TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 78. Contraception A1 - Monasterio, Erica B. A1 - Shafer, Mary-Ann A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Contraception is a health behavior that often begins during adolescence and evolves throughout reproductive life. On initiation of sexual activity, the majority of adolescents actually report contraceptive use, most typically a condom, but there is a significant difference between younger and older adolescents’ contraceptive use (35% of girls under 15 used no method at first intercourse compared to 17% of 17–19 year olds reporting no method use at first sex).1 Use of contraception at first sex is positively associated with higher continuation and consistency of method use over time.2 Discussions of sexual decision making, abstinence, sexual activity, reproduction, and contraception occur frequently as a normal part of the well-adolescent visit for female adolescents. In contrast, male adolescents, who are not at risk for pregnancy and do not require prescriptive contraceptives, may have clinician contact only during a sports physical or treatment of an injury or acute illness. Although sexuality and contraceptives are not traditionally discussed during “the sports check,” which often substitutes for the annual examination for male adolescents, clinicians should emphasize the need for such discussions because this visit may be the only contact between the male adolescent and a clinician.3 SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/11/02 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6737629 ER -