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The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a report urging greater access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) for teenagers.
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are an extremely effective method of preventing pregnancy and have other noncontraceptive benefits like reducing dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual flow. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a clinical report to provide pertinent information.1
Many forms of LARC have been recommended by numerous organizations including AAP and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. However, only 20% to 50% of adolescents recognize LARC as a form of contraceptive. Many of the teenagers who know that LARC is a form of contraceptive have some concerns such as fear of pain and having a foreign object in the body, lack of knowledge of the insertion process, and unfounded worries concerning permanent fertility loss.
The report included several recommendations to increase access and use of LARCs by adolescent patients:
Reference
1. Menon S, Committee on adolescence. Long-acting reversible contraception: specific issues for adolescents. Pediatrics. July 20, 2020. Epub ahead of print. doi:10.1542/peds.2020-007252