To think that underage girls should need their parents permission to get contraception

[happypiggywiggy]

I think it's crazy that girls under 16 can show up at a family planning clinic or their GP alone and ask to be put on contraception without their parents permission. I'm pretty sure it hasn't always been that way and you needed your parents permission at one point.

My DD is only 10 but it scares me that in just four or five years she will be able to go on the pill without telling me or needing my permission.

I just think that if my teenage DD is going to be using something hormonal like the pill or implant or injection then I'd want to know so I can keep an eye on her and also be on the look out for any bad side effects she may have. Some women have a terrible time with hormonal contraception and I just think that when you're young having someone else keep an eye on you is a good idea iyswim.

If she decided to have sex at age 14/15 would you rather she could get contraception, or risk getting pregnant?

I always think that it is surprising, shouldn't the prescriber need to know family history etc (thrombosis in family, that sort of thing) that the girl needs to know? The medical history should surely be taken. Does the girl know all her medical history?

Yabu

YABU!

YABVU.

If you want that then develop the most open relationship possible with your daughter. It is right however that if she is competent to make a decision before being 16 then she is able to without your input. The legal framework for this (Gillian or Fraser) competence was developed on the back of a court case exactly around this scenario. You can easily Google it.

I think the doctor will be able to advise her on safe usage for hormonal contraceptives.

If, however, your problem is more that you think she might be having sex without you knowing, its her you will need to talk to when the time comes.

Fwiw I think i would rather a daughter practised safe sex without my knowledge than had an unwanted pregnancy that they may not be able to cope with. Although I wouldn't be happy with either.

sinking feeling I might be flamed

I think it's crazy how parent think that blocking contraception will stop their kids from having sex.

But what about medical history? Morris, bear and Happy? x

I mean gillick competence... Bloody auto correct

Well lucky her for having parents who would keep an eye on her, rather than refuse, call her names or worse beat or abuse her for making such a decision.

Access to contraception should be a right, not a privilege decided by your parents.

Anyway as you're so supportive it's likely that she'll talk to you about it anyway, so don't sweat it :)

Depends if she is mature enough to understand the treatment and it's implications. A doctor doesn't just hand out contraception without discussing. If the teenager is deemed to understand then they are probably mature enough to understand there may be side effects etc.

Young people of the age you mention - 14/15 are considered 'competent' - that is, they can consent to their own medical treatment. This was challenged by Victoria Gillick some years ago (who seemed to share your views though I think she was coming at it from a moral standpoint rather than a 'hormones are bad' pov). My memory is hazy on all of it. But anyway, she didn't get anywhere with it.

I know it's hard to believe when you have a 10 yo, but a 15 yo is quite capable of making decisions about her own body. If she's able to consent to sex (in a situation where the partner is roughly the same age of course) then she should be able to consent to contraception.

Why wouldn't your 15 yo be aware of her own medical history?

You have a point from the health pov, but how many underage girls would ask their parents to take them to get contraception and giving birth underage is also a health risk.

You sound very broadminded, so talk openly to your dd about these things so that she feels confident to come to you with these issues.

I understand your concerns but im glad we not in a country that stops girls asking for help if they need it. Ideally your dd would talk to you but the fact she can privately sort out something for herself to stop pregnancy at only 14 or 15 and diseases i will always support. Ideally children shouldnt be sexually active at that age but thats another argument and something we cant judge. (Looks at dn and looks up nearest nunnery)

I think that younger teenagers of both sexes should have access to contraception.

But they should also have access to sex education that gives them the confidence to say No if they want to say No, and to talk about their relationships and any pressures and life in general with trusted people.

Ideally parents are integral to this. But sadly, not always.

I mention medical history because my contraceptive has been changed for this reason! If the girl goes to a Family Planning Clinic and doesn't know family medical or her own history, wouldn't that cause a problem?

Surely her GP would have her medical history?

If underage sex is meant to be illegal why is it OK to give contraceptives to underage girls. This contradiction should be tackled for a start before there can be any clarification on this subject.

YABVU

If your daughter isn't aware of her own medical history/risk factors, it's because you have neglected to tell her.

I thinks it's great that they can do that. I say this as the mother of a girl. I much rather teach as best as I can that it's better to have safe sex than to risk getting pregnant at 14/15 or having an std and then trust her to make the right decisions than rely on her not being able to get contraception as a a reason not to have sex.

YABU there comes a point where young people are allowed to have some privacy, autonomy and make their own choices

work on building an open and trusting relationship with your child and she may well involve you in her decision - make her feel like you will over react and she wont

She may know her own history, but what if there is history of thrombosis in the family? She may not be aware of. I imagine if she was at a legal age she would be more likely to ask about family med history etc

Maybe looking at your 10 year old is the wrong way to think of it.

Perhaps when she is 14/15 she will be a very different, competent, mature individual who might happily discuss contraception with you.

Hopefully this is a needless worry.