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  • Title: Female adolescent contraception.
    Author: Harbin RE.
    Journal: Pediatr Nurs; 1995; 21(3):221-6. PubMed ID: 7792103.
    Abstract:
    Numerous clinical challenges confront care providers in caring for adolescents regarding contraception and sexual health issues. Strong communication skills are an integral factor in dealing with the sexually active teen. The most common contraceptive options for adolescents include Norplant, Depo-Provera, oral contraception, and condoms. Providing contraceptive care for adolescents requires knowledge of these methods, including the new FDA guidelines that standardize instructions for oral contraceptive use. Nursing responsibilities include counseling the adolescent regarding the risks of sexual activity with multiple partners, exposure to HIV, STDS, and the correct use of condoms. Educational efforts should focus on improving adolescent communication skills and encouraging discussion by sexual partners about the issue of condom use. Health care providers who work with sexually active female adolescents must ensure their patients privacy and confidentiality, counsel about age-appropriate sexual behavior and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and identify the most effective and suitable contraceptive method. The most popular forms of contraception for this age group are Norplant, Depo-Provera, oral contraceptives (OCs), and condoms. Norplant and Depo-Provera are often selected because their effectiveness is not dependent on patient compliance; however, acceptors must be counseled about likely problems with menstrual abnormalities. The newer low-dose combined OCs reduce many of the side effects associated with this method. Providers must be familiar with the Food and Drug Administration guidelines on OC counseling regarding start date, missed pills, and back-up contraception. A small supply of condoms can be provided with every OC prescription for protection against STDs. Some adolescents may need education to improve their skills regarding condom use negotiation. In all cases, counseling should be tailored to the adolescents' psychosexual developmental level.
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