Teen pregnancies have declined over the past
few decades, but the United States continues to see substantially higher teen
birth rates compared to other developed countries. A new policy statement by the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discusses the use of emergency
contraception and how it can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy in
adolescents. The statement, “Emergency Contraception,” will be published in the
December 2012 Pediatrics and released online Nov. 26. According to the AAP,
adolescents are more likely to use emergency contraception if it’s prescribed in
advance. Many teens continue to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse, and as
many as 10 percent are victims of sexual assault. Other indications for use
include contraceptive failures (defective or slipped condoms, or missed or late
doses of other contraceptives). When used within 120 hours after having
unprotected or under-protected sex, selected regimens for emergency
contraception, such as Plan B, Next Choice, etc., are the only contraceptive
methods to prevent unwanted pregnancy. According to the AAP, pediatricians can
play an important role in counseling patients and providing prescriptions for
teens in need of emergency contraception for preventing pregnancy. Patients
should also know that emergency contraception does not protect against sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), and pediatricians should discuss the importance
of STI testing, or treatment if needed. The AAP also encourages pediatricians to
advocate for better insurance coverage and increased access to emergency
contraception for teens, regardless of
age.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000
primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and
pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and
well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more
information, visit www.aap.org.
