Despite declining teen birth rates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that too many girls under the age of 18 are getting pregnant. U.S. health officials note that earlier sex education can help prevent births in teens.

The national teen birth rate has dropped 63 percent, reaching its lowest levels in nearly 20 years. However, 1,700 babies continue to be born to teen girls under the age of 18 each week. According to a recently released report from the CDC, this rate is still too high.

Principal deputy director of the CDC, Ileana Arias, said, “There have been noted declines in birth rates to teens, and that’s good news.”

However, Arias continues, “…we can’t be complacent when we hear about these declines. We still need to make more progress in reducing health disparities and the public health burden related to teen pregnancies and births. Younger teens still account for one in four births.”

Arias explains that these early pregnancies and births can disrupt goals of finishing high school, which can ultimately lead to educational, career, and income sacrifices. She says, “The young teen years are a critical time when a teen, especially a young woman, could jeopardize her future if she cannot complete high school or college.”

Additionally, young fathers may also need to alter their plans by limiting their education and putting future plans on hold.

Health experts advise teaching sex education, ensuring that teens learn about abstinence and birth control prior to having sex.

Despite the obvious nature of the advice, it is essential to help lower statistics. The 83 percent of teen girls who were sexually experienced explained to interviewers that they did not receive formal sex education until after they had become sexually active.

Of the teens ages 15 to 17 who were interviewed, 91 percent had taken a formal sex education class, including information regarding birth control or ways to abstain from sex. Around 61 percent of those interviewed learned about both. Approximately 76 percent of girls within this age group had discussed one or both of these choices with their parents.