That school that is implanting girls with hormonal contraception without their parents knowing...

Good point vesuvia.

MrsHoarder, for those teenagers there are condoms. Why would you want your child to get hormonal implants just to protect her against pregnancy? It can alter her mood, cause other side effects and it doesn't protect against STIs. Whereas a condom has no known side effects and protects against both pregnancy AND STIs and ensures that the boy takes his fair share of responsibility too (unless he's one of these fuckwit boys who tell girls that they won't wear a condom).

Of cours ein an ideal world, sexually active teenagers tell their parents that they are having sex, and make an appointment with the family GP to discuss contraception. In a non-ideal world teenagers would rather take the risks of unprotected sex than be seen in the GP waiting room by their neighbours, and we have high (for Western Europe) teenage pregnancy rates.

I remember going to a similar clinic (although not in a school) aged 15, and being ver intimidated by it all. And that was a clinic set up for teenagers! Good access to contraceptives is important, more so than parental knowledge if the teenager doesn't feel able to approach their parents.

I say this as someone who doesn't do well with hormonal contraceptives btw, and will be telling DD about side effects I suffered when she is around that age.

TheRhubarb wrote - "The BBC has done a useful encyclopedia on underage sex and the law".

The BBC web page appears to date from 1999. The legalities might have changed as a result of more recent legislation, e.g the various sexual offences acts which became law this century.

How on earth could one parent a child who is being given something that is effectively a mood-altering drug, without knowing that these things may be a major factor in any behavioural problems they are having?

Giving a 13 year old condoms is one thing, but this is so much more invasive.

My dd seemed to inherit my mother's menstruation cycle, in that she was utterly impossible to deal with a week before her period, was in agony during, and weak and seemingly ill afterwards.

The pill helped enormously with that - like you said Rhibarb it was like the curtains opened for her.

I still think girls that age should be prescribed these things in confidence.

I know of so many women who have suffered severe depression whilst on Microgynon, yet it is still not widely known to have this side effect. I doubt this is a rare case at all and there are probably many other women suffering and thinking that it's just them.

My dh suggested I come off the pill for a bit and when I did, it was like someone had thrown open the curtains.

Teenagers, with their hormones all over the place anyway shouldn't be prescribed these hormonal contraceptives without their mothers being informed so they can advise their own children based on their own experience and can inform the GP of any of their own medical history concerning the pill.

'the really horrible side effects are actually very rare'

and actually some of them may not be rare, they just don't get reported. I never reported to anyone what happened with the Pill and my depression, I just stopped taking it, so it won't have found its way into the stats. It was only afterwards I realised it was a side-effect of the Pill rather than a side-effect of me being rubbish.

(like the thing about vaccine reactions where if the doctor has already formed the view that the fit is not caused by the vaccine, they sometimes do not even report it)

Rhubarb I also had bad experiences with the pill. I went on it because of severe PMT, which it replaced with equally severe episodes of depression that came on suddenly and with no warning - a much more dangerous scenario.
And this wasn't one of the side-effects described in the leaflet, which I read assiduously.

The BBC has done a useful encyclopedia on underage sex and the law

My dd has also been on the pill (and subsequently the implant) since she was 13, due to incredibly heavy periods.

Her periods were painful and really affecting her life. She is very sporty and suffered the mortification of blood leaking whilst playing rugby etc. She was also in agonising pain, had anaemia etc.

I don't think painful periods are something which women should suffer, so after trying usual routes (menlafamic acid etc) she went on the pill, and then the implant. She doesn't get any periods at all now, and is able to live a normal life.

I am aware and vigilant of the issue of hormonal contraception, I know they don't suit anyone.

But, to cut a long (and dull) story short, if I was not the kind of mother who my dd would have been comfortable talking t6o about periods, I would like to think that she could go to a drop in centre to discuss it in privacy.

Basil, it is enforced if the boy is older than the girl. So a boy of 17 who is having a sexual relationship with a 15yo is liable to prosecution, even if she is a 'mature' 15yo.

mrspnut - I was put on the pill due to my very heavy and very painful periods.
I wish I never had been though. I wish my GP had picked up on my severe depression and the pill and I wish I had read the side effects on the information leaflet (instead of thinking that was just for people who didn't want to get pregnant).

I think we need to remember that if underage girls are having sex with underage boys then they are breaking the law and if caught, those boys could end up on the sex offenders register.

As stupid as it may sound, at 15 you are not legally entitled to have sex and the repercussions could ruin a boy; imagine his job chances if he's put on the sex offenders register?

Both sexes need to be told where the law stands on this as it is potentially very serious. They also need to be told that hormonal implants or the pill will not protect you from STIs and that no contraception is 100% safe. They also need to be told that there is no shame in saying no. Comments about 17yr olds remaining a virgin whilst with a boyfriend make it seem like being a virgin is a freaky way to be. If that is what adults think then imagine what these kids are saying to each other? The pressures to have sex with different men is huge for teenage girls and I think society needs to regress a bit there. There seems to be more shame to remain a virgin at 20 than to have shagged 10 boys by the time you get to 20.

It seems to ok to tell our children HOW to have sex, but not to tell them about all the risks involved so they can make properly informed choices.

My now 15 year old went to the GP with her friend before her birthday to ask about the implant. I knew before hand, and was sat in the waiting room but I wasn't approached by the surgery.

My daughter has chosen the implant, not because she wants to have sex but because she has very heavy painful periods that limit her life. I had the implant fitted for exactly the same reason even though my DH has had a vasectomy and it has improved my quality of life considerably.

So although the Daily Wail can moan about schools forcing children to have long term hormone contraception, how many of those girls are doing it in order to relieve their period symptoms instead of wildly having sex behind the bike sheds.

The current implant used is Nexplanon and if it removed then the hormone effects leave the body as quickly as stopping taking the pill.

Perhaps it was me that was the freak

I was 15 when that Gillick woman tried to get the law passed that meant that you would need parental permission to get contraceptive advice and for a few months whilst it went through parliament you did indeed need permission. Thankfully my mum was nice and liberal and came with me to the FPC otherwise I'd have been stuffed as I was in a long term relationship and (very) sexually active.

I took my own 15yr old the get the MAP recently. She doesn't need me to go with her because she's entitled to it all on her own but she wanted the company.

I must have been a freaky teenager, Sposh - because I honestly don't remember having any urge to be sexually active. But I don't have much of an urge to be sexually active now either, so freak it is.

Blimey sportsfanatic, do you not remember being a teenager and how strong the urge to be sexually active was? I'm not sure that the desire to defer sexual activity is a sign of maturity!

As long as the girls are fully aware of the pros and cons I think this is a good thing and should be available in all schools.

So a mature woman is one who doesn't have sex at all unless she is prepared to have a child, is that what you're saying?

I disagree with this idea that it is the mature under 16's who are ready for sex, whether or not they use contraception.

A truly mature 14 year old will have researched contraception thoroughly and will know that no contraceptive is 100% effective even if used perfectly. She will know that therefore there is a small risk of pregnancy. And if she is unlucky she then runs the risk of having a baby she may not be emotionally ready to cope with, her education (still at a basic stage) may well suffer and the parents she has chosen to cut out of her life in this aspect, will probably have to help her pick up the pieces. A mature 14 year old will understand that she has a lifetime ahead for sex and her priorities now should be different. The inability for delayed gratification - to wait until a more appropriate age to have sex - is a true sign of maturity.

However, I suppose giving a child the ability to have sex while minimising the risk of pregnancy (though not STIs unless a condom is also used) is better than pregnancy if a child is determined to act immaturely. Though what would happen to the doctor/nurse who prescribes without parental authority if the child suffers e.g. a DVT or other life-threatening side effect I am not sure.....

My DD is 15, but if for any reason she felt she couldn't come to me to discuss contraception from 13 onwards I would be happy for any school or family planning clinic to administer what she needed without my consent or knowledge. It's HER body and her right.

However they would also need to heavily press the issue of condoms and STI prevention, and provide free condoms.

I do know my DD would be able to come to me.. but some girls might have, say, abusive or strictly religious parents they can't approach - surely anyone would rather they were protected against pregnancy if they are going to be sexually active anyway (which some will be no matter what rules or curfews are in place at home)

I think that girls who pass Fraser Competence should have every right to access contraception without their parent's knowledge.

Victoria Gillick's daughter became a single mother at about 18yrs old, I believe. I suspect that was because she didn't feel able to talk to her mother about contraception.

There are many parents out there who are horrified at the idea of their kids being sexually active under the age of 16 but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. I've read posts on MN where a mother swears that (for example) a 17yr old daughter is still a virgin despite having had a boyfriend for two years Not impossible, of course, but highly unlikely I would have thought!