Tag: Girls

What is Teenage Pregnancy? Sex Education is Important

Article

October 4, 2022
/ Leave a Comment on What is Teenage Pregnancy? Sex Education is Important

6 min
1 year
1,107 word

Tagged awareness, Education, Girls, pregnancy, Psychology

What is Teenage Pregnancy? Sex Education is Important

Teenage pregnancy is defined as females between the ages of 13-15 who engage in sexual activity and become pregnant either intentionally or unintentionally.

Keywords: Teenage pregnancy, girls, awareness, sex education, education, psychology

Author: Tanishka Ranjan

Teenage is a crucial growth phase in the life of any individual fraught with physiological changes and often, psychological conflicts. Teenagers belong to the age group of thirteen to twenty.

As sexual development sets in, teenagers are hounded by curiosity to explore their bodies. Due to a lack of awareness regarding sex, they often engage in unsafe sex, eventually becoming teenage parents. Mostly such pregnancies are unplanned, and minors are not ready to bear the responsibilities of being a parent. Globally, the rate of teenage pregnancy is relatively high. Mostly teenagers from lower backgrounds with little or no sex education end up with teenage pregnancies. Teenage pregnancy is a widely prevalent social evil.

INTRODUCTION

Teenage pregnancy is defined as females between the ages of 13-15 who engage in sexual activity and become pregnant either intentionally or unintentionally. Teenage mothers generally do not have the resources to care for a child. As well as they are not able to sustain healthy habits throughout pregnancy to ensure they produce a healthy baby. These young females often do not complete their education and they begin a perpetual cycle in which their children may further go on to become teenage parents as well.

Teenage pregnancy may be linked to things such as lack of education and information about reproduction, peer pressure and early engagement in sexual activity. Although some teenage pregnancies are intentional, the majority of them are unintentional and lead to many negative outcomes for the teenage mother, the child as well as other family and peers.

CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

1. Drugs and Alcohol

Drinking excessively as well as experimenting with drugs may lead to unwanted and unintentional pregnancy. These substances greatly affect a teen’s ability to logically think and carry out general thinking processes. This increases the chances of engaging in unprotected and unsafe sexual activity.

2. Low Socio-Economic Condition

Teens who become pregnant often come from families of low socio-economic status. These children grow up to have low educational goals and successes because of the lack of involvement from their parents. With the lack of education and knowledge about reproduction, these teens engage in unprotected and unsafe sexual activity. These teens simply engage in intercourse at very young ages and may have multiple partners which further leads to increased chances of pregnancy.

3. Peer Pressure and Sexual Abuse

Peer pressure is another major cause of sexual abuse, often females may be pressured or forced by an older male partner to engage in sexual activity. These young females out of fear may feel forced to engage in unprotected sex without a choice.

4. Media Influence

The media has a large effect on teen pregnancy. The media often glamorizes pregnancy and hides the true hardships associated with pregnancy which encourages these teens to become pregnant. Some teenage females become pregnant just to drop out of high school or to force their partners into a deeper commitment. Rebellion is also another reason why some teens become pregnant.

CONSEQUENCES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

1. Illiteracy

Teenagers getting pregnant at an early age cannot pursue their higher education due to extra responsibility, which increases the rate of literacy in society. The education of the teen mother remains on hold during pregnancy, and some teens even decide to drop out of their high school and find a job to supplement themselves.

2. Loss of Government Revenue

In most developing nations, governments plan welfare schemes to take adequate care of teen mothers and their dependent children. As the low-qualified mother cannot get a good job, she completely depends on such welfare schemes to overcome the impending financial distress.

3. Social Obligations

A teenage mother has to face several social obligations like not getting a good job, and not getting respect from friends and family members. The entire social life of the teen mother gets ruined due to her early and unexpected pregnancy, and she has to spend her life in emotional trauma.

4. Lack Of Financial Support

A teen mother who does not get proper financial support from her parents or friends has to face a severe financial crunch. She has to face extreme difficulty to buy basic items for her newborn baby like clothing and baby care products.

5. Increased Risk of Destitution

As fewer teen moms attain proper educational degrees and qualifications, they cannot find suitable and well-paid jobs to improve their financial position.

6. Higher Suicide Rates

Teenage moms are more prone to committing suicide, as the humiliation and embarrassment, and lack of social support can trigger depression. Emotional stress, financial crisis, and societal alienation are some of the main contributing factors that trigger a suicide among teen mothers.

7. Medical Complications

Teenage pregnancy increases the risks of medical complications for both the mother and her baby. A lack of proper prenatal care often induces medical complications like high blood pressure, anaemia, and premature birth of the baby.

SOLUTIONS

Abstinence: Self-restraint from sexual activity at an early age is the best way to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Contraceptives: Using contraceptive devices or emergency pills during sexual intercourse helps in preventing teenage pregnancy and early parenthood.
Communication: Active and positive interaction between child-parent regarding sex education or difficulties may prove beneficial to step down the barriers of early pregnancy.
Provision of sex education in higher secondary schools along with the consequences:
- Targeting messages at teen boys, not just at the girls.
- Increasing the availability of condoms to teens.
- Encourage mentoring by older teens to younger teens regarding teenage pregnancy and Its consequences.
Community-Based Programs: Organising community-based programs on teenage pregnancy and adverse effects.
Sex Education: Schools should provide adolescent-friendly health services along with counselling.

CONCLUSION

Most teens get pregnant due to unprotected sexual intercourse, a lack of maturity and a lack of personal responsibility. A lack of proper sex education, the stigmatisation of sex, and many other societal rules contribute directly or indirectly to teen pregnancy. Teens should speak to their physicians about sex and pregnancy.

Prompt guidance is essential to aid teens in leading a successful life and not being prone to commit mistakes in their impressionable years. Parents must instil the right set of values and morals in their children to help them make appropriate life decisions. Altogether, it is the equal responsibility of the parents and the society to teach and guide teenagers towards the right paths, rather than merely passing negative comments and demotivating them.

“THERE IS A SANCTITY INVOLVED WITH BRINGING A CHILD INTO THIS WORLD, IT IS BETTER THAN BOMBING ONE OUT OF IT”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Edu Mound (@edu.mound)

For any Query

Mail us at edumoundofficial@gmail.com

Medical

November 29, 2021
/ Leave a Comment on An Overview about Cervical Cancer

5 min
2 years
913 words
1

Tagged Adolescent Problem, Cervical Cancer, Girls, Healthcare, Reproductive Organ

An Overview about Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is when the cells of the cervix grow abnormally. It is metastatic in nature. Cervix is a part of the female reproductive system. It is present in the lowest part of the womb that connects the uterus (also called the womb) to the vagina. Cervix is made of two parts namely endocervix which is lined by glandular cells and exocervix which is also known as ectocervix that is lined by squamous cells.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

Author: Dr. Shruti

Cancer is defined as the abnormal growth of new cells that can even spread to other parts of the body. Metastasis is the spread of cells to other organs only. Cervical cancer can even spread to nearby organs such as the vagina or rectum to even far away organs such as the liver or lungs. 99% of the cases of cervical cancer are more or less linked to infections like Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) or Sexually Transmitted Infections that occur as the reason of multiple sexual partners.

Statistics

It has been ranked as the 4^th most common cancer. As per WHO, it has been estimated in 2018 that it has affected nearly 570000 women in the year 2k18 with mortality of 311000. The age group of 35 to 44 yrs is prone to cervical cancer.

Types of Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer has been classified into three types and is as follow-

Adenocarcinoma – This type of cancer develops from glandular cells which line the endocervix.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma – This develops from squamous cells which line the exocervix or ectocervix. This is the most common type of cervical cancer.
Mixed Carcinoma – This type is also called adenosquamous carcinoma. As the name says, it has features of both the other types of cervical cancers.

There are a few more types such as – Neuroendocrine tumor, Glassy cell carcinoma, and Small cell carcinoma.

Symptoms

Usually, the early stage of cancer doesn’t show any signs or symptoms. But on the other hand, this is the most treatable and curable cancer. The signs or symptoms are as follow-

Lower abdomen pain especially after intercourse.
Pain during any sexual activity.
Vaginal discharge with a foul odour.
Bleeding from the vagina after intercourse.
Abnormal bleeding and pain after menopause or in between menstrual cycles.
Pain or bleeding while urinating.
Weight loss.
Loss of appetite.
Fatigue.

If it got metastasized, it gives symptoms like-

Bone pain.
Kidney failure.
Cough and congestion.

Causes and Risk Factors

HPV – Human Papilloma Virus especially HPV-16 and HPV-18. It causes cervical dysplasia also
STIs due to intercourse with more than one partner or multiple partners.
Smoking
Frequent use of contraceptive pills
Make sexual contact at the early age
Early or multiple pregnancies

Signs to consult a doctor immediately

Bleeding after menopause
Pain while intercourse
Effects like fatigue, weakness in legs, unconscious with abnormal vaginal discharge

Diagnosis

The most common and the first test is done for screening is PAP Smear. In this, cells are collected through a swab and the pathologists work on it using a microscope.

After this, if they found anything unusual, more tests are performed such as-

Biopsy – in which a part of cervical tissue has been taken and sent for testing. The result for this test usually takes a week to come.
Colposcopy – It magnifies the cervix from 8 to 15 times. Colposcope is the instrument that is inserted into the cervix to view the cells there. It is done after staining the cervix with a dye.
LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) – In this also, a sample of cervical tissue is taken out by using a loop wire and sent for testing.
Conization – It is the removal of an affected part of the cervix. It is done under anesthesia

Other tests done are as follow-

Blood tests
X-ray
Ultrasound
CT Scan
MRI Scan
PET CT Scan

These tests help in confirming the stage, size, and extent of cancer in the body.

Stages

There are 5 stages of cancer.

Stage 0 – This stage has no visible signs and symptoms. It is a pre-cancerous condition

Stage I – The size is small. This stage doesn’t show any metastasis

Stage II – The size is large. Metastasized to uterus or lymph nodes

Stage III – Metastasized to vagina and pelvis and organs in the pelvis, hindering the normal functions of the organs

Stage IV – Metastasized to other organs like lung, liver, etc

Treatment

The treatment options available for cervical cancer are as follows-

Surgery – There are many types of surgeries done for the treatment of cervical cancer-

Laser surgery
Hysterectomy
Pelvic exenteration
Cryosurgery
Conization

Chemotherapy – It kills cancer cells by high-dose drugs or injections. It is usually given in cycles and daycare at the hospital.
Radiation therapy – It is given using high-energy rays that stop the growth of abnormal cells by damaging them. It can be external, internal, or both. It is given usually 5 days a week.
Biological therapy – It is also called immunotherapy as targets immune cells. It is usually used when chemotherapy is not giving any effects.

Out of the above-mentioned procedures, surgery and radiation therapy are the most common type of treatments.

Prevention

Tips to reduce the risk of cervical cancer are as follows-

Administration of HPV vaccine
PAP Smear in every 3 yrs
Use of contraceptive while intercourse
Don’t smoke and drink
Do regular work out but don’t exert yourself
Limit sexual partners

Advancements in research of cervical cancer-

Research has shown recent advancements such as-

Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Immunotherapy
Targeted therapy

For any Query

Mail us at info@edumound.com

Who are We?

EduMound is a start-up platform established for young minds aspiring to contribute their skills and knowledge for the growth of the educational fraternity. We are an educational platform that focuses on the co-curricular portfolio development of students.

Stay Connected

Events

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEBSITE!