Covert Contraception

Girls and young women used contraception covertly mainly because they feared violent retaliation from partners or parents if use was discovered. Hormonal contraceptive side effects such as heavy or irregular bleeding could expose covert use by raising partners' suspicions. Participants concealed contraceptive use by disguising clinic visits, hiding pills, covering implant sites, and choosing injectable methods. Providers sometimes helped adolescents conceal contraceptive use through clinic practices such as storing appointment cards and writing false prescriptions.