Condom use does not lower teenage pregnancies
According to John Richens, a clinical specialist in sexually transmitted infections and HIV at University College, London, a national sexual health strategy is "a matter of urgency" (The Sunday Times, November 29). Among the reasons for the urgency, Dr Richens was reported to have said that he was "concerned about soaring teenage pregnancies and the lack of proper sex education".
What Dr Richens has omitted to mention is that the reason Malta registered these teenage pregnancies is because, unlike in other nations, including his country, the UK, abortion is illegal in Malta - which distorts the true pregnancy rate.
What is remarkable is that teenage pregnancies are so high in the UK that it has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe.
Although free condoms are handed out in schools to teenagers, pregnancies in England and Wales have risen to their highest level since 2002.
The UK Health Department were congratulating themselves after figures from the Office of National Statistics showed teenage pregnancy rates falling slightly with a reduction in both the under-18 and the under-16 rates during 2006.
Only a year later, however, data showed there were 41.9 conceptions per 1,000 in 15- to 17-year-olds in 2007 - up from 40.9 per 1,000 the year before. It is estimated that there were just over 42,900 conceptions in under-18s in the UK in 2007 and an increase in under-16 conception rates from 7.8 per 1,000 to 8.3, a total of 8,200 pregnancies.
Evidence shows that contraception is leading to more abortions: 1,609 of 4,666 women (34.5 per cent) obtained abortions at the Leeds Marie Stopes International abortion clinic due to condom failure; 27 per cent of the abortions performed at Paris' St Louis Hospital are carried out because of condom failure (NSO France).
In a 1996 study of students requesting "emergency contraception"at the Rusholme Health Centre in Manchester, 68 per cent claimed condom failure (UK Unistat).
When US surgeon general Joycelyn Elders was Arkansas health director from 1987 to 1992, she pushed condoms by every means possible, including in 24 high schools. The results were predictable.
The teen pregnancy rate in Arkansas rose by 17 per cent between 1989 and 1992, the syphilis rate among teenagers rose by 130 per cent, and the HIV rate increased by 150 per cent (Lifeissues 2007)
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Joe Xuereb
Dec 14th 2009, 00:57
Teaching young children about 'sex' is only in line with their ability to understand. Also, one cannot expect teaching at this age to have an instant result in the adult population. We have to wait for these children to grow up in 15 years' time to see its effectiveness. Obvious.
What is meant by 'failed condoms'? It broke? It slipped? It developed a hole? Ineffective for whatever reason as per papal claims? The man too drunk? Condom forgotten in pocket, dropped out of pocket, too excited to retrieve? Two teenagers at each other hammer-and- thongs aren't the coolest, most level-headed of creatures. We were all teenagers once.
Condom use should reflect the success stories, e.g. the prevented pregnancies. If there's an increase in STDs one has to look at the possible failure of the condoms as stated and also that some infections are spread not via the genitals but via other means. In this case, nothing to do with the use or not of condoms.
People, especially young people, are highly sexual animals. Work with that. Scare tactics not really an option. Certainly not silver-ring abstinence. And two total virgins on their first wedding night - sweet! - spells disaster.
M Bagley
Dec 13th 2009, 22:54
Question about the phrase "condom failure" - what does it exactly mean? Incorrect use or defective condom?
Anybody can tick a box in a questionnaire!
Emile Cassar
Dec 13th 2009, 21:52
I am proud to say that I always use a condom when I have sex because I do not yet want to have a child.
Gerry Cowie
Dec 13th 2009, 19:13
Now in the UK they want to give sex lessons to very small children. Apparently the more they know the more educated they will be on such issues. Yet, as Mr Vincenti has said, pregnancy rates have gone up despite all these measures brought in.
So the question has to be asked, is contraception the only way forward?
What is wrong with abstinence and just saying "no"? OK so not everybody is strong enough to do so, but such an idea should not be dismissed out of hand.
I would be interested in Robert Callus' firm evidence of the part he says was played by the Vatican. Surely if they have lied, then they should be taken to court by their accusers!
And by the way, what exactly are a sperm's rights?
Why is it that a well written letter setting out the facts is seen as an "attack on the truth"? It makes me ask exactly what is Mr Callus' agenda and which side of the fence he's on?
I echo the contribution of John Watson below. Sadly such common sense is widely regarded as the opposite. Perhaps it's a human right to have no personal pride or self-discipline!
Robert Callus
Dec 13th 2009, 13:20
Quoting random statistics does not always prevail common sense. In relation to abortion, using condoms should not be related to teenage pregnancies only, but all unwanted pregnancies. Saying condom use does not lower unwanted pregnancies or worse still increase them is utterly ridiculous.
"27 per cent of the abortions performed at Paris' St Louis Hospital are carried out because of condom failure"
What this statistic fails to show is how many more abortions have been prevented, because people use condoms.
I agree with GoL on the abortion issue, but attacking condom use is not just taking things too far, but increasing abortion. This attitude reminds one of the irresponsible lying about condom use from the pope towards African nations. For what is this all about? The right of the unborn child is one thing. But the right of sperm, as these attacks on the truth imply, is a completely different issue.
Reuben Griscti
Dec 13th 2009, 12:40
First of all,there are other types of contraception, apart from condoms. Admittedly the only form of fool-proof contraception is abstinence. And that is the only one that is preached to our unmarried youths by Church-led institutions/schools!
However,we must ALL, some day, come to terms with the fact that MOST of our unmarried youths are becoming sexually active at an increasingly young age, this being reflected in statistics originating from our tireless colleagues at the Genitourinary clinic.
So, we are left with two options:promote ADEQUATE education to our youths, including the risks of promiscuity and potential benefits/failure rates of ALL FORMS of contraception, or stick our heads in sand, ignore the increasing problem,& react to the issue by saying contraception increases pregnancy.
As a sideline, may I outline the difference between: increased contraceptive use as a CAUSE of increased pregnancy rates, & increased contraceptive use being associated with increased pregnancy rates! In other words, without the increased contraception, would the number of sexually active youths remain unchanged, unlike the number of pregnancies &newly-diagnosed infections.
Yes, it would be better if sex was kept till the first night of marriage/couple chooses to commit longterm, but most choose not to!!
john watson
Dec 13th 2009, 12:02
With regard to Paul Vincenti's article on teenage pregnancies, regardless of all other reasons, there are only two basic reasons for them.
Lack of personal pride, and lack of self discipline!
John Watson,
Nottingham,
U.K.
Please choose the reason of your report below: