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most pregnant teenageer consider adoption or abortion as a less burdensome alternative. Adolescent psychiatrists know the emotional and physical consequences of teenage pregnancy and would not recommend it to any teen.

A small minority of teens may have truly considered the posibilities of pregnancy or disease, but there is no way for them to predict how becoming sexually active with affect their self-esteem, ability to make decisions with sound judgement, and their relationship dynamics. Far too many teens become sexually active too early and later regret their decision or even feel guilty becuase of ethical and moral obligations. Self-loathing and self-doubt are common among these teens. An individual's teenage years should be a time of exploration and discovery of their beliefs, values, and goals. It should not be interrupted with thoughts of regret and guilt. Teens are often perplexed when presented with sexual situations. Peer pressure and biological desires can be powerful influences, sometimes even overpowering what a teen knows to be the best decision. This can add even more confusion to an already complicated period in a teenager's life. Finally, it is a known fact that once sex is introduced into a relationship, that relationship's dynamics can completely change. Most teens already deal with feeling of guilt, rejection, and jealousy in their love life. When those feelings are dramatically instensified through sexual activity, they can be very overwhelming and most teens are not prepared to cope with them.

These are just a few reasons why teens are never truly ready for sex. There are an infinite number of cons to becoming sexually active as a teen, which far outweigh the few pros. Teens can not possibly be prepared for all of the emotional and physical consequences that come hand-in-hand with sexual activity.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Bailey.
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