Media Center: Press Release

“Science, not ideology, should be the basis of our nation’s health policies.”

New York, NY—A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that teen birth rates rose in 2006 for the first time since 1991.  Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health released the following statement from board chair Suzanne T. Poppema, MD:

“I am troubled by the news that teen birth rates are rising in the United States.  While it is too soon to know if this is the beginning of a trend, I would not be surprised if it were.  Current federal policy on sex education denies teens information about birth control, almost guaranteeing higher birth rates.  Several studies have shown that the abstinence-only sex education programs mandated by our federal government do not work, and yet Congress recently supported an increase in funding for these ineffective programs.

“As doctors, we rely on the best evidence-based care to treat our patients, and we believe the government should follow the same standards.  Congress and President Bush need to face the facts: refusing to teach teens about birth control only leads to higher birth rates and rising rates of sexually transmitted infections.  Science, not ideology, should be the basis of our nation’s health policies.”

For more information about minors’ legal access to reproductive healthcare in 10 states, please see our Minors' Access Cards.

Teen birth rates rose 3% in the United States last year, reversing a downward trend that began in 1991. Read our adolescent reproductive health press kit to learn more about teen sexuality.