Family planning methods among teenagers

Objectives: To evaluate knowledge and used of different family planning methods by sexually active adolescents in Warsaw.
Materials and methods: We analyzed data collected from 442 sexually active teenagers aged from 15 to 19 years old who accepted to fill a questionnaire regarding contraception and who attended the Outpatient Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Institute of Mother and Child from July 2003 to January 2005.
Results: Patients were divided in two age groups: from 15 to 17 and from 18 to 19 years old. There were 210 girls (48%) in the first age group and 232 girls (52%) in the second group. 92% of adolescents in the first group and 70% in the second group did not have any gynecological control before the first intercourse. Use of condoms without other contraceptive was as following: 52% i 45%. No method of contraception was used by 20% teenagers in the first group, 10 % in the second group. Oral contraceptives were used by 11% and 29% girls in both groups. Most of girls knew what emergency contraception was and it was used by 5%, and 23% of girls. Natural family planning methods were used very rarely in two groups 1%. About 70% partners of girl used condoms during the first intercourse in the both group but later only 50-40% always used condoms.
Conclusions: Condoms were the most popular method of contraception. Nevertheless, among older adolescents oral contraception and emergency contraception were more popular. The family and school were two main sources of information about sexual education noted by all teenagers.