Despite the decline in the total birth rate in the United States, there has been an increase in adolescent pregnancies, most of which are unplanned. This report discusses the medical and psychologic complications of teenage pregnancy and presents data from a study of 296 adolescents. The study includes pregnant adolescents who planned to continue their pregnancy and those who requested abortion, and compared these groups with non- pregnant high school students. The areas of inquiry included sexual information, contraceptive practice, relation of sex education course to use of contraceptives, methods of coping, and family relations. No significant difference was found between the groups in source of information—in all groups peers were the usual source. Those in the abortion and nonpregnant sample were more likely to use contraceptives. Of those who failed to use contraceptives in all groups, the most frequent response reflected a failure to acknowledge consciously the consequences of sexual activity. Adolescents in maternity homes showed less emphasis on independent decision making. They also revealed less conflict at home. The authors suggest that expectations for consistent, responsible contraceptive planning may be at variance with the developmental stage of many sexually active adolescents. Furthermore, they suggest that conscious and unconscious motivation to become pregnant may be important factors. This, added to the problem of obtaining adequate contraception or of finding creative alternatives to establishing adulthood, may play a role in the high incidence of adolescent pregnancy.