The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended updates to what contraceptive methods are suggested to teens in an effort to prevent teen pregnancy.
According to the academy, “In 2011, 47 percent of high school students reported ever having sex, and 34 percent reported having had sex in the previous three months.” Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention notes “a total of 305,388 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years” in 2012, which continues to trend lower when compared to figures as far back as 1991.
In the academy’s newly released technical report, the AAP has now added “long acting reversible contraceptive” to their list of suggested options for adolescents who opt not to remain abstinent from sexual activity while providing teens “appropriate screening and/or education about safe and effective contraceptive methods.”
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