Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing of Teenagers Aged 15-19 in the United States.

Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among U.S. adolescents is important for understanding differences in their risk of pregnancy. In 2013, the U.S. birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 dropped 57% from its peak in 1991 (1), paralleling a decline in the teen pregnancy rate (1-2). But these rates are still higher than those in other developed countries (3-4). Using data from the 1988 to 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), this report provides trends and recent national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing among teenagers aged 15-19.