Unfortunately,
a young teenager below age 18 may think "her body is ready," but the
fact is that even well-nourished U.S. girls do not complete their
growth in height, weight, and the reproductive organs (including the
uterus) until ages 16-18. Maturation of the pelvis is even later, ages
20-21. Fertility of well-nourished U.S. women rises to a peak in the
mid-20s.
Teenagers
are more likely to have low birthweight infants or infants with
neurological defects, as Grizzard notes, because they have not
completed their own physical growth. They also may not have completed
their psychological growth and education. As Grizzard records, only
"half of teen mothers complete high school, and fewer go on to
college."
Rather than accept the high costs of a too early
pregnancy, to the infant, the mother, and the community (and probably
the father), physicians and teachers should
inform young teenagers of the facts on their physical and reproductive
development, and even encourage aspirations for education. Then, at grown-up ages, they can enjoy healthy infants as responsible parents.
Rose
Frisch, Associate Professor Emerita of Population Sciences, Harvard
School of Public Health February 8, 2002 Focus, a publication of
Harvard Medical School Office of Public Affairs |
