Adolescent Development and Contraceptive Use

Rates of teen pregnancy are higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries.¹ Hormonal methods of birth control (such as the pill) and barrier methods (such as condoms) can reduce the risk of pregnancy,² and condom use with every sexual act can greatly reduce—though not eliminate—the risk of STDs.³ Condom and contraceptive use among adolescents has increased since the 1990s, but many adolescents are inconsistent users: roughly 40 percent of males and nearly half of females reported that they or their partner did not use a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse.⁴

Check out these resources for adolescent contraception and condom use services

• Federally funded Title X family planning clinics offer low-cost STD testing and contraceptive services for all who want and need them. By law, priority is given to persons from low-income families. Adolescents and others can find a Title X funded clinic by zip code with the Office of Population Affairs tool at the bottom of this page.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has a locator service that helps visitors search for testing centers where they can receive STD and HIV testing services, as well as vaccines for Hepatitis B and HPV.

Learn more about contraception and condom use and adolescents

• OAH’s library of federal adolescent health provides resources on reproductive health, including contraceptive and condom use.
• The Office of Populations Affairs has a full list of contraception fact sheets that includes details on the effectiveness, advantages, and drawbacks of different methods.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has helpful information about condoms and how they protect (or don’t) against STDs.
• The CDC also has a series of brochures that provide facts about various STDs, and a fact sheet about adolescents and HIV.
• Girlshealth.gov provides resources on frequently asked questions about contraception and condom usage.

Footnotes