- There is a long-acting combination of contraceptive methods that offers the safest results because it is 99.9% effective.
- Adolescent pregnancy increases morbidity and mortality because women are at greater risk of anemia, preterm delivery, sexually transmitted infections, and premature rupture of membranes that lead to premature birth.
- The children of adolescent women have eight times more risk of presenting a structural defect of the abdominal wall.
To date, there is a wide range of contraceptive methods on the market, although not all are safe or offer the same results. In the same way, some are ideal for certain stages of life or for people with certain characteristics. For this reason, the ideal is to go beforehand with a health professional to receive advice and find out the best one for each individual.
Regarding this issue, Dr. Alejandro Rosas Balan, who is coordinator of Adolescent Medicine at the Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes National Institute of Perinatology (INPer), said that there are two alternatives that stand out from the rest. It’s about the intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal implants. The reason is because it is the safest and long-lasting contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy.
The best way to avoid unwanted pregnancies
He stressed that, due to their characteristics, the IUD and the implant are the most recommended during adolescence. He added that after being placed, it is only necessary to go for a review every so often, according to the method, with the purpose of ensure its effectiveness, which is 99.9 percent.
He stressed that the best formula is the dual contraception, that is, use of intrauterine devices or subdermal implants and the condom, since the latter decreases the risk of sexually transmitted infections. In addition, its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies is 92 percent.
The rest of the methods also have high reliability, only that they must be supplied on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, depending on the type: pills, injections, patches, or vaginal ring.
He indicated that 90 percent of the people who come to the INPer are pregnant. As part of the consultation, they receive counseling and contraceptive counseling to prevent a subsequent unwanted pregnancy.
Risks of teen pregnancy
Rosas Balan indicated what the main factors that can generate pregnancy in adolescence consist of, such as lack of education on sexual and reproductive health, since adolescents, although they say they know about contraceptive methods, in many cases they are unaware of its operation, follow-up or contraindications.
“We are not referring only to ignorance of the method, but the names of the sexual organs, menstrual hygiene, when to go to the gynecologist, first consultation. All this information, the population in general, and not only adolescents, are unaware of it”.
Another aspect is that many women prefer natural methods, which are less effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy.
The INPer Adolescent Medicine coordinator highlighted that the institute applies a Psychological screening of pregnant adolescents. All present mild psychological distress and some to a moderate and severe degree. Of the latter, 20 percent require professional care.
He indicated that adolescent pregnancy increases morbidity and mortality, because women present increased risk of anemia, preterm labor, sexually transmitted infections, and premature rupture of membranes associated with preterm birth.
He clarified that the children of adolescent women have eight times more risk of presenting a structural defect of the abdominal wall, called gastroschisis, which puts his life at risk and can only be corrected with surgery; likewise, the mother can develop preeclampsia and obstetric hemorrhage, which increase the possibility of death.
Adolescent pregnancy, added the specialist, is not only a public health problem, but a multifactorial one, involving cultural, economic and social aspects, since young women often cut short their education and have to start working.
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Sexual health: Use of contraceptives on the decline among Mexican adolescents
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