Witham, Lindsey: Teens and Contraception

Long-acting contraceptives, such as IUDs or implants, are considered the most effective form of contraception. They are the best protection against unwanted pregnancy among teens with a one percent failure rate per year, stated by the Committee on Adolescent Health Care (ACOG). In the article “IUDs, Implants Best Teen Birth Control, ACOG Says,” Charles Bankhead states that only 4.5% of women aged 15 to 19 are using long-acting contraceptives. If this percentage were to rise, fewer teens would have unwanted pregnancies.  He also states that 20% of unwanted pregnancies are to teenagers. Teens are going to be sexually active. An update of an opinion issued in 2007 states that 42% of teens aged 15 to 19 have already had sexual intercourse. Most teens use protection but they choose the less effective types of contraception. These forms of contraception are short-acting contraceptives, such as condoms and oral contraceptives like birth control pills. Other teenagers choose the withdrawal method, which is very risky behavior. IUDs and implants are a much better choice than short-acting contraceptives. They are also reversible, which is beneficial to teenagers.

One problem society has with long-acting contraceptives is parents. Milly Dawson states that parents who recognize their daughter’s autonomy are more likely to accept their child being offered any contraceptive method. Dawson also stated that, parents are more likely to accept birth control pills and condoms being offered to their teen daughters during doctor visits than more effective methods like IUDs and implants. Parents believe that long-acting contraceptives are related to ongoing sexual relationships. Parents must realize that no matter what they think, most teens are going to be sexually active. So why not protect them? The best way to protect their teens from having unintended pregnancies are by getting them long-acting contraceptives. Another problem with IUDs and implants is that, with all non-barrier methods, condoms must be used to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Bankhead stated. The only other problem, stated by Cori Baill M.D., is that IUDs aren’t accepted in the United States because of the memory of the Dalkon shield. The Dalkon shield was an aggressively marketed IUD with a considerable amount of safety problems. Baill adds, “Parents need to understand that the risk of pregnancy outweighs the risk of any contraceptive method, including the IUD.”