State Policies in Brief: Minors' Access to Contraceptive Services, the Guttmacher Institute, 2013

This state-by-state reference sheet provides the relevant laws granting minors authority to consent to contraceptive services. According to the report, 46 states and the District of Columbia explicitly permit minors to consent to contraceptive services, though the circumstances under which a minor can consent are limited in some states. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia explicitly allow minors to consent to all contraceptive services. Twenty-five states allow minors to consent to contraceptive services if one or more conditions are met, such as urgent medical need documented by a physician, if the minor is married or a parent, if the minor has ever been pregnant, or if other minimum requirements are met. Four states have no explicit policy on minors’ authority to consent to contraceptive services. 

 

While this reference sheet is useful, it does not necessarily contain the nuances of these legal issues. As with all reference sheets, advocates should verify all information provided by researching the specific laws and regulations.

 

The Guttmacher Institute updates this reference on a regular basis. To access to the most recent version available, please follow the link posted below.