Teenagers' use of emergency contraception in a general practice.
British teenagers who become pregnant commonly express ignorance about emergency contraception. A case-note survey was conducted in a general practice serving about 14,200 people in a Devon market town. Of the 373 registered girls aged 15-19 years, 59 (16%) had consulted for emergency contraception, 19 of them more than once. The oral method (Yuzpe regimen) was prescribed eighty times and 2 girls became pregnant. 4 of the 59 girls who used emergency contraception had subsequent unwanted pregnancies. A consultation for emergency contraception presents an opportunity to discuss more reliable and acceptable methods of contraception.
Seamark
C J
CJ
Institute of General Practice, University of Exeter, Postgraduate Medical School, England.
Pereira Gray
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D000328:Adult; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital