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Falling Teen Sex Rates Stall

Experts worry plateau could signal start of increased activity and more teen pregnancies

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2007 4:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – After steadily dropping for a decade, the US teenage sex rate leveled off in 2001 and has stalled there since, according to a government study. What caused the halt in the trend is unclear, but it coincides with the beginning of increased funding for abstinence-only sex education and may reflect more relaxed attitudes among teens to the dangers of AIDS.

Experts worry that the plateau could precede a dramatic rise in teen sex similar to that of the '70s and '80s, bringing with it higher teen pregnancy rates. "It is alarming," said one expert. "For it to level out causes everyone to go, 'Uh-oh.' " But another expert said the statistics might simply show "how hard it is to change basic human behaviors."

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People walk past a giant condom displayed at the Condoms Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico, Saturday, July 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias) (Associated Press)

A man walks past a condom advertisment billboard on display. (Getty Images (by Event))

Trojan condoms ((c) Maulleigh)

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NYC condom ((c) victoriapeckham)

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Falling Teen Sex Rates Stall

Experts worry plateau could signal start of increased activity and more teen pregnancies

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Falling Teen Sex Rates Stall

Experts worry plateau could signal start of increased activity and more teen pregnancies

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

pregnancy • sex • sex education • abstinence education • abstinence • teenager

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Abstinence Ed. Isn't Slowing Teen Sex

Celibacy-only programs have little 'positive impact,' study argues

Sex Query? Experts Help Teens Via Texting

Health professionals text teens answers to anonymous sex questions

Abstinence Campaign Targets Parents

Advocates of embattled sex-ed program launch $1M drive

Abstinence-Only States Have More Teen Pregnancy

Study shows big regional disparities

Turns Out Abstinence Ed Does Cut Teen Sex

It beat safe sex program in recent study

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?