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Original poster

Are all school nurses now encouraging teenage girls to have the contraceptive implant?

159 replies

idohopenot · 16/03/2012 16:24

Apparently the dc's school nurse is really keen on them having it, and claims the government wants all school nurses to push it strongly, to bring down the nation's high teen pregnancy rate.

Is this the case in your dc's schools?

I had only heard of it in Southampton, and thought it was a trial, not a new national policy.

OP posts:
Nyac · 16/03/2012 18:02

How about vasectomies for the boys?

Original poster
idohopenot · 16/03/2012 17:57

There's this report from the (sorry) Daily Mail: here.

But it only mentions Southampton.

OP posts:
Original poster
idohopenot · 16/03/2012 17:51

I only have what the nurse told me.

As you say, there are so many issues.

One of the more minor ones that bugs me is the notion that pregnancy in older teens - ie 6th formers - is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, ever. To me, it would be worse if the dds caught HIV because of failure to use a condom.

But more importantly, it's like the school - yes, the school - is putting pressure on the girls to have sex. Whether they like it or not.

OP posts:
SardineQueen · 16/03/2012 17:17

I am really surprised at this. Do you have any links? Or just what this nurse told you?

There are so many issues with this
The ones you raise about it becoming the norm
Pressure to have sex
No condom use

Plus the additional concerns about long term hormonal contraception in developing girls. Lots of people have side effects from hormonal contraception, lots of people have concerns about the way females are basically stuffed with hormones from puberty to grave. At least with the pill if it doesn't agree with you, you can just stop taking it.

Beachcomber · 16/03/2012 17:16

oops complaint.

Beachcomber · 16/03/2012 17:15

I would be writing to the school to enquire about this and definitely making a compliant if it is in anyway true.

Absolutely not on.

Original poster
idohopenot · 16/03/2012 17:00

Yes, exactly.

I just can't see most boys being prepared to use a condom if the girl has an implant.

And I can't see most girls insisting on a condom.

So yes, STD rates are bound to go up, aren't they?

It is so mad.

OP posts:
littleducks · 16/03/2012 16:48

I wouldn't be happy about it. I would really worry about the effect on STD rates, which are quite high among young people. It also sends the message IMO that contraception is the girls concern, which I think is unreasonable.

Original poster
idohopenot · 16/03/2012 16:44

I'm really upset about it, on many many grounds, not least that the boys will pressurise the girls to go and get the implant from the school nurse, and that will become the peer group norm for the girls, which no girl will want to deviate from. Angry

So nice for the boys not to have to bother with condoms, though.

And no need for any parents to know a thing.

And the nurse seems so damn gung-ho about it.

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