Forty-five percent of adolescents ages 15-19 have had sexual intercourse. By age 19 75% of all
adolescents have had sexual intercourse. Most adolescents select condoms as their most reliable
method of contraception. The United States continues to rank among the highest of all similarly
developed countries in rates of adolescent pregnancy and the unintended pregnancy rate is
highest among women ages 20-24. The reasons for these public health statistics are myriad but
a major issue is that adolescents and young women use contraception inconsistently. Thus there
is a need for youth to learn about and use contraception consistently and effectively.
Unfortunately misinformation abounds even among practicing clinicians. Young people need a
clinician who is up to date on clinical recommendations regarding contraceptive care. The busy
clinician needs information at his or her fingertips needs to know how to create a
teen-friendly environment and must exhibit best contraceptive counseling practices.
Gynecologists and primary care practitioners (as well as family physicians adolescent medicine
physicians and pediatricians) are on the front lines when it comes to discussing recommending
and prescribing contraceptive options to adolescent and young women. This book is a valuable
resource for these clinicians it is the only handbook on the market on contraception for the
adolescent and young adult women and it is filled with evidence-based information in an easy to
read and easy to digest format. Now is an optimal time for a book of this sort. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention just completed a clinical guideline for contraceptive care based
on the World Health Organization's Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC). The United States MEC
seeks to demystify contraceptive care for all women. It also lays the groundwork for helping
providers improve clinical practice in contraceptive care. Contraception for Adolescent and
Young Adult Women will complement these efforts in a manner tailored to the unique needs of
this population.
