Early Pregnancy Risk Among Adolescents With ADHD: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Objective: ADHD potentially leads to risky sexual behaviors, and is considered a major risk factor for early pregnancy (EP). However, the association between ADHD and subsequent EP remains unknown. Method: Seven thousand five hundred five adolescents with ADHD and 30,020 age- and sex-matched individuals without ADHD were enrolled from 2001 to 2009 and were followed until the end of 2011. Adolescents who developed any pregnancy (at age ≤30 years) or EP (at age <20 years) during the follow-up period were identified. Results: Adolescents with ADHD were found to be prone to pregnancy (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27) and EP (HR = 2.30) compared with those without ADHD. Long-term ADHD medication use was related to a lower risk of subsequent any pregnancy (HR = 0.72) and EP (HR = 0.69). Conclusion: Adolescents with ADHD had an increased risk of any pregnancy and EP compared with their non-ADHD counterparts. Long-term ADHD medication use was associated with a lower subsequent EP risk.

Keywords

ADHD early pregnancy substance use disorders ADHD medications

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