Infertility

Australia's teen birth rate halved in the last 30 years but it is three times that of Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

We know that drug and alcohol use increases the risk of pregnancy.

Most young girls (and some boys) report having sex when they don't want to, particularly when alcohol or drugs are involved, and we know that condom use is much lower under these circumstances.

We do know that young men and women have different attitudes to sex relationships, and this has a big impact on how they manage their sexuality and partnerships.

Despite all the recent talk about unwanted pregnancies and abortion in Australia, the fiercest opponents of abortion seem to be missing the point.

The promised $51 million for pregnancy counselling services is all well and good (assuming it is delivered in a professional, unbiased manner) but it won't do anything to stop unplanned pregnancies.

It also won't do anything to stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, or reduce the high rate of sexual assault.

Nor will it fight homophobia or help young people decide if, and when, they will be sexually active.

Keeping young people in the dark or suggesting that they just say no is also no answer – it never was, never will be.

But evidence-based sexual and reproductive health education in our schools, with parents i...

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