Hi. I am 22 and from South Africa. I don't mean to sound rude or nasty, but why are there so many girls under 17 having babies? I am not saying that where I come from, everyone is good and abstaining from sex, but what is happening in this world that 13 year olds are having sex? I think your site is good in the sense that it helps people in situations, but why are these young girls getting themselves into these situations in the first place? When i was 13 i still loved my barbies! I am 22 and still have not had sex, and really glad because I do not know what my life would have been like if i did sleep with my boyfriends and fall pregnant at 16. Girls, you have to be cleverer than that. What's the rush?

That is good that you are waiting. I am very proud of you. But, some girls have situations in there life where they think they need a male in there life. Like my situation, I am 19 years old. I never had I father figure in my life so I used to yearn for any male attention. I also was tought just to wait until you are married to have sex. I never was tought what can happen to you if you do just don't do it at all. I beleive if I could have just sat down and talked to someone about me and my feelings instead of just being told not to have sex and to wait. Alot of things probably would have been prevented. But, I was 16 years old and a Junior in highschool when I became pregnant with my daughter. If I could turn back the hands of time I would be pregnant again. I am proud of my daughter. She changed my life. I graduated highschool I am also in college, I also have a excellent job as a transcriptionist. I beleive If I didn't have my daughter I would have been headed in the wrong direction. But, I guess some people have there own opinion and perspective about things. I am not promoting teen pregnancy but, I believe things happen for a reason.

I also wanted to point out that, especially in America, we are bombarded by images of sex and beauty all day, every day. Girls are told to be pretty and make guys want you. When we fall into the media hype we start to believe it is necessary to go along with the rest of the crowd. Many girls are smart and get on birth control. Others don't have the means or a way to get contraception or are too embarassed. I was one of the ones who was too embarassed. Luckily my mom found out and got me on birth control before I got pregnant. The contraception worked for me for three years. I was 18 when I got pregnant the first time. I had an abortion for medical reasons although that does not mean I don't regret it. I switched birth control methods but still got pregnant again at 19. I had my daughter at age 20. I switched birth controls again and now I believe that I may be pregnant again. We can ask why girls have sex and tell them to abstain or preach to them about the dangers but it will not stop the girls who believe they are in love. And what about rape? It can not be prevented. Birth control is a good option but still not foolproof. There will always be teen pregnancy and therefore, I am glad there are sites that lend support to these young women and guide them to the decisions that won't cause them regret for the rest of their lives. It is not that we condone premarital sex but that we are there to listen and support women in tough situations. I am proud to be a guide and advisor to many younger women that need an ear or a shoulder to cry on. At the very least I may make one or two rethink their decision to have sex or maybe I'll get them to use protection. With it being mother's day and all, I think we should realize that these girls are doing their very best and they came here because they know they made some bad decisions but they are going to do what is right and that in itself shows they will make great mothers and raise their children to face the consequences of their actions. I say God bless the teen mothers.