Does planned parenthood give free birth control to minors

• PMID: 12338301

Planned Parenthood continues prescribing birth control for teens

No authors listed. Contracept Technol Update. 1982 Jul.

Abstract

PIP: In the U.S. The Planned Parenthood Federation will continue to offer confidential services to minors who request prescription contraceptives, regardless of what federal regulations may require. The Federation's position reflects a national medical committee decision to provide the best possible health services to teenagers. Whenever possible, the involvement of parents is encouraged, but Planned Parenthood Federation leaves the decision to the young woman as to how and when this parental involvement is feasible. The following are the primary concerns of the Planned Parenthood programs: protecting the adolescent's health and her confidentiality; and encouraging family involvement whenever possible. The Federation believes that the benefits of prescription contraception for the minor patient far outweigh the risks associated with an unplanned pregnancy. The data reveal that 20-50% of minors would not seek contraceptive services but would continue to have coitus should parental notification be required. The data also show that about 30% of those who now experience an unplanned pregnancy would obtain an abortion. The data show that the majority of sexually active teenagers seeking prescription contraception choose oral contraceptives. 4 in 100 women under age 22 who use oral contraceptive (OC) will get pregnant in the 1st year of use, but the failure rate with condoms is 4 times higher; it is 6-7 times higher with spermicides. Younger women under age 18 are at less risk for serious adverse effects with OC use than are older women. The Federation recommends several guidelines for younger teenage women who chose to use a prescriptive contraceptive method: taking a family history; counseling young women under age 16 regarding the potential duration related OC problems, especially the potential of premature epiphyseal closure; observing absolute contraindications to OC use; and warning women whose body weight is lower than normal that they may be more susceptible to some of the OC's side effects. The benefits of using the IUD in minors are not as clearcut as with OC. Data indicate that many minors would be at higher risk for developing IUD related infections. IUD use by minors is rate (2%). Planned Parenthood has found after reviewing data from clinics that nulliparous adolescents are usually only given IUDs for contraception when there are extenuating circumstances. A study of highly motivated teenagers who were carefully instructed in the use of the diaphragm and then followed as part of the research protocol, the pregnancy rate was as low as 2%.

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