Pro-lifers ready for a comeback, an article in the Washington Times, takes a look a the future of the pro-life movement. In the article, Daniel McConchie, executive director of Americans United For Life, is quoted as saying:

"Many pro-life groups don't take a stand on contraception -- 'We're happy for any way to avoid abortion,' Mr. McConchie said -- and most Americans are likely to support a more-birth-control approach because so many of them use it themselves."

Except that a "more-birth-control" approach hasn't caused a reduction in abortion since abortion was legalized in all 50 states.

In fact, amongst adolescents, contraception has only helped to make the abortion situation worse. Why?

For the most part, teens are forward looking in their decisions to become sexually active, and the option to use contraception has a profound effect on these decisions.

According to the study Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954-2003, the increase in premarital sex amongst a group of teens turning 15 during the years 1964-1973 "may be partly due to increased availability of effective contraception (in particular, the pill), which made it less likely that sex would lead to pregnancy." (Finer, 2007)

The influence of contraceptives on adolescents is reflected in the change in attitudes and behaviors concerning premarital sex.

In the late 1950s, only 12% of young women approved of premarital sex, and by the 1980s that figured jumped to 73%. (Wells & Twenge, 2005) Much of the change occurred between 1960 and 1969, prior to Roe v. Wade , when contraceptives became increasingly available to more and more unmarried women despite a patchwork of state restrictions.

The change in attitudes and behaviors regarding premarital sex was not isolated to the 60s - it has carried forward through subsequent generations, though to varying degrees. While some blame the sexual revolution for this problem, the revolution would have died much earlier were it not for contraception.

The increase in the number of sexually active adolescents, combined with the typical failure rates (and non-use) of contraception, is reflected in the abortion and pregnancy rates which continued to rise well into the 1980s.

Abortion rates for women aged 15-19 started to fall in the mid to late 80s, and the pregnancy rates would start to fall in 1991. The main reasons for these declines are parental involvement laws, Medicaid restrictions, increased abstinence, and an improved economy. Contraception, contrary to the claims of many, was not the primary reason for the declines.

It's time that the pro-life movement pulled its collective head out of the sand and address the issue of contraception. Contrary to the fears of many, this doesn't mean calling for a ban. Rather, the focus should be on informing the public on the many negative aspects of contraception, including how it affects teen pregnancy and abortion rates.

Ruben is the President and co-founder of the No Room for Contraception Campaign.

References

Finer, L.B. (2007). Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954-2003, Public Health Reports, January - Febrary 2007, Volume 122, pp. 73-78, The Guttmacher Institute, available at http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/122_1/12_PHR122-1_73-78.pdf

Wells, B.E., & Twenge J.M. (2005). Changes in Young People's Sexual Behavior and Attitudes, 1943-1999: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis, Review of General Psychology , 2005, Vol 9, No 3, pp. 249-261, American Psychological Association