The
topic of contraceptives is a touchy subject, especially when the conversation
takes place between a parent and daughter. Because of this lack in
communication, these preventative methods often go unused. Teenagers are
responsible for 20% percent of the unintended pregnancies in America according
to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists or ACOG. Because 42% of
teenagers from the ages of 15 to 19 have had sex, this topic needs to be
discussed.
The
starting point in this discussion is getting parents comfortable with the fact
that their daughters are maturing and accepting the help from clinicians when
it comes to choosing the right type of birth control for their girls. The more
that parents accept the development of their teenagers the more likely they
will be accepting of doctors offering contraceptive options, according to a
study done in the Journal of Adolescent
Health.
But
what is the best method of birth control? In the opinion of an ACOG member,
long-acting, reversible contraceptives, such as implants and intrauterine
devices, are top-notch based on their effectiveness. Pregnancy rates with said
contraceptives are less than 1% per year when used properly. Though sexually
active teens use contraceptives, they rarely use the most effective ones. In
the order of preference when it came to choosing a birth control method, the
birth control pills were on top, with a 59% acceptance rate. Trailing the pills
were condoms at 51%, injectable contraceptives at 46% emergency contraceptives
(morning after pill) at 45%, patches at 42%, implants at 32%, and IUDs at 18%.
A study done by the ACOG included 4,167 women ages 15 to 45 and “showed 12
month continuation rates of 86% for long-acting methods versus 55% for
short-acting methods of contraception”.6 Still, most teenagers would
rather use the pill, condoms or the ‘pull-out’ methods instead. This preference
could also be due to the parent’s distrust of IUDs and the cost of such
contraceptives.
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