Abstract

The US teen birth rate remains the highest of industrialized nations. Therefore, sexual safety, including provision of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), should be a component of adolescent skill development. Adolescents need comprehensive sex education and access to reproductive health services, including contraception. The consistent use of both condoms and hormonal contraception are recommended for STI and pregnancy prevention. A range of hormonal contraception is available, varying in drug, dose, and delivery mechanisms. Long-acting reversible contraception use is encouraged to decrease the teen pregnancy rate.