How many teenagers do you know or relate to who will soon become mothers? I'm sure we can all name a few in this generation. Teen pregnancy is a big problem on the rise in American society, but there are many ways to prevent a teen pregnancy, many people to ask for advice, and many decisions a teen parent must make. Education is one of the best ways to prevent teenagers from getting pregnant. Not basic school sex education where you're split up in health class, boys in one room and girls in another. Parents who step up and educate our youth would help these teens understand all the consequences of becoming teen parents and all the benefits they can have if they protect themselves from pregnancy. Yes, it's time for “chatter”! Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the major problems that teenagers fail to realize is that every time you participate in sexual activities you are planning a pregnancy. And, if you can't realize this, how can you be expected to think about the harmful effects of pregnancy at such a young age? According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of high school students have had sexual intercourse. Teenage pregnancy comes with a host of problems for both mother and baby. The mother will now face social, economic and health problems for the rest of her life. As soon as you are expected to be pregnant, you are likely to lose the support of not only your family, but many will also lose relationships with sexual partners. At times when she needs her parents' utmost care and support, she is left helpless. Being alone and financially independent can profoundly affect the mental and emotional aspects of the teenager. Furthermore, pregnant teenagers are likely to discontinue their studies. This ultimately leads to possible long-term unemployment and places a greater financial burden on the mother's shoulders. As a result, the mother is more likely to opt for low-paid jobs with low income, thus affecting the overall growth of the child as poverty cannot afford to provide adequate healthcare or even basic necessities. While it's no surprise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2013, a total of 273,105 children were born to women between the ages of 15 and 19, for a live birth rate of 26.5 per 1,000 women in this age group." Not talking about sex with your kids is a big mistake to make as a parent. “The first thing mothers need to know is that they are a critical voice in their daughters' sex education,” according to Leslie Kantor, MPH, national director of education at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Despite the statistics, many parents still avoid having frank conversations about sex with their children. If we don't educate our kids about teen pregnancy, then who does? If we can't open up about this topic with our children, how can we expect anyone else to? In a recent study of 600 young people between the ages of 12 and 15, nearly a third of the kids said they had never talked about sex with their parents. Kids today know a lot more about sex than we think, but is all this information given to them by their peers real? In fact, Dr. Berman states that "children are pressured into making sexual decisions as early as middle school by receiving messages from!