Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R B Shearin.
Increased sexual activity among adolescents demands that the health care provider have a thorough understanding of contraceptive methods and application. In this article, the principles of hormonal contraception are discussed, providing relevant information for use in advising and managing the sexually active adolescent.
The primary care physician is in an excellent position to counsel adolescents about contraception. However, an adequate understanding of the biologic and psychosocial development of this particular age-group is imperative. In addition, communication skills are necessary to advise adolescents on use of contraceptives. The goal in counseling the adolescent about sexuality is to instill a sense of sexual responsibility and to provide individualized instruction in selecting the appropriate birth control method. General factors to remember in selecting the proper method include motivation, moral-ethical responsibility, frequency of intercourse, side effects of the various contraceptive methods, and patient's preference.
UNLABELLED: The Georgetown Adolescent Psychosocial Rating Scale (GAPRS) was developed as a clinical tool to be used in the evaluation of the psychosocial development of the adolescent. Preliminary findings have shown it to be useful in assessing normal psychosocial development and identifying deviant states. The GAPRS was developed in a clinical setting over a 5-year period as a questionnaire with the statistical ability to assess adolescent psychosocial development. The data from this study support the GAPRS as a promising new clinical tool to be used with the adolescent patient for assessing normal and deviant psychosocial maturation in an efficient and concise manner. SPECULATION: Adolescent psychosocial maturation can be measured using key questions to measure normal development and deviant states.
The two major groups of contraceptives available to adolescents are simple and prescribed methods. Of the former, spermicidal agents and condoms alone or in combination offer some protection. Of the prescribed methods, oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices offer best protection. The risk of pregnancy and the mortality and pathologic risks involved in the use of each method must be considered. The indications, contraindications and specific guidelines for prescribing contraceptives in this age group cannot be uniformly applied to all adolescents; therefore, individualization is always necessary.
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