title: Adolescents and emergency contraception.
abstract: The United States has a high rate of teen pregnancies. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved hormonal emergency contraception (EC), which can be used after unprotected intercourse to reduce the likelihood that a pregnancy will occur. Several pill regimens that are now available by prescription only are safe and effective if used within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. However, teens generally have a low level of awareness of EC, and because the pills are available only by prescription, teens must request a prescription from their pediatric nurse practitioner quickly. Therefore, it may be prudent to provide EC to sexually active teens before the need for it arises.
authors.affiliation: Hunter College Schools of the Health Professions, New York, NY 10010, USA.
authors.forename: Carol F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Roye
authors.forename: Jennifer R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D003376:Counseling; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital