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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think the [now free] morning-after pill for young girls is a dreadful indictment of our permissive society?

108 replies

ftm42 · 01/04/2011 08:22

Just been listening to news on breakfast TV. Quotes as follows [as close as poss]

"...morning after pill prescribed now for free in Wales to under 16s..."

"...highest level of teenage pregnancies in Europe..."

I wonder if there's a link between those 2 quotes?

DUH!!!

Am I alone in thinking that the more you give kids a 'get-out of jail card', the more they'll have sex when they aren't ready? Why can't we teach our kids to

JUST SAY NO!

Accidents happen, they always have, but for goodness sake, in making it easier to get an abortion [that's what it is, let's not beat around the bush here] doesn't it make it easier to get pregnant in the first place as you can always get rid of it. Have we sunk so low to think we can throw it all away and then fix it later by "getting rid".

OP posts:
winnybella · 01/04/2011 08:24
Biscuit
AtYourCervix · 01/04/2011 08:25

you are talking bollocks i'm afraid.

  1. the MAP is not an abortion.
  1. those who 'just say no' or are careful will carry on. Those that have 'accidents' will be able to access something which will help them to avoid unwanted pregnancy and 'get rid'
CMOTdibbler · 01/04/2011 08:26

Don't be so stupid. No one intentionally has unprotected sex, and as the MAP stops implantation it is not an abortion. So if better availability to contraception stops even one girl having an unwanted pregnancy, I'm all for it.

ifancyashandy · 01/04/2011 08:28

Anything that helps prevent babies having babies is a good thing. Oh and 'this permissive society' has been around for donkeys. I first had sex aged 13. Am now aged 40. Never had a baby. Not suggesting 13 year olds should be having sex. But it was ever thus.

LeroyJethroGibbs · 01/04/2011 08:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LoveBeingKnockedUp · 01/04/2011 08:31

You don't have a clue. If you really think the only reason children have sex is because they can get the pill you read too much daily mail!

ifancyashandy · 01/04/2011 08:33

Missed your point about MAP = abortion. You are talking pony.

pumpupthevolume · 01/04/2011 08:34

YABU. Contraception is not 100% effective... I wish this had been available when I was younger. I remember making up name and fake adress and going to gp in different part of town.

Original poster
ftm42 · 01/04/2011 08:34

I think the stats speak for themselves. Make it easier to have sex and hang the consequences and hey presto...

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 01/04/2011 08:35

I'd love to agree with you but the fact is our children are having sex at 12 and 13 years old. We can't change that so we might as well do everything we can to keep them from getting pregnant.

tabulahrasa · 01/04/2011 08:35

"I think the stats speak for themselves."

Which ones? The ones that say that teenage pregnancy rates are falling?

onlyjuststillme · 01/04/2011 08:36

Well anything so that I dont get subjected to some young girl on the way to the train station thismorning having the following conversation loudly on the phone ~

"Well I am pregnant....yeah mum going mad.....you will never guess who the father is .....well I am gonna get rid of IT OBVIOUSLY"

I think contraception is obviously the best choice but there are few people who can honestly say they have never made a mistake or had an accident (condom splitting). The MAP is and should be the next responsible step. Making it more widely available HAS to be a good thing.

Strawbezza · 01/04/2011 08:38

The MAP should be free for all UK under-16's. All UK over-16's too. I don't see much evidence of English teenagers "just saying no" because they are charged for the MAP.

gilbonzothesecretpsychoduck · 01/04/2011 08:40

People will have sex whenever they want to. You're never going to stop them if it's what they want to do. Surely being able to prevent a pregnancy after an accident is a good thing? Or would you prefer that teenagers got pregnant and then had their lives potentially ruined because they've had to have an actual (MAP is not an abortion) abortion? Or maybe back street abortionist with dirty knitting needles is the way forward? Hmm

Original poster
ftm42 · 01/04/2011 08:48

I have already acknowledged that accidents happen and we should support them when they do.

However, we now have a society where sexual relationships just aren't valued any more. Kids have lost respect for each other [though they talk about wanting respect all the time] and each other's bodies and feelings. Sex is too important to just use it as if it's normal playtime or when they get bored "cos there's nuffink to do round here", etc.

Call me whatever you like, I think sex is great - so great that it should be between two people who love each other, not something that 'just happens' in secret on a Friday night, behind the bike sheds, or because all their mates are doning it [they aren't]! It's so important because you can make another life by having sex [in case anyone's forgotten] - it's still a miracle when that happens so please use with care and value it!

OP posts:
niceday · 01/04/2011 08:53

But the stats are very high before the map, not after.

Though educating children about their bodies and relations without sex would be a good thing IMO.

vj32 · 01/04/2011 08:56

MAP is free for U16s from certain pharmacists who have been specially trained in England already. Or it is in my area - maybe it isn't everywhere. It just obviously wasn't in Wales before.

To be honest, it is the responsible teens who will go ask for the MAP or go to a family planning clinic and get the free condoms. They will have to go through an interview with a random stranger asking them about their sex life, which is awkward enough for an adult. If they are Under 16 this will be in more detail because the person giving out condoms/MAP has to ensure they are fully aware of their actions and mature enough to make sensible choices. It is the less responsible teens who ignore a problem, hope it will go away and only tell someone when it is too late.

beesimo · 01/04/2011 08:59

My issue with this is because when we were at school one of the lasses was being abused by her uncle this only came to light when she became pregnant. Now any evil bastard can do what they like with a child and simply get her a few pills.

It also means in a boyfriend/girlfriend situation it makes it much harder for a vunerable girl to say no I am not ready yet.

GypsyMoth · 01/04/2011 09:02

i wonder what the stats are for the over 16's too........the older people who should know what they are doing

but no,lets not go there.......lets slag off the under 16's.....they are fair game

does the teenage pregnancy stats not include the 17,18 and 19 yr olds then????

cory · 01/04/2011 09:03

"...morning after pill prescribed now for free in Wales to under 16s..."

"...highest level of teenage pregnancies in Europe..."

OP could you kindly explain why the highest teen pregnancy rate is not in Denmark or Sweden or the Netherlands, all three of them countries which are known for their permissive attitude and generous access to contraception?

cory · 01/04/2011 09:05

beessimo:

"My issue with this is because when we were at school one of the lasses was being abused by her uncle this only came to light when she became pregnant. Now any evil bastard can do what they like with a child and simply get her a few pills."

But we already had the condom. And coitus interruptus. And countless other ways of abusing a child without getting her pregnant.

Are you saying it would have been better for this child to have become pregnant on top of her abuse?

Original poster
ftm42 · 01/04/2011 09:05

cory - sorry, I don't know the answer to that one!

OP posts:
Original poster
ftm42 · 01/04/2011 09:06

cory - I meant your first comment re Denmark etc

OP posts:
AtYourCervix · 01/04/2011 09:07

might be something to do with the higher actual abortion rates accross europe.

ladyintheradiator · 01/04/2011 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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