Meeting the special needs of pregnant teenagers

There is no one best method of contraception for postpregnant teenagers. Most emphasis, however, needs to be on preventing unwanted teenage pregnancies. Contraceptive history must be considered in prescribing. Effective and continuing contraceptive use is enhanced by careful counseling and follow-up and sensitivity to the special needs of teenage users of contraceptives for support, reinstruction, reassurance, guarantee of privacy, and comfort in the clinical setting. Use of oral contraceptives or IUDs should be encouraged since their use-effectiveness in teenagers is so much greater than other methods. But even more important is acceptability to the teenager as this provides the greatest assurance that the method will be used effectively.