In Texas, most minors under 18 cannot consent to their own contraceptive care without a parent or guardian’s permission. While this policy is often intended to protect youth, evidence shows it can actually create serious barriers to care—especially for teens who are already navigating complex circumstances.
At Resound Research for Reproductive Health, we teamed up with the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute to explore this issue in depth. Our latest research brief, “Why Confidential Contraception Matters for Texas Teens,” breaks down the impact of limited access, legal context, and policy considerations that could help support healthier outcomes for youth across the state.
A Few Key Takeaways:
- 1 in 5 Texas high school students are sexually active.
- Among them, only 27% used a highly effective contraceptive method during their last sexual encounter.
- 16% used no method at all.
- Texas has one of the highest teen birth rates in the country.
- Teens who fear confidentiality breaches are less likely to seek care—even when they want contraception.
The brief also outlines how federal programs like Title X once protected teens’ access to confidential services, and how a recent court ruling has changed that landscape in Texas.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, expanding confidential care options can support teens’ health, autonomy, and decision-making as they transition into adulthood.
Read the full brief here:
https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/why-confidential-contraception-matters-texas-teens
