It's Worth the Wait

"While many people feel guilty for having sex, or feel hurt and used when a relationship ends after they participated in sex with the other person, abstinence affirms self- esteem." If more young women chose to abstain from sex until marriage, we would have a massive decrease in the number of teen pregnancies, teen abortions, STDs, and broken hearts. The teen pregnancy rate has consistently gone up in the US. If the mother keeps the baby, she has to deal with the hurtful words of stereotypical people, trying to juggle a baby and school, and staying halfway sane to deal with the physical and mental stress of her new life. Along with teen pregnancy rate, the teen abortion rate has also gone up. Abstaining from intercourse boosts your self- esteem and your academic achievement. Thousands of teenagers are living with an STD. Abstinence is the only sure thing against pregnancy and STDs. Nothing negative can come from waiting until marriage for sex.

Many young girls are having sex, but not thinking about what could happen, like a baby. Eighteen year old Bristol Palin IS a prime example of this. She says, "My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me, but I wish I could enjoy him a little later in my life." Three out of 10 teen girls will get pregnant in their high school years and only 1/3 of those young girls will earn their diploma. Teens without a diploma or a GED cannot get accepted into a college; therefore cannot get a job that pays enough to support a family. Eighty percent of unmarried teen moms end up on welfare. In a recent study scientists found that sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to rebel, or end up in prison. Teen daughters are 22% more likely to become teen moms also. Sexually active teens that do not use birth control have a 90% chance of getting pregnant; it only takes once. Some young teens aren't mature enough to handle a baby. For this reason, teen abortion is on the rise.

Abortion seems like the only way out to some teens, but killing an innocent child for your wrong decisions does not seem fair. The age of women wanting to abort their pregnancy is consistently decreasing, younger women want to terminate. In a recent study, the average number of teens aborting their child is dropping from the age of 19 to 17. Teen terminations account for 19% of all nationwide procedures. Fifty percent are performed annually on women under the age of 25. Ages 18 and 19 have the highest number of terminations performed. Those brave souls who choose to keep their baby do not have an easy life, but most women would much rather deal with a child for the rest of their life instead of the guilt of abortion.

A teen mom often faces the stereotypical judgment from those around here, even strangers. A former teen mom spoke out about the struggle of being a 17 year old mom, "I managed, but I do wish things could've been easier

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