Use of Short Acting Reversible Contraception in Adolescents: The Pill, Patch, Ring and Emergency Contraception

Long acting reversible contraception (LARC) is the recommend form of birth control for adolescents by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, but the majority of adolescents continue to use short acting reversible contraception (SARC) such as the oral contraceptive pill, vaginal ring, and transdermal patch. For this reason, it is important for medical providers to be familiar with how to prescribe and manage SARC in adolescents, paying particular attention to which patients are eligible to use them, which benefits the methods have outside of contraception, what side effects to be aware of, and special considerations for adolescents. Many adolescents will choose not to use any form of hormonal contraception-thus having a knowledge about and comfort with use of emergency contraception is of equal importance.