Prenatal Discussion of Contraceptive Options in Teenage Pregnancies

To determine if contraceptive options are discussed during prenatal care among pregnant teenagers.

Hospital and outpatient clinical records were reviewed for teenagers between the ages 12 and 19, inclusive, who delivered at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (UTMB) John Sealy Hospital and received prenatal care at one of the UTMB-affiliated ambulatory clinics.

A total of 244 postpartum teenagers were included in this study. The mean age was 17.6 ± 1.2 years. The majority of teenagers were Hispanic (57%), followed by white (34%) and black (9%). Of the patients, 41% had less than 10 prenatal visits. Only 14% of the patients had a discussion about contraception during these prenatal visits, most of which occurred after 29 weeks of gestation.

Pregnant teenagers are not frequently counseled about postpartum contraceptives. When counseling does occur, it happens in the third trimester, which may not provide enough time for a teenager to thoroughly consider contraceptive options. Guidelines on when providers should discuss postpartum contraception are necessary.