Abortion care for adolescents

Abstract

Over 800,000 pregnancies occur among adolescents annually in the United States. The majority of teen pregnancies are unintended and one-third of these pregnancies end in abortion. As in older reproductive age women, medical and surgical abortions are safe and well tolerated by adolescents. Short-term morbidity is uncommon and no long-term adverse health or psychologic sequelae are associated with uncomplicated abortion. Adolescents encounter unique barriers in accessing abortion services that delay care and increase the cost and complexity of abortion. Clinicians function as a key resource for accurate information and support for adolescents with undesired pregnancies.