title: The contraceptive use of Depo-Provera in U.S. adolescents.
abstract: Little is known about the use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera, DMPA) in U.S. adolescents before the FDA approved its usage for contraception in 1992.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the experience with DMPA use in adolescents for contraception in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey was sent to U.S. physicians identified as adolescent health care providers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DMPA had been prescribed by 41% of surveyed physicians who prescribe contraception for adolescents. Eighty-five percent of patients continued use beyond nine months and 40% continued beyond 21 months. Sixty-seven percent of physician/respondents reported using DMPA in mentally retarded patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many providers used DMPA for contraception in adolescents prior to its FDA approval for contraception. DMPA has a high rate of continuation of use as a contraception in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, MA, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pinkston Koenigs
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017277:Drug Approval; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate