American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Guidance on Contraception

Pediatricians who offer evidence-based, person-centered contraception information and services play a critical role in adolescents’ health

ITASCA, IL—The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians take a comprehensive approach to prescribing and counseling about contraception through offering evidence-based information and adolescent-centered support, according to an updated policy statement.

The statement, “Contraception for Adolescents,” observes that pediatricians typically have established long-standing relationships with families while overseeing a child’s healthy growth and development. In doing so, they are well-positioned as a trusted resource when it comes to broaching sensitive topics like sexual health and contraception.

The statement, published in the July 2025 Pediatrics (published online June 16), is accompanied by a clinical report,” Contraceptive Counseling and Methods for Adolescents.” The report outlines adolescent-centered counseling approaches and contraceptive methods, including updated clinical guidance on prescribing long-acting reversible contraceptives, hormonal contraceptives, barrier methods, and emergency contraceptives to adolescents.

Policy statements and clinical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.

“Education and access to contraception is an essential part of the teenager’s health care needs,” said Mary A. Ott, MD, MA, FAAP, a lead author of the policy statement. “While many teens will want to involve a parent, caregiver or other trusted adult in their decision-making, others may not feel safe or comfortable doing so. We know from research that when teens don’t have access to confidential conversations, they’re less likely to get the health services they need, less likely to use birth control, and more likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy.”

Many adolescents cared for by pediatricians are at risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The number of sexually active high schoolers ranges from 16% of 9th graders to 48% of 12th graders, with 52% of those students reporting condom use and 33% contraceptive use.

Pediatricians can provide care that optimizes the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of their adolescent patients by using a shared decision-making approach in which the pediatrician offers method-specific expertise and the adolescent discusses their own needs and preferences. Together they can make a contraception decision that best fits the adolescent’s individual circumstances.

Currently, 27 states have laws explicitly allowing minors’ consent to contraception, and another 19 states allow certain classes of minors to consent to contraception. The AAP encourages pediatricians to become familiar with consent laws in their jurisdiction. Even when a parent or guardian is present and supportive of contraception, the pediatricians should facilitate 1:1 time to assess a teen’s sexual health behaviors and contraceptive needs and preferences.

“We recommend pediatricians explore a teen’s reproductive health goals and birth control knowledge and preferences without making assumptions,” said Andrea J. Hoopes, MD, MPH, FAAP, co-author of the policy statement. “Understanding the full range of options will help the pediatrician guide teens in choosing a birth control method that meets their individual needs and circumstances.”

The AAP also recommends:

• A developmentally appropriate approach informed by principles of shared decision-making and person-centered care that enables adolescents to choose the best method for their goals, preferences, and needs, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, illness, or ability status.
• Counseling should address adolescents’ broader sexual health needs, including healthy relationships and interpersonal violence, human papilloma (HPV) vaccination, and STI prevention and screening.
• Pediatric training programs should prepare pediatricians to provide the full spectrum of contraceptive care to adolescents.
• Expanded access to contraception should be available through telehealth approaches (within and outside of the medical home); confidential and low-cost reproductive health care services in the community, school or college health service; state and federally subsidized programs; pharmacist contraceptive prescribing; and online and mobile applications.

“Pediatricians can help answer questions that teens might be afraid to ask, in a way that is honest, compassionate, informed by science and centered on care,” Dr. Ott said. “Education on reproductive health is an important step toward every adolescent’s journey into independence and adulthood.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.