[Pregnancies of young girls--causes and possibilities of medical prevention].

Over recent years, numbers of pregnant minors as well as of abortions have been on the increase in Germany. Very young girls are increasingly involved. At first glance, the trend seems difficult to comprehend since sexual education is liberal and contraceptives are readily accessible. In order to understand the reasons, the physical and psychosexual development of girls in puberty is briefly reviewed, followed by a discussion of the deficits of our society in dealing with the actual libidinal needs of young girls: education fails to address the realities of life, sexual stimulation by the mass media is ubiquitous, pluralistic life-styles and moral inconsistencies prevail, a perspective in the labor market is non-existent. Yearning for a close relationship is conducive to the escape into an ideal world of an own, close-knit family. Girls urgently need competent, accepting guidance and practicable information about their cycle functions, fertility and pregnancy, which render them able to decide and to act. This should preferably happen before they take up intimate relations. Gynaecologists are supposed to be the ideal resource.