Contraception Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Contraception, including details on birth control, the pill, condoms, emergency contraception.

Contraceptive care for adolescents.

Whitaker AK, Gilliam M

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois, USA. amy.whitaker@uchospitals.edu

Adolescents have a high rate of unintended pregnancy: 82% of pregnancies for women aged 15 to 19 years are unintended. The large majority of sexually active adolescent women are using some method of contraception, but few are using long-acting highly effective methods, that is, intrauterine devices and implants. Most adolescent women are relying on oral contraceptive pills and/or condoms as their most effective method, with the third most common method being depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. None of the long-acting highly effective methods are contraindicated in adolescents, and they should be considered for use and offered to young women as contraceptive options.

Published 8 May 2008 in Clin Obstet Gynecol, 51(2): 268-80.
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