Is This Birth Control Better For Your Daughter?

The American Academy of Pediatrics wants to change the way teens practice safe sex. This week, the organization announced that teenage girls should use intrauterine devices as their main form of contraception — not birth control pills and condoms, as previously suggested. According to the AAP, IUDs and other long-active contraceptive devices are much more reliable and effective than other methods. In fact, oral contraceptives like the pill are the least effective option, since many teens fail to use them properly and consistently.

The new recommendations echo those of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which states that contraceptive implants give the best protection against unintended pregnancy in adolescents. Unfortunately, the best option is not the most affordable one. IUDs can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 up front, whereas birth control pills cost $15 to $50 a month. Doctors note, however, that one IUD can provide 12 years of protection, making it more cost effective in the long run.