postpartum, or seeking pregnancy — were grouped into categories based on effectiveness. From 2006 to 2010, 59.8% of the sexually experienced participants used a highly effective contraceptive method (eg, intrauterine device or hormonal methods) compared with 47% in 1995. The latest cycle also revealed that 16.3% of female teens used a moderately effective method (condom), 6.1% used a less effective method (eg, withdrawal, diaphragm, emergency contraception), and 17.9% did not use contraception during sex.
From 2006 to 2010, white teenage females were more likely to use highly effective contraception (65.7%), followed by Hispanics (53.7%) and blacks (46.5%). Since 1995, the amount of white teens using highly effective contraception increased 34%, followed by 19% and 4% increases in Hispanic and black populations, respectively.
For more information: See full report compiled by the National Survey of Family Growth, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Center for Health Statistics.