Birth Control for young girls

Cloud · 11-03-2009, 08:48 AM

At what age do you think it appropriate for your/a young teenage girl to be on birth control?

Do you wait until they come to you and say they're sexually active? (may be a loooong wait!)

When they start dating?

When they first menstruate?

After they get knocked up for the first time?

I wish that it was culturally normal for all girls, after they start menstruating, to be on birth control, before they're sexually active. Not to encourage sexual activity, but as a preventive measure, and a matter of course. I don't necessarily mean the pill, because I don't think they would take a daily pill, but some of the longer-lasting alternatives available now. They would have to affirmatively go off their birth control to get pregnant.

I know that's a pie-in-the-sky, but think of how many teen pregancies, and poverty-level families that would prevent.

Pie · 11-03-2009, 08:58 AM

There are some longer term consequences of hormonal contraception during physical maturation. Even though an 11-year old may be biologically capable of bearing a child, her body hasn't finished developing.

Sundae · 11-03-2009, 09:07 AM

Lost a whole bloody post. HATE that.

I am an advocate of giving the implant (3-5 years) to any girl after menstruation.
Too hard to police to expect it to become a reality, but perhaps in future something could be developed that will only become activated after menstruation.

The conservative viewpoint is once you remove the possibility of pregnancy, you will spawn a generation of kids who will fuck on the streets. Exaggeration, but I've read some terrible predictions from the '60s that just didn't happen. Instead, there was a culture shift where those with education took advantage of contraception and those who lived in parts of society where pregnancy was venerated or at least not seen as a negative carried on regardless.

Enforced contraception sounds so totalitarian.
But what advantage is there to either the individual or society in letting 14 year olds breed? It's not fair to them, it's not fair to society and it's not fair to their children. Or your children, who will grow up in that generation.

Y'all know I'm an atheist.
I put the BORN child and the mother before the mass of cells existing in a womb. But I would still prefer to see children not faced with the decision of abortion. Yeah, mostly because they don't seem to choose it anyway, old witch that I am.

That was a lot more stream of consciousness than my last considered post. But I figure I can come back and reply in a more sensible fashion if this damned machine doesn't eat my log in again.

Cloud · 11-03-2009, 09:16 AM

Good point, Pie, but maybe that could be addressed. There are long-term consequences of adult women taking them, but, I dunno. How about from age 15 on? That's when I started both sex and birth control.

Pie · 11-03-2009, 09:26 AM

I have no problem with the concept opt-out contraception for younger teens, just worries about the safety and long term effects.

Very little money has gone into contra-reproductive medicine in the past few decades. There is a huge fear of lawsuits arising from birth defects since the parent of every baby with a health problem looks for someone to blame & sue, and juries are notoriously generous to such claimants.

In a perfect world, we'd all be in absolute conscious control of our gametes.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-03-2009, 10:17 AM

.

Juniper · 11-03-2009, 10:22 AM

Depends on the kid. It's a case-by-case thing.

I was 16 when I started taking the pill, and that's just because my boyfriend had an older sister-in-law who took me under her wing and made me a doctor appointment. And made my boyfriend pay for it. Thank you, Bonnie. If it weren't for her, my life would've probably been very different. In a bad way.

Now, my daughter is not the same way at all - I lacked confidence, and she has it in abundance. I don't kid myself that she's gonna make it to marriage without having sex first, but we might make it through high school. I really think that's best.

bbro · 11-03-2009, 10:31 AM

I am against any type of implant contraception. I belong to a board for PCOS and you would not believe the number of people whose symptoms exploded right after they got off Depo or whatever they have.

I also agree with Pie and would worry about the long term effects on them - even just the pill.

Cloud · 11-03-2009, 10:40 AM

I get it. but don't discount the long term effects of unplanned teen pregnancies, either, both to the individual, and to society

Pie · 11-03-2009, 10:57 AM

'Just the pill' is often the worst as far as systemic interactions of hormones goes. An orally available drug goes everywhere in the body, as well as your ovaries. Ditto for Depo, Norplant or the patch. NuvaRing does present a lower level of systemic hormone, however.

Condoms, cervical cap, sponge -- these (sort of) work. But they require maturity, access and planning on the part of the user. Tough, when you and your partners are kids.

An IUD has far fewer side effects, far fewer complications (no really; go look at the current statistics!) and requires no actions on the part of the user -- but can be painful for a nullipara. A non-hormonal IUD can also create very heavy periods.

And none of these (except condoms) address STDs in any way.

Sundae · 11-03-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbro

I am against any type of implant contraception. I belong to a board for PCOS and you would not believe the number of people whose symptoms exploded right after they got off Depo or whatever they have.

Depo is not an implant, it's an injection. I was on Depo for years, no side effects. I am aware it's not evidence though. See below for what I am on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

Ditto for Depo, Norplant or the patch. NuvaRing does present a lower level of systemic hormone, however.

Are we using diffrent words for different drugs? No-one has yet mentioned Implanon, which I am on.

Quote:

And none of these ([/i]except condoms[i]) address STDs in any way.

Nope. But having no birth control doesn't address them either.
I am not suggesting anything as an alternative for education and social work to prevent/ control underage sex. I'm just saying at present it happens. And while it happens without condoms, let's try and make sure it happens without babies too. Of course as I said, it would take a totalitarian regime to implement it. I'm just talking in an ideal world.

Clodfobble · 11-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

An IUD has far fewer side effects, far fewer complications (no really; go look at the current statistics!) and requires no actions on the part of the user -- but can be painful for a nullipara.

I learned a new word today!!

For the record, I have been very, very happy with my recent switch from the pill to a hormonal IUD (Mirena, if anyone's curious.) They warned me that because I never actually delivered a baby vaginally, and it's all about the stretchiness of the cervix, inserting mine might be more painful than would be expected for a chick with two kids. She said it would help to insert it during my cycle, and it worked like a charm. Insertion hurt less than a standard pap smear, and the one-day's-worth of cramping was no worse than normal monthly cramps.

Now I have no more PMS symptoms, and I save my $40/month prescription copay too. Hooray!

glatt · 11-03-2009, 11:24 AM

It's not a solution for teenagers, but vasectomy is awesome for those at my age who are married and done having kids. My wife was on the pill for years and I'm glad she doesn't have to take 'em any more.

Pie · 11-03-2009, 11:27 AM

I'm on Mirena too, Clod. It hurt like a mofo getting it, but I've no complaints now. And no periods.

Shawnee123 · 11-03-2009, 11:30 AM

Oh my...

So you're telling me it stopped your period? Or your cramps? I'd do it right now, just for those bennies.

I worried about an IUD with a history of endometriosis, that it would worsen cramping and cause bleeding between periods.

I wonder, an over 40 smoker can't take BC pills, I wonder if the hormone in the IUD is risky for the same?

11-03-2009, 08:48 AM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Birth Control for young girls At what age do you think it appropriate for your/a young teenage girl to be on birth control? Do you wait until they come to you and say they're sexually active? (may be a loooong wait!) When they start dating? When they first menstruate? After they get knocked up for the first time? I wish that it was culturally normal for all girls, after they start menstruating, to be on birth control, before they're sexually active. Not to encourage sexual activity, but as a preventive measure, and a matter of course. I don't necessarily mean the pill, because I don't think they would take a daily pill, but some of the longer-lasting alternatives available now. They would have to affirmatively go off their birth control to get pregnant. I know that's a pie-in-the-sky, but think of how many teen pregancies, and poverty-level families that would prevent. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

11-03-2009, 08:58 AM	#2
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	There are some longer term consequences of hormonal contraception during physical maturation. Even though an 11-year old may be biologically capable of bearing a child, her body hasn't finished developing. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

11-03-2009, 09:07 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Lost a whole bloody post. HATE that. I am an advocate of giving the implant (3-5 years) to any girl after menstruation. Too hard to police to expect it to become a reality, but perhaps in future something could be developed that will only become activated after menstruation. The conservative viewpoint is once you remove the possibility of pregnancy, you will spawn a generation of kids who will fuck on the streets. Exaggeration, but I've read some terrible predictions from the '60s that just didn't happen. Instead, there was a culture shift where those with education took advantage of contraception and those who lived in parts of society where pregnancy was venerated or at least not seen as a negative carried on regardless. Enforced contraception sounds so totalitarian. But what advantage is there to either the individual or society in letting 14 year olds breed? It's not fair to them, it's not fair to society and it's not fair to their children. Or your children, who will grow up in that generation. Y'all know I'm an atheist. I put the BORN child and the mother before the mass of cells existing in a womb. But I would still prefer to see children not faced with the decision of abortion. Yeah, mostly because they don't seem to choose it anyway, old witch that I am. That was a lot more stream of consciousness than my last considered post. But I figure I can come back and reply in a more sensible fashion if this damned machine doesn't eat my log in again. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-03-2009, 09:16 AM	#4
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Good point, Pie, but maybe that could be addressed. There are long-term consequences of adult women taking them, but, I dunno. How about from age 15 on? That's when I started both sex and birth control. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

11-03-2009, 09:26 AM	#5
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	I have no problem with the concept opt-out contraception for younger teens, just worries about the safety and long term effects. Very little money has gone into contra-reproductive medicine in the past few decades. There is a huge fear of lawsuits arising from birth defects since the parent of every baby with a health problem looks for someone to blame & sue, and juries are notoriously generous to such claimants. In a perfect world, we'd all be in absolute conscious control of our gametes. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

11-03-2009, 10:17 AM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	. Attached Images __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-03-2009, 10:22 AM	#7
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Depends on the kid. It's a case-by-case thing. I was 16 when I started taking the pill, and that's just because my boyfriend had an older sister-in-law who took me under her wing and made me a doctor appointment. And made my boyfriend pay for it. Thank you, Bonnie. If it weren't for her, my life would've probably been very different. In a bad way. Now, my daughter is not the same way at all - I lacked confidence, and she has it in abundance. I don't kid myself that she's gonna make it to marriage without having sex first, but we might make it through high school. I really think that's best.

11-03-2009, 10:31 AM	#8
bbro Insert witty comment here Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,182	I am against any type of implant contraception. I belong to a board for PCOS and you would not believe the number of people whose symptoms exploded right after they got off Depo or whatever they have. I also agree with Pie and would worry about the long term effects on them - even just the pill.

11-03-2009, 10:40 AM	#9
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I get it. but don't discount the long term effects of unplanned teen pregnancies, either, both to the individual, and to society __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

11-03-2009, 10:57 AM	#10
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	'Just the pill' is often the worst as far as systemic interactions of hormones goes. An orally available drug goes everywhere in the body, as well as your ovaries. Ditto for Depo, Norplant or the patch. NuvaRing does present a lower level of systemic hormone, however. Condoms, cervical cap, sponge -- these (sort of) work. But they require maturity, access and planning on the part of the user. Tough, when you and your partners are kids. An IUD has far fewer side effects, far fewer complications (no really; go look at the current statistics!) and requires no actions on the part of the user -- but can be painful for a nullipara. A non-hormonal IUD can also create very heavy periods. And none of these (except condoms) address STDs in any way. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

11-03-2009, 11:24 AM	#13
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It's not a solution for teenagers, but vasectomy is awesome for those at my age who are married and done having kids. My wife was on the pill for years and I'm glad she doesn't have to take 'em any more.

11-03-2009, 11:27 AM	#14
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	I'm on Mirena too, Clod. It hurt like a mofo getting it, but I've no complaints now. And no periods. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

11-03-2009, 11:30 AM	#15
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Oh my... So you're telling me it stopped your period? Or your cramps? I'd do it right now, just for those bennies. I worried about an IUD with a history of endometriosis, that it would worsen cramping and cause bleeding between periods. I wonder, an over 40 smoker can't take BC pills, I wonder if the hormone in the IUD is risky for the same? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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