Adolescence is a period of great changes, both physically and mentally. During this time, adolescents are going through puberty and making the transition from infancy to emerging childhood. For this reason, the question of whether or not to allow adolescents access to contraceptives is highly controversial. Many argue that adolescents are too young to receive this privilege, or that allowing them access to contraceptives will further push adolescents to support sexual activity. However, in today's hypersexualized society, it is best to ensure that adolescents have access to contraception in the public interest. If teens had access to contraceptives, such as Plan B (“the morning-after pill”) or birth control pills, the number of teen pregnancies in the nation would decrease. Furthermore, adolescents are mature enough to make their own decisions, therefore grown up enough to have the right to use contraceptives. The biggest concern people have about making contraceptives available to teenagers is the belief that the availability of such supplies will result in an increase in the number of teenagers engaging in sexual activity. In a survey conducted in 2007, 46% of Americans said that “providing adolescents with birth control would encourage sexual behavior” (Finer & Philbin, 2013, p. 887). On the other hand, it has been argued that providing adolescents with access to contraception has no effect on adolescent sexual activity. In a recent study, data show that giving girls the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a form of contraception that helps protect against sexually transmitted diseases, did not increase their sexual activity (Finer & Philbin, 2013, p. 890 ). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2007), if teens are…middle of the road…they allow for a decrease in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. To protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexual diseases, sexually active adolescents need access to contraceptives (Bankole & Malarcher, 2010, p. 119). Without access to adequate and effective contraception, adolescents are at greater risk of unwanted pregnancies, clandestine abortions and sexual diseases, all of which can be potentially life-threatening conditions. Therefore, allowing adolescents to obtain contraceptives will help those who are sexually active to practice safe sex. Works CitedPediatrics Vol. 120 No. 5 1 November 2007. pp. 1135 -1148Finer, L. B., & Philbin, J. M. (2013). Sexual initiation, contraceptive use, and pregnancy among young adolescents. Pediatrics, 131(5), 886-891. Contraception and adolescents. (2007). Pediatrics, 120(5), 1135-1148. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2535