Over the past decade, California
has been at the forefront of
successful efforts to reduce teen
pregnancy and abortion rates. The
state supports comprehensive
family life education including key
messages about both abstinence
and contraception, and ensures
the provision of contraceptive
services for teens in a confidential
manner. Adolescents in California
are reporting delayed sexual
activity and increases in
contraceptive use. As a result,
fewer adolescents experience
unintended pregnancy and
abortion each year. As evidenced
by research from other states,
requiring parental notification will
likely not prevent abortion or the
need for abortion, nor will it
improve minors’ communication
with parents about abortion
decisions. This research also
suggests that parental notification
can have the negative
consequence of putting
adolescents’ health at risk by
delaying and otherwise
complicating access to care