Abstract
Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy among adolescents is a worldwide public health issue.
In many countries unmarried young women are denied contraceptive services. Long-acting
reversible contraceptive methods such as the intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been
shown to be more effective than short-acting such as the pill, and safe also for adolescents.
The popularity has varied a lot with time and between populations. Health care providers,
health system, and user factors all influence IUD use. A good sexuality education
through school provides a foundation, and health care providers give specific individual
counseling. International and country-specific guidelines have been published during
the past decade indicating the advantage of IUDs. New smaller size devices make placement
easier for nulliparous adolescents. Still the uptake has remained rather low in most
regions, cost being one barrier. Several municipalities have started to provide long-acting
reversible contraceptive methods for adolescents free of charge, and this has led
to a significant increase in IUD use, accompanied by a reduction in abortion rates.
Adolescent-friendly services should offer low-cost or free contraception, including
male and female condoms, emergency contraception, and a full range of modern methods,
including long-acting reversible methods, according to adolescents’ preferences and
needs.
Key Words
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Article info
Footnotes
Dr Apter's institution VL-Medi has received grants for conducting clinical studies, including grants from Bayer about levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems. He has participated in scientific meetings organized by Bayer, Exeltis, GSK, Merck, and Mithra. Any financial support is published annually; link to these at http://www.laaketeollisuus.fi/laakkeet/markkinointi/laakeyritysten-ja-terveydenhuollon-ammattilaisten-yhteistyo/linkit.
This article is published as part of a supplement supported by an educational grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. This, and the other articles in this supplement, have been reviewed using the same criteria as that applied to all Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology submissions.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc.
