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.

YABU. I remember the Gillick court case far too well.

Not everyone has parents they can talk to about these issues. It would be massive step backwards to prevent girls accessing contraception.

For all sorts of reasons, if there is a history of something like thrombosis or a particular type of cancer or similar in your family, I think it's best to make your children aware of it as soon as they can reasonably understand- you certainly shouldn't rely on waiting for them to ask. If it's that much of a risk, there are other scenarios in which it will be a risk than just them asking to go on the pill.

Not every girl comes from a loving, caring home environment, where she would be safe to discuss contraception with her parents before the age of 16 (or ever), but she may still have reasons for wanting to go on the pill.

You should also research what Gillick competence is. Children are only allowed to make decisions about their own health/treatment when they are considered Gillick competent which would include being competent to notice and deal with side effects.

Does anyone here know that if an under-16 seeks contraception, HCPs make any check on the age of the person she is (or intends) having sex with?

The fact that DD'll know her medical history if she wants to go on the pill is an added bonus Lonny!

It just seems odd to me that you'd only tell your child something important about their family medical history which impacts on them if they ask because they want to use hormonal contraceptives!

"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."

Then it's your responsibility to make sure that you have the sort of close relationship with her where she'll come to you first for advice.

How do you feel about your teenage DD getting pregnant because she was having sex without contraception?

landrover, if there's a history of anything serious in your family then your children ought to know about it as soon as they are old enough to understand. You could fall under a bus tomorrow and then all your personal knowledge of family medical history would be gone.

YABVU

Wow wasn't expecting so many responses so fast. I haven't had a chance to read them all yet but I will.

First of all my DD and I have a very open relationship and we're very close. I really do hope it stays that way and if she ever wants to start taking contraception at some point then she will talk to me about it.

I also think that you should be making sure your DC knows about their own medical history regardless simply because it's a good idea anyways.

I would still prefer to know if DD was taking contraception though I admit that may be clouded by the fact she's only 10 right now and still very childlike. It's hard to imagine what she'll be like as a 14yo or a 15yo.

I would have rather died than tell my parents i was having sex.

And without contraception I would have ended up pregnant at 15.

Yabu.

Edith - it depends what the child tells the HCP. If they are saying it's for heavy periods for eg it's unlikely many further questions are asked (at least from my hazy memories!)

YABAI. Work it out.

And how is a doctor supposed to know whether a girl is starting on an inappropriate relationship (ie with a much older man) or being coernced into sex. I think it's a slippery slope and we shouldn't be encouraging young people to have sex so early. And it does put pressure on girls if they think all their peers are having sex and they're not. It's seen as the thing to do. Whereas years ago it was seen as the thing not to do. I'm probably just old fashioned but I'm not changing now.

Doctors aren't the police. They are there to treat patients - not enforce the law.

It just makes me laugh that I have to go through all sorts of palaver and questions about which pill because of age, health, smoking etc, yet an underage girl can gain it, who is unlikely to know of any family history.

Bastard doctors - putting you through all that palaver for no better reason than to ensure you are safe. .

The main red flags in the medical history of a teenager wanting contraception would be high blood pressure, a history of migraine with an aura or a family history of thrombosis.

Any girl competent to take the Pill without adult supervision is able to tell you whether she has migraines with an aura. You can check her blood pressure. If she doesn't know whether there's a FH of thrombosis, or you don't have the info in her GP records, you can either give her a low-risk progesterone-only type of contraception or prescribe the Pill with caution, knowing that the risk of blood clots is very low in this age group. The risk of thrombosis is much greater in pregnancy than with any type of contraception so, whatever type of contraception you prescribe, it's much safer than letting her get knocked up.

Does anyone here know that if an under-16 seeks contraception, HCPs make any check on the age of the person she is (or intends) having sex with?

Of course they don't. How would that work exactly? Who's paying for the HCPs time to make that investigation? And how invasive for the young person. Would you be comfortable telling the GP who you intend to have sex with?

Obviously if HCPs suspect abuse there are safeguarding procedures to follow but that's somewhat different.

yabvvvu

For all the reasons already given above.

I was super close to my mum, even now I tell her everything and anything, but back then I did not want my mum to see me as a sexual being. In fact, I was being bribed by my neighbour sexually, he was forcing me to do things to him and I knew I could tell my mum, but I just couldn't bare for her to see me in that way. Looking back it was stupid, but that is how I felt. It was nothing to do with our relationship.

Can I just ask how long girls have been allowed to access contraception without parental permission for?

I'm pretty sure that when I went on the pill at 15 my dad had to be there and sign something to show he knew I was taking it. My memories are hazy though.

Since about 1986.

Viviennemary 20+ years ago my friends went to the local family planning clinic to get the pill. It's hardly a new development.

Surely pregnancy is much higher risk, medically, than hormonal contraception.

Back in the 1970s when I turned teenage (old gimmer alert!), doctors didn’t have to tell parents but they might decide to. I remember how paranoid my 15 yo friends were about going to get contraception in case their parents got told. It didn’t stop underage girls having sex, it just meant they took more risks.

Anyway, the growing up between 10 and 14 is bigger than just about any other you’ll see – apart from birth to four I suppose. Your DD will probably be ready to make all kinds of decisions you can’t imagine now. And yes, it is a scary thought

Yanbu the law is set at sixteen for age of consent to protect young teens, sadly it fails miserable.

I'm pretty sure if I asked my dp if he had any family history of thrombosis or migraines, he wouldn't know the answer. He's 42.

I was asked all those questions when I was 15 and needed contraception. I said I don't think so. I'm not sure I would have suddenly known the answers on my 16th birthday?

Even now I don't know much about say, my great grandparents health.

why yes having access to the pill encourages women/girls to have sex.

Are we in 1955?

if a girl IS being coerced into sex would you rather she have no access to contraception?

Teen sexual health advisers work within CP guidelines and are well aware of issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse

Lottiedoubtie it is precisely because of the possibility of abuse and coercion of young girls that I think it is vital that HCPs do take active steps to check if there are any (glaring) at least signs if concern. I realise I didn't express myself well enough, for a much older "boyfriend" is only one of those red flags.

Now, specialist teen clinics do ask (pre-planned structured conversations, not intrusive) But would every GP or FPA do so?