Here's some great news: Today's teens are more aware of the dangers of sex at an early age and are having less intercourse, using more condoms and finishing high school more often that the past generations did.

A tally of national statistics was completed recently by the government and the results were very encouraging. It was revealed that the pregnancy rate across the US for young people has decreased sharply from 40 out of 1,000 to 21 out of the same number. It was also reported that from the 67 percent of all high school students having sex in the early 90's, the figure dropped to 54 percent in 2003. By 2005, the percentage was down to 47 percent.

The drop was credited to the efforts during the 80's and the 90's to make children more aware of the bad effects and consequences of having sex before one is ready. Education at home and in school and the knowledge about the HIV/AIDS epidemic has helped deter youngsters from the act.

Condom companies must be having great times too, as the report showed that condom usage during the past 15 years has risen drastically from 47 percent to 63 percent.

Dr. Edward Sondik of the National Center for Health Statistics affirms the news and comments "the lower figure on teens having sex means the risk of sexually transmitted diseases is lower."

"I think the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the efforts in the '80s and '90s had a lot to do with that," he explains and adds "we need to encourage young teens to delay sexual initiation and we need to make sure they get all the information they need about condoms and birth control."