The American Academy of Pediatrics has revised their policy to recommend that sexually active teenage girls should be encouraged to use long term contraceptive methods such as IUDs or hormone implants.
 
These methods are nearly 100% effective in preventing pregnancy and as they are inserted by a doctor, they can't be used incorrectly by the teenager.
 
This makes them far more reliable than contraceptive pills which rely on the teen remembering to take it each day.
 
The paediatrics group also say condoms should also be heavily encouraged to prevent sexually transmitted diseases amongst teenagers.
 
Long term contraception is uncommon among teenage girls – just 4.5% have IUDs or implants according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
 
This is partly due to the high cost of having the devices inserted, but the policy author advices parents and teens that they are cheaper in the long run.
 
IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are small copper device inserted into the uterus, and can last for up to 10 years. The hormonal implant, a matchstick sized rod inserted into the arm, typically last for three years.

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