Contraception and Adolescent Pregnancy

Any of the adult contraceptive methods Overview of Contraception Contraception is prevention of ovulation (stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs) or prevention of fertilization of an egg by a sperm (conception) or prevention of attachment of a fertilized... read more may be used by adolescents, but the most common problem is adherence. For example, some adolescent girls forget to take birth control pills Oral Contraceptives Contraceptive hormones can be Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives) Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings) Applied to the skin (patch) Implanted under the skin read more every day or stop taking them entirely and may not substitute another form of birth control. Although male condoms are the most frequently used form of contraception, there are still perceptions that may inhibit consistent use. For example, adolescents may think condoms decrease pleasure and interfere with “romantic love.” Some adolescents also are shy about asking partners to use condoms during sex. Longer-term forms of contraception, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small, flexible, T-shaped plastic devices that are inserted into the uterus. In the United States, 12% of women who use contraception use IUDs. IUDs are popular... read more ), hormonal injections Contraceptive Injections Contraceptive hormones can be Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives) Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings) Applied to the skin (patch) Implanted under the skin read more that last 3 months or longer, or implants under the skin Contraceptive Implants Contraceptive hormones can be Taken by mouth (oral contraceptives) Inserted into the vagina (vaginal rings) Applied to the skin (patch) Implanted under the skin read more that may be effective for several years, are popular with adolescent girls.

Pregnancy can be a source of significant emotional stress for adolescents.

Pregnant adolescents and their partners tend to drop out of school or job training, thus worsening their economic status, lowering their self-esteem, and straining personal relationships. Pregnant adolescents are less likely than adults to get prenatal care, resulting in poorer pregnancy outcomes, such as higher rates of premature birth Preterm (Premature) Newborns A preterm newborn is a baby delivered before 37 weeks of gestation. Depending on when they are born, preterm newborns have underdeveloped organs, which may not be ready to function outside of... read more . Pregnant adolescents, particularly the very young and those who are not receiving prenatal care, are more likely than women in their 20s to have medical problems such as anemia Anemia During Pregnancy Anemia occurs in up to one third of women during the 3rd trimester. The most common causes of anemia are Iron deficiency Folate deficiency (See also Anemia.) If women have a hereditary anemia... read more (when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells) and preeclampsia Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Preeclampsia is new high blood pressure or worsening of existing high blood pressure that is accompanied by excess protein in the urine and that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. Eclampsia... read more (high blood pressure and protein in the urine that can stress the fetus).

Infants born to younger adolescents (especially those under 15 years of age) are more likely to be born prematurely and to have a low birth weight. However, with proper prenatal care, older adolescents have no higher risk of pregnancy problems than adults from similar social and economic backgrounds.

A pregnant adolescent may choose to continue or terminate Abortion Induced abortion is the intentional ending of a pregnancy by surgery or medications. A pregnancy may be ended by surgically removing the contents of the uterus or by taking certain medications... read more the pregnancy. An adolescent may raise the child herself or together with the child's father, possibly with support of family members, or may give up a child voluntarily (adoption Adoption Adoption is the legal process of adding a person to an existing family. All adoptions must be validated by a court of law. Adoption, unlike foster care, is meant to be permanent. The goal of... read more ).

All of the options may cause emotional stress. Counseling for both the girl and her partner can be very helpful. Counseling should also include education about use of contraception after the pregnancy.

An adolescent's parents may have different reactions when their child is pregnant or has impregnated someone. Emotions may range from distress to excitement, apathy, disappointment, or anger. It is important for parents to express their support and willingness to help the adolescent sort through their choices. Parents and adolescents need to communicate openly about abortion, adoption, and parenthood, which are all tough options for adolescents to struggle with alone.