Uso del implante anticonceptivo subdérmico en adolescentes: revisión bibliográfica.

Abstract

Unwanted pregnancy in adolescence has been established worldwide as a public health problem, a situation that is not foreign to the Costa Rican population.

Different contraceptive methods have been implemented with the aim of reducing this incidence.

The main objective of this article is to carry out a systematic analysis of information based on scientific evidence, in order to determine important elements related to the use of the subdermal implant as a contraceptive method aimed at the sexually active adolescent population.

The literature used consists of scientific articles extracted from reliable databases, textbooks, institutional circulars and Costa Rican health registries.

The analysis carried out makes it possible to position the subdermal contraceptive implant as the first-line method of choice for family planning in adolescents, as endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The inescapable responsibility of the physician to know the existing information on this contraceptive method and to transfer it in an adequate manner to the sexually active adolescent population may determine the choice of subdermal implants over other therapeutic alternatives and adherence during the entire recommended period.

The possibility of increasing the period of use to more than three years could not only reduce the discomfort associated with the placement and removal of the device, but would also imply a possible decrease in terms of economic investment for public health institutions, which justifies conducting clinical studies to determine the feasibility.