Counseling Adolescents About Contraception
Comprehensive health care of adolescents should include a confidential sexual history that should be obtained in a safe, nonthreatening environment through open, honest, and nonjudgmental communication with assurances of confidentiality. During the preadolescent years. At the onset of puberty, should include information on both the family's and the patient's attitudes and knowledge about sexual behaviors and the degree of involvement in sexual activity. General information may be offered or accessible to both the family and patient about methods of contraception and their uses. In addition, around this time, health maintenance visits should begin to include private, confidential time with the adolescent to establish rapport as well as assess degree of involvement in sexual activity. For sexually active adolescents who use contraception, the role of the health care professional is to educate and support compliance, to assist in managing adverse effects or, alternatively, to counsel the patient regarding a new contraceptive method as circumstances require, and to provide referrals and follow-up with periodic screening for STIs. Throughout adolescence, comprehensive sexuality education that includes discussion of abstinence, appropriate contraceptive use, and protection from STIs should be provided as part of healthy sexual development. When initiating any hormonal contraceptive method, the need for consistent protection against STIs (either male or female condoms) should be reinforced.