Chavez, Jasmin: Teens and Contraception

Milly Dawson, in the Journal of Adolescent Health writes how parents are becoming more willing for their daughters to consume contraceptive methods, yet unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases rates have increased over the past 20 years. In a phone survey of 261 parents/caregivers, they expressed their attitudes and beliefs about contraceptives. The birth control pill came on top, followed in descending order by condoms, injectable contraceptives, morning after pill, birth control patches, implants and intrauterine device (IUDs). The main similarity between parents who accept some kind of contraceptive is the recognition of their teen daughters “autonomy,” but parents who do not accept IUDs usually do so because they do not approve of their daughters being involved in an ongoing sexual relationship. A former member of Planned Parenthood suggested that parents attitudes toward long-acting contraceptives were probably influenced by the Dalkon Shield, a strongly marketed IUD, which had many health problems. Even though using contraceptive methods may have risks, many say the risks of pregnancy are worse.

From a different perspective, Charles Bankhead of MedPage Today writes about how The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) has publicly approved of contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices claiming them to be the most effective contraceptives. ACOG also claimed that long acting contraceptives are beneficial for teens because so many teens have had sexual intercourse while only using short acting contraceptive, making them more vulnerable to pregnancy. A study of contraceptive usage of 4,167 women between 15 to 45 years of age showed that women 20 or older had a continuation rate of 80%  or higher and younger women had 72%, which was higher than other women their age using short acting methods. The unplanned pregnancy rates were also much better compared to other methods. For example, women were 22 times at higher risk for pregnancy while using short- acting methods. Many professionals recommend long acting reversible contraceptive because it does not require daily attention, but they also recommend using condoms to decrease the risk of catching STIs (Sexually transmitted infections) while using long action methods. Even though many barriers exist for using long acting methods, such as cost, they can usually be overcome by using public clinics.

Over time both parents and professionals are becoming more welcoming toward long acting reversible contraceptives methods by researching and making these methods safer to women.