Teen pregnancy is a new form of epidemic that is spreading across the nation around the world. No one can actually point the finger as to who is to blame or why this situation has increased in numbers in recent years. As the years have passed and society has changed, people have adapted to the fact that teenagers get pregnant and that we can't do anything to change the situation. Although many people think that teenagers make mistakes and that pregnancy is an automatic consequence, there is a way to prevent this from happening. By introducing different types of sex education programs at an earlier age, the rate of teenage pregnancies will decrease. While we cannot eliminate the problem, we can educate our teenagers so that this problem can be controlled. Our kids are having babies. The United States (US) has the highest rate of teen pregnancy of any country in the Western Hemisphere. More and more teenagers are becoming sexually active without considering the possible consequences their actions could have. One of the most likely consequences is teenage pregnancy, which results in approximately 750,000 pregnancies per year among adolescents aged fifteen to nineteen (Guttmacher Institute). Most teenage pregnancies are unplanned, due to the lack of knowledge they receive from family or educators. Because of all the unintended pregnancies, the American government spends almost nine billion dollars a year. When sex education is introduced into someone's life, it can play an important role in the decisions they make in the future. Research studies show that if a student starts learning something at an earlier age, they will be more likely to retain information for a longer period...... middle of paper .......org/pubs/FB - ATSRH.html>.Horizon Solutions Site for Kids. Horizon Solutions site for kids. May 1, 2010 .Kingsbury, Kathleen. Time. December 18, 2008. April 27, 2010. Lerner, Sharon. “Abistinecne Only Versus Comprehensive Sex Education.” Nelson, David E. Teens and Sex. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 25-37.Pan, Deborah. ABC News/Health. December 19, 2007. April 27, 2010. Spock, Benjamin Dr., et al. "PSYCHOLOGY – “BABY EGG” PROJECT." May 1, 2010 .Sternberg, Steve. USA TODAY. 10 July 2002. 09 May 2010 .