"While the proportion of adolescent females who have experienced sexual intercourse has increased over time, their likelihood of pregnancy has decreased. Increases in contraceptive use by adolescent females contribute to this change."
Office of Population Affairs of the Department of Health and Human Services "Trends in Adolescent Pregnancy and Childbearing," HHS web site, November 9, 1998

"Increased contraceptive use–especially condoms–was a major factor in the decline of unintended pregnancies."
National Adolescent Reproductive Health Partnership (NARHP), Winter 1998 Update

"The dramatic decline in unplanned pregnancy has occurred to a large extent as a result of higher contraceptive prevalence and use of more effective methods."
Planned Parenthood press release, January 17, 1998

"The positive change in teens’ sexual behavior is a result of…increased condom usage."
Advocates for Youth press release, September 18, 1998

"Contributing to this decline [in birthrates] are indications that…sexually active teenagers are more likely to use contraception."
CDC, "Teenage Births in the United States: National and State Trends, 1990-1996," National Vital Statistics System

"[Lloyd] Kolbe [Director of CDC’s Adolescent Health unit] attributed the recent declines to vigilant efforts by parents, schools and health officials to educate young people about safe sex and the risks of teenage pregnancy, AIDS and other STDs."
USA Today, September 18, 1998

"[HHS] Secretary Shalala said the dramatic increase in contraceptive use at first intercourse…may be responsible for the leveling off and recent decline in teenage birth rate."
HHS press release, May 1, 1997

"Pregnancy and birthrates have fallen either because fewer teens are having sex or because more adolescents are using contraceptives. Recent survey data suggest that the real answer may be both."
"Falling Teen Pregnancy, Birthrates: What’s Behind the Declines?" The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, Vol. 1, No. 5, October, 1998

"We’re seeing the results of more widespread and more effective contraceptive use…The proportion of sexually active teen girls using contraception, even at first intercourse, is increasing."
Jacqueline Darroch, Senior Vice President for Research, Guttmacher Institute

"Since messages about abstinence and consistent contraceptive use appear to be having an impact on teens, it is essential adolescents continue to receive both."
Guttmacher press release, November 5, 1998

"Experts attribute the drop(in teen birthrate) to two factors: Steady increases in the number of teens having sex have ebbed, and more teens are using contraception."
"Teen Birth Rate Drops in 1990s," New York Times, April 30, 1998

All of the above assertions have been called into question by a research report commissioned by a group of over 2,000 physicians. The research report actually shows that:

• Overall contraceptive use by sexually active female teens declined from 1988 to 1995.
• While the birthrate among all teens has declined during the 1990s, the out-of-wedlock birthrate to sexually experienced teens rose 29% from 1988 to 1995.
• The decline in the birthrate among all teens is primarily attributable to teens that have never had sex or are currently abstinent.
• Increased condom use by teens has not produced a reduction in the birthrate. In fact, increased condom use correlates with a higher birthrate.

Is America’s public health policy being driven by an objective analysis of data or an ideological agenda? If the public health community is wrong on such important data, shouldn’t other claims they make be called into question?