title: Let's talk about sex (again): advancing the conversation around long-acting reversible contraception for teenagers.
abstract: Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) has incredible potential for decreasing teenage pregnancy rates in the USA, but use among adolescents remains low. LARC methods, including intrauterine devices and implants, are recommended as first-line choices for teenagers by multiple medical professional associations. Barriers at the system, provider and patient level persist, but new demonstration projects, in addition to provisions of the Affordable Care Act, show great promise in facilitating LARC use. A renewed national discourse should acknowledge the reality that many US teenagers have sex, that LARC is safe and effective and that LARC offers an opportunity to prevent teenage pregnancy. By encouraging widespread access and use, a large, positive impact across multiple health and economic sectors can be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine Lindsey
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Satterwhite
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Megha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female
keywords: adolescents; contraception; implant; intrauterine device; long-acting reversible contraception; pregnancy prevention; teenagers