Female adolescents prescribed teratogens receive inadequate contraception provision (counseling, referral, and/or prescribing of contraception), which could increase the risk for negative pregnancy outcomes. This according to a study of 1,694 females aged 14 to 25 years and 4,172 clinic visits in which a known teratogen was prescribed. Researchers found:

• Contraceptive provision was documented in 28.6% of the visits.

• The most commonly prescribed teratogens were topiramate, methotrexate, diazepam, isotretinoin, and enalapril.

• Subspecialties prescribing teratogens most frequently were neurology, hematology-oncology, and dermatology.

• Whites vs nonwhites and older vs younger girls were more likely to receive contraceptive provision.

• The presence of a federal risk mitigation system for the teratogen also increased the likelihood of contraceptive provision.

Citation: Stancil SL, Miller M, Briggs H, Lynch D, Goggin K, Kearns G. Contraceptive provision to adolescent females prescribed teratogenic medications. [Published online ahead of print December 16, 2015]. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-1454.