[Use of contraceptives among adolescents (author's transl)]

Adolescents consulting the family planning clinic in Vienna seldom use contraceptives before the age of seventeen or use a method with a high risk of pregnancy. Thereafter a marked increase in the number of pill-users is observed. All other methods of contraception, including the rhythm method, condom, diaphragm and chemical methods are employed only to a negligible extent. These results are compared with the figures of other countries, where, in general, a higher number of pill-users is reported. It is concluded that the recommendation of traditional methods of contraception by doctors does not seem practicable on account of the positive trend towards the pill among adolescents. The basis for prescription of oral contraceptives to adolescents is critically reviewed and revised.