It’s back to school time and students will be actively engaged in sports, drama, debate, and various additional events. Football galas, proms, and other dances are a big part of being in junior high and high school, and dating seems to take place for many at a very young age. Dating without supervision can lead youth to becoming sexually active, which in turn can lead to sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy.
U.S. Stats vs. Other Countries
Statistics show the teen pregnancy rate is falling, both in the United States and in England. A recent report indicated England’s teenage pregnancy rate is 23.3 per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17. According to the U.S. Department of Human Services, the latest U.S. figures (2013) is 26.5 per 1,000 girls. This U.S. statistic is much lower than 20 years previous. In 1991, the teen pregnancy rate in America was 61.8 per 1,000 girls. For more information on teen births in the United States, including a breakdown of demographics and ethnicities, visit http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/trends.html.
The majority of young women in the American research were single (89 percent). Many of the women who visit True Care in Casper for pregnancy tests are also single. We see girls as young as 13 facing an unplanned pregnancy and we see women in their late 30s and early 40s who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Most of our patients fall in the 18 to 25 year-old demographic. We are here for all women, no matter their age or ethnicity, who experience an unplanned pregnancy.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
While the trend for teen pregnancy is downward, and that’s good news, the trend for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in youth is not good. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), young people ages 15 to 24 are at the highest risk for STDs, especially for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Although these diseases affect both men and women, “young women face the most serious long-term health consequences,” according to the authors of the report. Experts believe that undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, STDs cause more than 20,000 women to become infertile every year.
In Wyoming, Natrona County has the highest incidence of chlamydia, and ranks fifth for the number of cases of gonorrhea.
A woman who is pregnant and has an untreated STD places her unborn at risk. A woman who is pregnant and considering abortion also needs to know if she has an STD and to receive treatment before having the procedure to prevent a complication called pelvic inflammatory disease. True Care offers limited STD testing and treatment to patients who see us for their pregnancy test.
Call True Care for an Appointment
If you think you might be pregnant or know a woman who thinks she might be pregnant, call True Care in Casper to schedule a free pregnancy test and free STD testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. We also provide pregnancy options consultation. We are here to help and to answer questions you might have. Call our Scheduling Line at 307-215-9684 for your appointment.