Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescents with Disabilities

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Contraception for Adolescent and Young Adult Women

  • 1082 Accesses

Abstract

Young women with disabilities comprise a large and diverse group of people with unique reproductive health needs. These patients often encounter physical, communication, economic, and programmatic barriers to health care, along with myths about their reproductive or sexual functioning or their ability to parent. Girls with disabilities constitute an “at-risk group” whose health-care providers often underestimate the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. Contraceptive agents help adolescents with disabilities to avoid pregnancy, manage menstrual hygiene, and lessen moliminal behavioral changes. When prescribing contraception to disabled patients, providers must consider the patients’ needs, their physical abilities, and common medical comorbidities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Disability evaluation under social security. Social security online. 2008. http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/general-info.htm. Accessed 23 Mar 2012.

  2. American with Disabilities Act of 1990. 2009. http://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm. Accessed 8 Mar 2014.

  3. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dejong G, Palsbo SE, Beatty PW, Jones GC, Knoll T, Neri MT. The organization and financing of health services for persons with disabilities. Milbank Q. 2002;80:261–301.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Brault MW. Americans with disabilities: 2010. Current Population Reports, July 2010. p. 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kirschner KL, P RJ, Mukherjee D, Hammond C. Empowering women with disabilities to be self-determining in their health care. In: Frontera WR, Gans BM, Walsh NE, Robinson LR, eds. DeLisa’s physical medicine and rehabilitation: principles and practice. 5 ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jans L, Stoddard S. Chartbook on women and disability in the United States. U.S. Department of Education: Washington, DC; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Executive summary: 2000N.O.D./Harris survey of Americans with disabilities. National Organization on Disability. 2011. http://nod.org/research_publications/nod_harris_survey/2000_survey_of_americans_with_disabilities/. Accessed 23 Mar 2012.

  9. National study on women with physical disabilities: final report 1992–1996. Baylor College of Medicine: Center for Research on Women with Disabilities. 2009. http://www.bcm.edu/crowd/index.cfm?pmid=1408—hc. Accessed 23 Mar 2012.

  10. Stainton M. A piece of my mind. Raising a woman. JAMA. 2006;296:1445–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gunther DF, Diekema DS. Attenuating growth in children with profound developmental disability: a new approach to an old dilemma. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:1013–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kirschner KL, Brashler R, Savage TA. Ashley X. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;86:1023–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Murphy NA, Elias ER. Sexuality of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Pediatrics. 2006;118:398–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Everett Jones S, Lollar DJ. Relationship between physical disabilities or long-term health problems and health risk behaviors or conditions among US high school students. J Sch Health. 2008;78:252–7. quiz 98–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rousso H. Sexuality and a positive sense of self. In: Krotoski DM, Nosek MA, Turk MA, editors. Women with physical disabilities: achieving and maintaining health and well-being. Baltimore, MD: Brookes; 1996. p. 109–16.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Heaton C, Roberts BS, Murphy L. Let’s talk about health: what every woman should know. The Arc of New Jersey: North Brunswick, NJ; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Choquet M, Du Pasquier FL, Manfredi R. Sexual behavior among adolescents reporting chronic conditions: a French national survey. J Adolesc Health. 1997;20:62–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Suris JC, Resnick MD, Cassuto N, Blum RW. Sexual behavior of adolescents with chronic disease and disability. J Adolesc Health. 1996;19:124–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheng MM, Udry JR. Sexual behaviors of physically disabled adolescents in the United States. J Adolesc Health. 2002;31:48–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Incidence and prevalence of communication disorders and hearing loss in children—2008 edition. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2012. http://www.asha.org/research/reports/children.htm. Accessed 2 Dec 2012.

  21. Incidence and prevalence of speech, voice, and language disorders in adults in the United States: 2008 edition. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2012. http://www.asha.org/Research/reports/speech_voice_language/. Accessed 2 Dec 2012.

  22. Kagan A, Kimelman MDZ. Informed consent in aphasia research: myth or reality. Clin Aphasiol. 1995;23:65–75.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Alexander MP. Clinical determination of mental competence. A theory and a retrospective study. Arch Neurol. 1988;45:23–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Leo RJ. Competency and the capacity to make treatment decisions: a primer for primary care physicians. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 1999;1:131–41.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Advanced rehabilitation training: interventions for neurologic communication disorders. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 2012. http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/pmr/education/research-fellowships/AdvancedRehabilitationTraining.html. Accessed 4 Dec 2012.

  26. ACOG Committee on Ethics. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 439: Informed consent. Obstet Gynecol. 2009;114:401–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Informed consent, parental permission, and assent in pediatric practice. Committee on Bioethics. J Child Fam Nurs. 1998;(1):57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pediatric Decision Making. American Medical Association. 2010. http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/code-medical-ethics/10016a.pdf, http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/code-medical-ethics/10016b.pdf. Accessed 2 Dec 2012.

  29. Kaplan C. Special issues in contraception: caring for women with disabilities. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2006;51:450–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Stewart FH, Harper CC, Ellertson CE, Grimes DA, Sawaya GF, Trussell J. Clinical breast and pelvic examination requirements for hormonal contraception: current practice vs evidence. JAMA. 2001;285:2232–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Welner SL, Foley CC, Nosek MA, Holmes A. Practical considerations in the performance of physical examinations on women with disabilities. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1999;54:457–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Buck D, Michael T, Wahn U, Niggemann B. Ventricular shunts and the prevalence of sensitization and clinically relevant allergy to latex in patients with spina bifida. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2000;11:111–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Savasi I, Spitzer RF, Allen LM, Ornstein MP. Menstrual suppression for adolescents with developmental disabilities. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2009;22:143–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kiley J, Hammond C. Combined oral contraceptives: a comprehensive review. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2007;50:868–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Quint EH, Breech L, Bacon J, Schwandt A. Management quandary. Menstrual issues in a teenager with developmental delay. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2006;19:53–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Adolescent Health Care. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 448: menstrual manipulation for adolescents with disabilities. Obstet Gynecol. 2009;114:1428–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Coutinho EM, da Silva AR, Carreira C, Rodrigues V, Goncalves MT. Conception control by vaginal administration of pills containing ethinyl estradiol and dl-norgestrel. Fertil Steril. 1984;42:478–81.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. World Health Organization. Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. 4th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  39. van den Heuvel MW, van Bragt AJ, Alnabawy AK, Kaptein MC. Comparison of ethinylestradiol pharmacokinetics in three hormonal contraceptive formulations: the vaginal ring, the transdermal patch and an oral contraceptive. Contraception. 2005;72:168–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Dutton C, Foldvary-Schaefer N. Contraception in women with epilepsy: pharmacokinetic interactions, contraceptive options, and management. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2008;83:113–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010;59:1–86.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Speroff L, Darney PD. A clinical guide for contraception. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Broome M, Fotherby K. Clinical experience with the progestogen-only pill. Contraception. 1990;42:489–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Simon MA, Shulman LP. Subcutaneous versus intramuscular depot methoxyprogesterone acetate: a comparative review. Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2006;2:191–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Cameron ST, Glasier A, Johnstone A. Pilot study of home self-administration of subcutaneous depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception. Contraception. 2011;85(5):458–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Prabhakaran S, Sweet A. Self-administration of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception: feasibility and acceptability. Contraception. 2011;85(5):453–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Arias RD, Jain JK, Brucker C, Ross D, Ray A. Changes in bleeding patterns with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate subcutaneous injection 104mg. Contraception. 2006;74:234–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Poindexter 3rd AN, Bateman L, Ditmore JR. Experiences of injectable contraceptive users in an urban setting. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;88:227–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Westhoff C. Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate injection (Depo-Provera): a highly effective contraceptive option with proven long-term safety. Contraception. 2003;68:75–87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Quint EH. Gynecological health care for adolescents with developmental disabilities. Adolesc Med. 1999;(10):221–9, vi.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Civic D, Scholes D, Ichikawa L, et al. Depressive symptoms in users and non-users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Contraception. 2000;61:385–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kaunitz AM. Long-acting hormonal contraception: assessing impact on bone density, weight, and mood. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 1999;44:110–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Gupta N, O’Brien R, Jacobsen LJ, et al. Mood changes in adolescents using depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception: a prospective study. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2001;14:71–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kaneshiro B, Edelman A. Contraceptive considerations in overweight teens. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2011;23:344–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Bonny AE, Ziegler J, Harvey R, Debanne SM, Secic M, Cromer BA. Weight gain in obese and nonobese adolescent girls initiating depot medroxyprogesterone, oral contraceptive pills, or no hormonal contraceptive method. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:40–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Watson KC, Lentz MJ, Cain KC. Associations between fracture incidence and use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and anti-epileptic drugs in women with developmental disabilities. Womens Health Issues. 2006;16:346–52.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Arvio M, Kilpinen-Loisa P, Tiitinen A, Huovinen K, Makitie O. Bone mineral density and sex hormone status in intellectually disabled women on progestin-induced amenorrhea. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88:428–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Walch K, Unfried G, Huber J, et al. Implanon versus medroxyprogesterone acetate: effects on pain scores in patients with symptomatic endometriosis–a pilot study. Contraception. 2009;79:29–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Beerthuizen R, van Beek A, Massai R, Makarainen L, Hout J, Bennink HC. Bone mineral density during long-term use of the progestogen contraceptive implant Implanon compared to a non-hormonal method of contraception. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:118–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Schindlbeck C, Janni W, Friese K. Failure of Implanon contraception in a patient taking carbamazepine for epilepsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2006;273:255–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Lyus R, Lohr P, Prager S, Board of the Society of Family Planning. Use of the Mirena LBG-IUS and Paragard CuT380A intrauterine devices in nulliparous women, SFP guideline 20092. Contraception. 2010;81:367–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Deans EI, Grimes DA. Intrauterine devices for adolescents: a systematic review. Contraception. 2009;79:418–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Bednarek PH, Jensen JT. Safety, efficacy and patient acceptability of the contraceptive and non-contraceptive uses of the LNG-IUD. Int J Womens Health. 2010;1:45–58.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Pillai M, O’Brien K, Hill E. The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (Mirena) for the treatment of menstrual problems in adolescents with medical disorders, or physical or learning disabilities. BJOG. 2010;117:216–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Sterilization of minors with developmental disabilities. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Bioethics. Pediatrics. 1999;(104):337–40.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Diekema DS, Fost N. Ashley revisited: a response to the critics. Am J Bioeth. 2010;10:30–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 West Jackson Street, Suite 310, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Sloane L. York M.D., M.P.H.

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 675 North St. Claire, Suite 14-200, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Cassing Hammond M.D.

Authors
  1. Sloane L. York M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cassing Hammond M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sloane L. York M.D., M.P.H. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Amy Whitaker

  2. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Melissa Gilliam

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

York, S.L., Hammond, C. (2014). Adolescents with Disabilities. In: Whitaker, A., Gilliam, M. (eds) Contraception for Adolescent and Young Adult Women. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6579-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6579-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6578-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6579-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation