Despite the ever-growing availability of birth control,
teenagers keep contracting STDs and having unwanted babies, so the studies say.
Why is this? Some researches believe it is because parents are in denial about
their teenagers sexuality, and therefore hesitant to offer them long-term
reversible contraceptives. But according to the experts, “Short-acting
contraceptive methods...have lower adherence and higher pregnancy rates
compared with long-acting reversible contraceptives.” So should parents give
their teens long-term contraceptives?
The writers
of these articles say yes. “Long-acting reversible methods are top-tier
contraceptives based on effectiveness, with pregnancy rates of less than 1% per
year for perfect use and typical use,” write the members of the ACOG Committee
on Adolescent Health Care. According to them, parents need to be aware of their
children’s autonomy and make choices accordingly. Birth control pills and
condoms aren't nearly as effective as hormone treatment or IUD's.
But of parents
who aren't in denial, pills and condoms are the preferred method of
contraception. Teenagers, too, prefer the easier, less permanent (and therefore
less effective) methods. Of the 42% of adolescents who are sexually active,
most would rather pop a daily pill than invest in a more long-term method.
If
long-acting methods are more effective, why don't more teenagers use them? Cost
and availability can be problems. Many parents are also concerned about the
risks involved. Many IUD's, for example, are outlawed in the U.S. because of
their connection to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Some fear that enacting long-term
methods may force them to acknowledge their kids are involved in a long-term
sexual relationship. However, Corrie Baill states that “parents need to
understand that the risk of pregnancy outweighs the risk of any contraceptive
method, including the IUD.”
The articles
conclude that parents need to be aware of their teen's sexuality, and one
states that “The clinical opinion includes information, recommendations, and
suggestions regarding a number of other issues relevant to use of long-acting
reversible contraceptives, including misperceptions, counseling, and postpartum
and post-abortal use of long-acting reversible contraceptives.”
No comments:
Post a Comment