Sexual and Reproductive Health

Telemedicine may be an important tool for provision of adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare. Its use is supported by professional medical societies, and it appears acceptable to both clinicians and patients. However, telemedicine utilization for sexual and reproductive healthcare remains understudied, especially in adolescents. As the use of telemedicine for this purpose increases, it is important to ensure equitable access to telemedicine services, making sure that neither barriers nor existing health inequities in sexual and reproductive healthcare are exacerbated by telemedicine. Clinicians who serve adolescents have an unprecedented opportunity to reexamine pre-pandemic practice patterns, increase patient-centered care, adopt evidence-based clinical practices, and expand access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This chapter will review the use of telemedicine in the adolescent population to provide (1) sexual health counseling; (2) sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment; (3) vulvovaginitis evaluation and treatment; (4) contraceptive counseling, initiation, and surveillance; (5) menstrual management; and (6) pregnancy evaluation and options counseling. Evolving and adapting healthcare delivery methods, like the use of telemedicine, to meet the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents is a key component of person-centered care and may have lasting impact for future generations.