To think 13 is too young to go on the pill

[toni76]

A report says girls as young as 13 should get the pill without a prescription. I just think 13 is sooo young (have two little girls). AIBU to think there must be a better way to stop 13 year olds getting pregnant?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17847069

Not keen on this. What about infection/ am also concerned ab out the message it sends, I support women of any age from 13 up being able to access contraceptives if they want to but this policy change seems to send the message that its normal for a 13yo to have sex and if they are, pregnancy is the worst thing that can happen. Ironically chlamydia if untreated can lead to infertility so pill now, fertility problem later for these girls

YonWhaleFish, that's my point, you have to go into a family planning clinic. You can't just walk into a chemist to get your free condoms. So less young people are likely to do that.

It seems they are now pushing the contraceptive pill and the morning after pill onto young women.

And I'm sorry but just because you know that some kids have sex at the ages of 11,12,13 does not make it right. Just because you might have had sex at the age of 13 or 14 does not make you a spokesperson for a generation of kids.

No-one has said that ALL kids who have sex at this age are being forced to do so. However if you look at the research done you'll find surveys that question young women discover that for most, their first sexual experience was regrettable, that most lose their virginity whilst drunk, that most feel pressurised to have sex and that most report boys refusing to wear condoms.

Have a look at this about how young peoples attitudes towards sex is changing, this on the rise of sexual violence amongst young people, this in which teenagers say that sex education failed them and more than half wanted more emphasis on relationships and emotions, more evidence of young girls in abusive relationships.

No of course not all children (and they ARE children) who have sex are being abused or co-erced but we are forgetting the law here which says it is illegal and the law is there to protect our kids. How can a child at the age of 13 be mature enough to consent to sex? You may argue that YOU were, but does that make you spokesperson for every 13yo? I would argue that the majority are NOT and the law is there to protect ALL children, not just a few of them.

How can the parent stop her exactly? Jump between her and her boyfriend?

I also don't like the thought of additional years of these hormones in the bloodstream. Was on the pill myself for 8ish yrs and its the one big problem imo.

Sorry, from 3rd para onwards is directed towards those posters who say they had sex at early ages and not YonWhaleFish.

Everyone sexually active should see their GP regularly. It's embarrassing to have pap smear tests or get your boobs scanned too, but it's done for a reason.

People should be educated about this stuff from a young age. Going to the doctor should be a normal part of life, like getting a car MOT-ed regularly even if there's nothing (seemingly) wrong with it.

Does anyone who had to wait until legal age of consent to have sex wish that they had been allowed the pill and to start sex earlier? I wouldn't have thought so.

Having to wait until you are 16 to start having sex is no hardship.

It may feel like a hardship to the immature underage girl when she is afraid of being dumped for not putting out though.

Sorry for the Daily Mail link but the survey it highlights IS real and does produce some worrying statistics. Mykindaplace survey

YABU, 13 is too young to become a mother.

Yes yonwhalefish exactly! And pour an icy bucket over the horny little fuckers!

13 is also to young to contract an std

Exactly Tupperware, the agony aunt columns are full of letters from girls who are being pressurised into having sex by their boyfriends, who are scared of being called a virgin and feel they should do it because all of their friends are doing it.

It's bloody sad that young girls feel the need to fall in with the crowd and please men rather than get dumped. But this is the message we are sending out to them, that it's fine to have sex so long as you take the pill. We aren't questioning why they are having sex and when surveys do question that, the results are very shocking. Yet all this is swept under the carpet so as to appear to be liberal and relaxed.

Sirzy, that is the most ridiculous thing I have heard!

Where is your evidence for that please?

I think its terrible, 13 is a child and although some people do have the pill for heavy periods and other issues this is a medical issue and would be prescribed. This is purely about children having sex... where are your children? why dont you know what they are doing??? why are they thinking that this is ok??? i have a 13 year old DD, she is monitored in everthing she does and im sorry if people think i am old fashioned but she will NOT be having sex at her 13!!
i have no understanding of parents that think this is ok, at 13 they shouldnt even be thinking that way they should be children!

Why should you have to wait 3 years to have sex? Because of the 'legal' age really?

This is the thing isn't it?

Laws are quite rightly in place to protect people but they'll never stop natural, primeval urges.

Nature itself sees to it that some children start their periods at the age of 9yrs.

So whilst the laws are quite rightly there...so should contraception be alongside them.

Therhubarb You need to read my posts properly.

1. I've never said that children under the age of consent having sex is right, I am however opened minded enough to accept it happens and that there should be access to the right forms of contraception if required.

2. I've agreed that pharmacists should be able to give away free condoms, and that condoms are just as important as the pill.

3. If you read my posts I was over the age of consent, so stop labouring under the idea that I think I am a "spokesman for a generation".

This has nothing to do with the age of consent. It's about being mature enough to accept that kids do have sex underage and providing them means to access appropriate contraception.

I agree with the idea of more education about relationships and emotions, very good idea.

Abusive relationships and sexual violence aren't caused by access to contraception.

YADDDNBU

Children who need to go on the pill for medical reasons will need to see a doctor anyway so won't be able/want to just self-medicate. So that argument doesn't work.

And children should not be having sex at 13. Any boy/man who has sex with them is breaking the law. So facilitating sex is wrong.

And the pill is a strong strong drug. It can mess you up and therefore should never be given without a doctor's approval.

I also think in lots of cases its too young for sex. In many cases it will be down to pressure. In some it will be abuse. A few will be equal sexual encounters I'm sure.

The rhubarb - I was replying to the poster who said it was to young to get pregnant. Highlighting the fact that being on the pill doesn't mean it's risk free for them to have sex

x post rhubarb sorry

Rhub I think she meant it as 13 is too young to have to deal with the problem. Not the infection will bypass underage people :)

Oh sorry Sirzy and yes YonWhale, x posts I tend to do that, I reply to one person and then to others and I don't make the distinction.

What is highlighted by this is that sex education really does need to start from a young age in the sense of giving young people the confidence they need to know their own body and to resist peer pressure.

We need to ensure young people are being equipped with the skills they need to say NO in any situation.

Yes yonwhalefish exactly! And pour an icy bucket over the horny little fuckers!

This made me lol. It is an excellent plan, but we'll need tracking devices and spy cameras.

at the end of the day, people need to be responsible parents and teach children self respect and right from wrong then there would be no need! 13 is a child end of!