Pregnancy during adolescence

Adolescent pregnancy continues to be one of our most challenging public health issues. Prevention is the most important goal that can be sought. Pediatricians can play a major role with young people and their families in pursuit of this goal. Young women who become pregnant must be referred early to obstetric care so that either early prenatal care can be established or an abortion can be performed early so as to prevent morbidity by delaying the procedure. New contraceptive methods such as contraceptive implants provide hope that improved contraceptive technology will aid in decreasing the likelihood of adolescent pregnancy.