Joycelyn Elders Quotes

My mother put me on birth control as soon as I told her I wanted to go on it. I was 16. I was very young.

Sex education classes are like in-home sales parties for abortions.

I'm pro responsible choice. You know, there is choice to abstain, choice to do contraception. There are all kinds of good choices.

We're more effective than birth control pills.

Contraceptives should be used on every conceivable occasion.

Contraceptives have a proven track record of enhancing the health of women and children, preventing unintended pregnancy, and reducing the need for abortion.

Thoughtful education programs and access to effective forms of contraception are key to preventing unplanned pregnancy.

My number one advice to high school girls is birth control. You want to keep all your options open for as long as possible? Birth control.

The first time I had sex, I was scared I got the girl pregnant. And that was despite the fact we were safe. Luckily, we were fine. I would never risk not wearing a condom, it’s too much of a risk. If you’re not ready for a child, then don’t risk it.

Contraception really shouldn't be all that controversial because it's a tool a woman can use to delay her first birth until she's, say, 18 or 19 years old.

We must begin to shift the emphasis of teen-age pregnancy to teen-age boys.

If adolescent pregnancy prevention is to become a priority, then our strategy, as advocates, must contain two key elements: civic engagement and education.

Most creative thing I've ever done? Got somebody pregnant.

Teen pregnancy went way down in the '90s, and 75 percent of it was because of increased use of contraception.

The condom has saved so many lives, and it'll save so many more lives. We really owe a great deal to the rubber tree.

If they are opposed to abortion, they should be for preventing unintended pregnancies.

The best contraceptive is the word no - repeated frequently.

The truth is that contraception saves lives, prevents unplanned pregnancies, improves outcomes for children and reduces the number of abortions.

I want guys out there to think when they are in the magic moment of lovemaking that if this woman gets pregnant, I'm going to be on a financial hook for the rest of my life.

We all want abstinence. And if I knew how to get abstinence I would do whatever it takes to do that ... Given a choice between hearing my daughter say I'm pregnant or I used a condom, most mothers would get up in the middle of the night and buy them herself.

We need to teach responsibility not legislate morality, because the vows of abstinence break far more easily than latex condoms.

I can’t pass any legislation that will stop children from having children. Education must do that.

Those still in school and colleges have no business having access to condoms. I am not in favor of condoms.

If you are a pregnant teenage poor girl, you will not likely ever get out of poverty. Nor will your children. Birth control can be the most cost effective anti-poverty possibility that we have.

No parent wants their child to get an infection or get pregnant before they're ready.