Intrauterine unit (IUD) andNexplanonarebirth controloptions that can be used by teenagers.
These devices are inserted into the uterus by a physician and can stay in place for several years.
Teenagers have been using IUDs for years, and safety and effectiveness are established.
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Surveys show that teenagers in the United States know very little about IUDs.
This means that the benefits of using these contraceptive methods generally outweigh the risks.
That being said, some studies do exist, and their results are promising.
Maintaining Use
Teenagers are more likely to continue with IUD birth control use than with other methods.
Teenagers continue their IUD use at the same rate or even longer than teenagers who usebirth control pills.
Pregnancy
Pregnancies are also uncommon among teenage IUD birth control users.
The rates seem to be affected by your age and whether or not you have ever been pregnant.
Discomfort
One last concern that research has revealed about IUD birth control use in teenagers is pain.
Studies have shown that painful or difficultIUD insertionis a major concern for teenagers.
Research has also shown that pain and bleeding are frequent reasons for teenagers to have their ParaGard IUD removed.
One study highlighted how more teenage IUD users complained of bleeding issues than did teenage pill users.
Implanon users were also more likely to continue using Implanon at 24 months than the teen pill/depo users.
Encouraging teen use of long-acting reversible birth control methods could help decrease the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies.
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