title: Contraceptive management for female adolescents with mental retardation and handicapping disabilities.
abstract: Adolescent girls with mental retardation and handicapping disabilities have a need for sexual counseling and contraceptive management. Societal attitudes have changed, allowing these patients to experience normal and satisfying sexuality. The reproductive health concerns of these patients are extensive. Contraceptive selection varies with regard to the mental and physical capabilities of individual patients. The use of barrier methods, intrauterine devices, oral contraceptives, intramuscular medroxyprogesterone acetate, and sterilization has been discussed thoroughly in the past. No formal studies have been performed to evaluate the use of subdermal levonorgestrel implants in patients with mental retardation and physical disabilities.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ann Arbor 48109-0718.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haefner
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Elkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000592:standards