Emergency Contraception For Adolescents Research Articles

Emergency contraception in adolescents. A grey area in Italian legislation

Objective: To explore Italian legislation and the social climate regarding the issue of emergency contraception (EC) in adolescents.Results: In recent years, in Italy, we have seen changes in the law and in attitudes towards EC. Since 2016, EC has been approved for sale as a non-prescription drug to women over the age of 18. However, the requirement for a prescription is still in force for women under 18. This raises questions such as the minor’s ability to consent to family planning services to prevent pregnancy, and whether physicians require parental consent before providing an EC prescription to minors. This article explores these issues within the social and legislative context of adolescent reproductive health care, demonstrating a need for EC among Italian adolescents.Conclusion: Making EC difficult for minors to access seems to respond to a political stance that clashes with existing social needs and with medical evidence that shows that EC is safe and reliable for use in adolescents, and that the increased use of EC has no negative effects on regular, ongoing contraceptive use or encourages risky sexual behaviour. Future interventions by Italian policy-makers should target these themes in order to make EC easily available to adolescents throughout the country.

Emergency Contraception for Adolescents and Young Adults: Guidance for Health Care Professionals

Emergency Contraception for Adolescents and Young Adults: Guidance for Health Care Professionals

Emergency Contraception for Adolescents: A Political Battle

The political debate for adolescents to have access to emergency contraception that is available over the counter has been going on for years. Since 1999, Levonorgestrel, Plan B One Step®, has been used in the United States as an emergency contraception but with a prescription at the time. The FDA has done years of research and testing with Barr Laboratories, the manufacture of Plan B One Step®, to make it safe for females of all ages. In 2003, the FDA recommended the over the counter use of Plan B One Step® for all ages, yet this did not occur. In pharmacies across our nation young women find it impossible to purchase this product whether they be of age or not. Politics is making the choices for our young females, not medical evidence. How long are we going to let this continue?

Factores asociados al uso autodeclarado de la anticoncepción de emergencia en la población escolarizada de 14 a 18 años de edad

Objective To describe factors associated with self-reported use of emergency contraception in adolescents attending school in the city of Terrassa (Barcelona, Spain) in 2008. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study to describe the health habits of teenage girls and boys attending school in Terrassa. A representative sample of adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years (n=1300) was used. The adolescents were administered a questionnaire designed ad hoc. Adolescents who reported having had sexual intercourse at least once were studied (n=390). The outcome variable was self-reported use of emergency contraception at some time. The explanatory variables provided information on sociodemographic characteristics, drug use and sexuality. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were fitted using multivariate logistic regression models. The results were stratified by sex. Results A total of 390 students, 28.2% girls and 20.1% boys (their partners) had used emergency contraception at some time. Among boys, the final multivariate model showed that emergency contraception was associated with alcohol abuse (OR=2.7; 95% CI:1.0–7.5), having sexual intercourse weekly (OR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.1–7.2) and not having discussed issues about sexuality in the classroom (OR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.0–6.5). Among girls, self-reported emergency contraception was associated with alcohol abuse (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.4–5.6), cannabis consumption (OR=3.1; 95% CI:1.6–6.0) and weekly sexual intercourse (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.1–3.9). Conclusion Promotion and prevention strategies should begin as early as possible. Behavioral differences should be seen from a gender perspective in the fields of both research and program implementation.

Knowledge and Awareness of Emergency Contraception in Adolescents

Study Objective The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the awareness of emergency contraception among adolescent females, (2) identify factors that are associated with accurate knowledge of emergency contraception and (3) describe prior use of emergency contraception among adolescent females. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting The study procedures were carried out at Kapiolani Medical Center's Teen Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii, which is comprised of an ambulatory university-based resident clinic. Participants English-speaking females who were between the ages of 14 and 19 were invited to participate. Interventions This study utilized a self-administered, anonymous survey that contained questions regarding emergency contraception as well as questions on reproductive and sexual health. Main Outcome Measure The primary outcome was percentage of adolescent women who were aware of emergency contraceptives. Results A total of 100 surveys were distributed and collected. Fifty-six percent of respondents had an awareness of emergency contraception and 69.6% of these adolescents were able to correctly list an emergency contraceptive method. Older teens were more likely to have an awareness of emergency contraception but we did not find any other factors that were associated with accurate knowledge of emergency contraception. Adolescents who had used emergency contraception in the past found it to be acceptable. Conclusions Despite being at high risk for unintended pregnancy, adolescents in this population had lower rates of emergency contraceptive awareness in than has been reported in adults.

Pediatric residents’ knowledge, attitudes and opinions about emergency contraception

To examine the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of pediatric residents regarding the use of emergency contraception in adolescents and compare these findings to a similar study conducted by Golden, et al. in 2001. In this study, it was found that the practicing pediatricians in NY Chapter 2 District II of the American Academy of Pediatrics were being confronted with the decision to prescribe emergency contraception but felt uncomfortable to prescribe it due to inexperience with its use and inadequate training.

Tolerability of levonorgestrel emergency contraception in adolescents

ObjectiveWe evaluated the tolerability of emergency contraception in adolescents. Study designIn this descriptive study, 1 0.75 mg levonorgestrel tablet was administered to 52 females aged 13-16 with instructions to take the second tablet 12 hours later (unprotected intercourse was not an entry requirement). Participants kept diaries of side effects and menstrual patterns. We assessed correct use, side effects caused by treatment, and impact on menstrual cycle. ResultsVirtually all participants used the drug correctly, with no serious adverse events. Minor expected side effects occurred, including nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. There was no difference in reporting of side effects by age. Adolescents' mean duration of menses was comparable pre- and post-treatment (5.3 vs 5.0 days; P=.146), and onset of menses was within the expected range. Ninety percent of participants reported they would recommend emergency contraception to a friend or relative if needed. ConclusionAdolescents tolerated the medication well, experiencing transient side effects.