The Latest in Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

Teen pregnancy is prevalent in the United States and has a number of potential negative outcomes. The most effective contraceptives available, known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), were recently approved for use in adolescents. LARC devices, including the intrauterine device and subdermal implant, are currently recommended as the first-line contraceptive for all women, including adolescents. Despite this recommendation, current LARC use in the adolescent population remains low. A number of barriers to LARC use in adolescents have been identified, including cost, provider knowledge, and patient education. It is important that nurse practitioners providing care to adolescents are knowledgeable of LARC methods and consistently recommend these devices as the first-line contraceptive to all patients desiring contraception because of their high efficacy, safety, and continuation rates. This article discusses LARC benefits, adverse effects, considerations, barriers to access, and implications for nursing practice.     

“It's her body”: low-income men's perceptions of limited reproductive agency

Objectives

While some attention has been paid to men's contraceptive use and attitudes in international contexts, relatively little is known about the attitudes towards contraception and pregnancy of low-income, urban men in the U.S.

Availability and Accessibility of Emergency Contraception to Adolescent Callers in Pharmacies in Four Southwestern States

Purpose

To evaluate the availability and accessibility of emergency contraception (EC) to adolescents in U.S. pharmacies across four Southwestern states, 3 years after the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed age restrictions for over-the-counter sales of levonorgestrel-only pills.

Contraception options: Aspects unique to adolescent and young adult

Sexual health for adolescents is based on three components: recognizing sexual rights, sexuality education and counseling, and thirdly confidential high quality services. Contraception needs to include prevention of both STIs and pregnancies. The first option for adolescents is condoms backed-up by emergency contraception; and later hormonal contraceptives in a longer, mutually monogamous relationship. Condoms and hormonal contraception together can be well recommended for adolescents for dual protection. Long acting reversible contraception (LARC) including both intrauterine contraception and implants are safe and highly effective and thus well suited for adolescents.Improved contraceptive methods do not automatically lead to reduced numbers of adolescent abortions. When sexuality education, proper counseling and sexual health services are all provided, it is possible to profoundly improve adolescent sexual health.     

Teenage pregnancy: strategies for prevention

Teenage pregnancy is a cause and consequence of inequality, limiting the life chances of young parents and their children. It is an issue of global concern, with many countries developing programmes of prevention. This review focuses on the experience of the England strategy, launched in 1999 to address the historically high rates. It is one of the few examples of a successful long term, multi-agency programme, led by national government and locally delivered which, between 1998 and 2015, reduced the under-18 conception rate by 55%. It sets out the case for helping young people delay early pregnancy, the international evidence for prevention, and how evidence is translated into a ‘whole system’ approach. Questions are included to encourage both investigation into local programmes on teenage pregnancy prevention, and reflection on individual practice. The review concludes with summarising the next steps for England and the lessons that can be shared more widely.