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Contraception in the under-16s: issues of confidentiality and choice of methods

^1. London Brook, 374 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AW, UK Email: gillian.vanhegan{at}virgin.net (corresponding author)

Key content:

• The rate of teenage pregnancy in Britain is the highest in Europe.
  
• Long-acting reversible methods of contraception are highly suitable for young women, including under-16s.
  
• Fraser competence must be established in under-16s.
  
• It is essential that consultations are confidential and ‘young people-friendly’.
  

Learning objectives:

• To learn about the current statistics for teenage pregnancy in the UK.
  
• To understand how to deliver information on contraception in a manner acceptable to young women.
  
• To learn about the range of contraceptive methods available to young women and their suitability.
  
• To learn how to hold a user-friendly consultation with a teenager.
  

Ethical issues:

• Doctors often see sexually active teenagers without their parents' knowledge and are required to provide them with information about contraception.
  
• Can informed consent be obtained from a very young woman for administration of an invasive method of contraception?
  
• An awareness of local child protection policies is important.
  

Please cite this article as: Vanhegan G. Contraception in the under-16s: issues of confidentiality and choice of methods. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2008;10:22–26.

Keywords contraception / confidentiality / Fraser guidelines / long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) / teenage pregnancy