Contraceptive methods used by sexually active adolescents attending
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Institute of Mother and Child in
Warsaw, Poland
A. Pawowska, E. Filipp, K.T. Niemiec, J. Leibschang, A. El Midaoui, U.
Tarnowska-Mdra, B. Kowalska, P. Raczyñski
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Mother and Child,
Warsaw, Poland
Objectives: To evaluate frequency of different contraceptive methods’
used by sexually active adolescents in Warsaw.
Materials and Methods: We analyzed data collected form 390 sexually
active teenagers who accepted to fill a questionnaire regarding contraception.
The first group included 182 already pregnant teenagers between 15 and 19 years
old who were hospitalized in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the
Institute of Mother and Child between years 2000–2003. The second group
included 208 sexually active adolescents, 15 – 19 years old who attended the
outpatient clinic of the Institute of Mother and Child in the same period.
Results: The mean age of the teenagers in the first group was 18,1
years versus 17,3 years in the second group. 114 (62,7%) pregnant patients did
not use any method of contraception before pregnancy, 16 (8,8%) used oral
contraceptives, 25 (13,8%) condoms, 7(3,8%)- condoms together with oral
contraceptives, 14(7,7%) used condoms with spermicides, 1 (0,5%) intrauterine
contraceptive device and 5 (2,7%) natural family planning methods. In the
non-pregnant sexually active teenagers’ group the following methods of
contraception were used: no contraception- 29 (13,9%), oral contraceptives – 66
(31,7%), condoms – 71 (34,3%), condoms together with oral contraceptives –
24(11,5%), condoms with spermicides – 10 (4,8%), intrauterine contraceptive
device – 0, natural family planning methods – 8 (3,8%). Emergency
contraception was occasionally used by 8 (4,4%) girls in the first group versus
40 (22%) in the second one.
Conclusions: The lack of contraception use was more frequent in the
group of pregnant adolescents (62,7% vs. 13,9%). Most of these pregnancies were
unplanned. There is a necessity to increase knowledge about reproductive health
to protect teenagers form unwanted pregnancies and sexuality transmitted
diseases.
