[Adolescents and contraception. What should the pediatrician know? (Part one)]

Many adolescents are sexually active and reproductive health is an important aspect of adolescent medicine. However, pediatricians are often uncomfortable with the issues of sexuality and contraception, for which they have not been particularly trained. The general purpose of this article is to increase pediatricians' sense of competence with adolescents, particularly when having to deal with or counsel on such a sensitive issue as contraception. This first of two parts is an updated review of the relevant contraceptive methods available, mainly condoms and various contraceptive pills, but also less-prescribed method like long-term progestins, as well as the recently debated emergency contraception. Each of these methods is described in its context of use at adolescence.