The continuing increase in teenage pregnancies and abortions calls for more effective sex education on the one hand, including a detailed explication of the (perfectly normal) changes an adolescent body is undergoing, but we also need to understand the way teenagers actually do use contraceptives. Modern contraception for teenagers should not cause any side effects and its efficacy must not be linked to compliance. Gynaecologists must acquaint themselves with the laws covering the prescription of contraceptives to adolescents. Whether hormonal contraceptives for men are also suitable for teenage boys remains to be seen. Advising mentally or physically handicapped teen-agers or those with chronic diseases on their contraceptive options is particularly challenging. Adolescents are more prone to contract HPV infections and thus need to be screened, counselled and told about the association between HPV and cervical dysplasia.