The number of teenage births in Germany is low by international standards. With 13 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 each year, we are below the British figure of 31 and the U.S. of 52 births. Nevertheless, every unwanted pregnancy is one too many. As a rule, children are sexually mature before they really understand what is happening. Between the ages of 14 and 17, 38 percent of girls have already had their first time, compared to 29 percent of boys. Early sexual maturity also means girls can get pregnant earlier and earlier. Researchers cite the population’s good health as a reason for earlier sexual maturity. Since the last 150 years, the timing of the first menstruation has moved forward by 6 years, after all!
What do the kids know?
Most teens are not at all properly educated – but think they know a lot. Surveys of young people on the subject of sex show again and again what misconceptions exist. For example, some think that coitus interruptus can prevent pregnancy, others don’t know that you can also get pregnant during your period. As a rule, girls are somewhat better educated than boys, but this is not enough for them to have their first sexual experiences safely and consciously. Therefore, children should know about sex education at the age of ten at the latest.
And what about sex education?
Sex education is still a stepchild in schools today. And this despite the fact that sex education is recognized in all federal states as part of the educational mission in schools. Sex education is only occasionally included in biology, science or religion classes; other subjects are virtually not involved in sex education. What is often overlooked is that, in addition to the purely biological aspects such as procreation, pregnancy and birth, sex education also means social education, namely how do we treat each other. Questions that really concern young people, such as love, friendship and individual approaches to sexuality, therefore hardly play a role. Insufficient sex education at school and in the family is still one of the main reasons for pregnancies among minors! By intensifying sexuality education, young people can not only learn to deal with sexuality in a fear-free and pleasurable way; the risk of unwanted pregnancies and dangerous infectious diseases can also be reduced. The goal of sexual education is a self-determined and responsible approach to sexuality.
Common causes of unwanted pregnancies.
Despite all the contraceptives available: a large proportion of pregnancies in Germany still occur unplanned.
- Pill mistakes: In many cases, women forget their pill once or even several times.
- Unintended pregnancies are also due to the incorrect use of condoms.
- The contraceptive protection of the pill may no longer be guaranteed by illness (diarrhea and vomiting) or the additional use of other drugs, for example, some antibiotics.
- Problems with the IUD can occur if it is in an incorrect position. Therefore, it must also be checked twice a year whether the spiral is still in the right position.
- Often it is also interpersonal problems in adolescents, such as inhibitions in the use of contraceptives or too little openness in conversations on the subject.
- Unintended pregnancies are additionally due to the complete abandonment of contraceptives.
Educational concepts
The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) developed in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth concepts for sex education and family planning. BZgA media for sex education in kindergarten and elementary school are already available, for example, with the media package ”Dem Leben auf der Spur” (On the trail of life) for 8- to 12-year-olds and the ”Kindergartenbox – Entdecken, schauen, fühlen!” (Discover, look, feel!). Particularly popular is the sex-educational Internet service loveline.de, which was developed especially for young people and provides competent information on all questions of physical development, first love and contraception in language and presentation suitable for young people.
Additional and supplementary sex education
The “Medical Society for the Promotion of Women’s Health e.V.”is an association of female physicians with the aim of promoting the health of girls and young women in schools. They answer questions and topics that are not or insufficiently dealt with in sex education. Here, the female doctors supplement school sex education with the preventive medical aspect. Pro familia also offers participation in sexual education classes in schools and in parents’ evenings.
Counseling centers
Becoming a mother as a teenager confronts a teenager with a variety of problems. The basic question of what should happen now is first and foremost. Then there are financial issues, one’s own education as well as childcare. So the young women have to cope with a wide variety of psychological stresses. The main thing is to be able to talk about your worries and fears, and counseling centers can be very helpful. Counseling centers are available, for example, at Pro Familia.
