Teenage pregnancy rates in the UK are amongst the highest in the developed world and are associated with high levels of socio-medical morbidity. Correspondingly, in the UK, teenage pregnancies are considered undesirable, but this is not the case in many non-European cultures. Recent education and enhanced contraception services are initiatives which have met with variable success. In this summary, we discuss these, and the welcome recognition of other contributing factors, such as poverty; unless such contributing factors are addressed, any prevention initiatives are threatened. The gynaecologist should be constantly prepared to consider the issue in any young woman.
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