Hormonal contraception in adolescents < 18 years

Abstract

Hormonal contraceptive methods are an important issue in gynecological consultation in young adolescents. With the introduction of the “pill” 60 years ago, the opportunity was created for women to make self-determined decisions about fertility. Young women under the age of 18 benefit from this achievement worldwide. It not only regulates the cycle, but also the worry of getting pregnant unintentionally has almost disappeared. The key questions in adolescent contraception are not so technical (which product, preferences, adhesion to the method, time of use, etc.), but rather endocrinological in nature. Whereas data concerning the pearl index, safety features, cycle stability, and dysmenorrhea are abundant, the answers to distinct endocrine questions are rare in the international literature. Important data for adolescent oral contraception (OC) users on bone density development, diabetes mellitus type 1, psychological vulnerability and later depression risk are rarely reported. As many adolescents ask their doctors for hormonal contraception use, both are challenged to find a reasonable method not to comprise long-term the endocrine development of the young body.