Contraception for adolescents with lupus.
Sexually active adolescents, including young women with lupus, are at high risk for unplanned pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy among teens with lupus is associated with an elevated risk of poor maternal and fetal outcomes. The provision of effective contraception is a crucial element of care for a sexually-active young woman with lupus. Unfortunately, providers may be hesitant to prescribe contraception to this group due to concerns about increasing the risk of lupus complications. This article reviews the risks and benefits of currently-available contraceptives for young women with lupus. Providers are encouraged to consider long-term, highly-effective contraception, such as implantables and intrauterine devices, for appropriately selected adolescents with lupus.
Tesher
Melissa S
MS
Section of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Room C101, MC 5044, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. kbonel@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Whitaker
Amy
A
Gilliam
Melissa
M
Wagner-Weiner
Linda
L
Onel
Karen B
KB