Contraception for my teenage daughter

[GT1901]

My daughter is 17 and has had a boyfriend for over a year. They are sexually active and have been using condoms, she has asked to go on the pill, to which I’ve agreed.

The difficulty is, she’s at boarding school and thus needs to get all her meds from the school doctor. She’s need advised to take the standard pill, is this what you’ve done with your daughters or did you put her on something else.

It’s a long time since I took the pill and I’m at a loss as to which is the beat method for her. Advice gratefully received.

Her doctor will be the right person to help her make the best choice. Random people on the internet wont know enough about her and her situation to give useful advice.

She should make a choice for herself as it affects her body and then speak to her Dr who will advise what's best for her.

She needs to speak to her dr. There are plenty of contraceptive methods that arent the pill which might be better for her. Maybe the implant.

But her GP will discuss the options with her and she can make a decision then

Also make sure youve had a chat with her about stis, if shes going to stop using condoms always a good idea for both partners to get a sexual health check.

You've 'agreed' that your near adult daughter can make a medical decision for herself . Actually, this whole thing reads very oddly...

It's not your decision is it, it's hers?

Her doctor is the best person to advise. The pill or mini pill is possibly best for teenagers, I’d advise trying them before the implant or injection to ensure that hormonal contraception is ok. Trying to get the implant out if it doesn’t agree with her would be a massive pain.

I would advise inplant as it easy to forget to take a pill.

so many questions
your daughter is over consenting age, she shouldn't have to ask your permission to use the pill or any contraception for that matter. you shou;dn't have to 'agree'. it's her body and her choice.

a doctor should help and support her to make any decision she chooses, not you or random women/men on the internet! i'm not even sure why you're involved!

My DD had the implant at 16.
She had it changed recently. She had 3 weeks of constant bleeding but hasn’t had a period since.
She still uses condoms

There’s quite a few different pills... her Dr will recommend one to start with and will have to change to a different one if it doesn’t suit her.

Might be worth letting her know that if she’s sick or has diarrhoea at any point then the pill obviously won’t work and she’ll need to take another pill the same day.

@JemimaTiggywinkle you don’t take another pill that day you use another method such as condoms for a week or that’s what my go told me and it’s in the leaflet with mine. Also worth noting that anti-biotics can lessen the effectiveness, my cousin’s beautiful boy was down to tonsillitis and the antibiotics causing the pill to fail.

@Mydogisagentleman

My DD had the implant at 16. She had it changed recently. She had 3 weeks of constant bleeding but hasn’t had a period since. She still uses condoms

Yeah, course she does!! Do parents actually believe their kids use condoms as well?!

Sorry but you don’t get to “agree” to her going on the pill. She, at 17, gets to choose what she does or doesn’t do with her own body!

I'd advise the implant or injection. Too easy to forget to take a pill. You never think pregnancy Is going to happen at that age and its also a fun idea /experiment unfortunately so I'd advise more accident proof stuff. Have to sti chat too. She is 17 though so may not feel comfortable with you "interfering". If she was younger say 15 it would be different. I was 15 when I went on the pill (long term boyfriend 15 also. Stayed together 3 years) my mum got drunk and went ape shit at my nanny who helped me get the pill. Then went ape shit at me I don't regret it though. It was the most pure and innocent relationship I ever had!

I had the implant at 18, there was no way I'd have remembered to take a pill every day!

Yeah, course she does!! Do parents actually believe their kids use condoms as well?!

Why not? I always did as a teenager. Couldn’t be bothered with dealing with the cleanup otherwise. I’ve now been married for 6 years and (except when TTC) still prefer to use condoms.

Not everyone has the same views on contraceptive choices...

yeah she needs to work this out with the doctor herself

people are suggesting various things - implant, injection -

i had the injection and it was the worst time of my life - you can't just stop taking it - i had an awful 6 months waiting for the affects to wear off - wouldn't touch it!

Implant works for some - others find it horrific - it's not easy to just have it removed - you get fobbed off for ages!!

I'd probably start with the pill if i was her - see how she goes with that - at least with the pill - you can easily come off it if it's not agreeing with you!

The phrase "or did you put her on something else" makes me really uncomfortable. She is not a pet that you are medicating, she is an autonomous young woman who can make her own decisions.

If she doesn't want to go through her school's GP she can discuss with a sexual health clinic.

Firstly well done for creating a relationship with your daughter that she feels able to come to you for these things.

She should talk to her doctor about all the different options available to her which includes patches, implants, IUDs, POP pills and combi pills. I'd stay away from injections if she's never had any sort of progesterone before as if she doesn't react well then it'll take 8 weeks to get out her system.

If she's the responsible type that can remember to take her pills then go for that option as less invasive but if not there are long term options available to her and the doctor should be able to go through each one and decide what's best for her

Start her on the mini pill first and get her to be aware of her mood while on it.
I was put on a new pill as a teenager and it turned me into a zombie.
It was fine when I switched so doesn't mean she won't be able to use any pill as contraception but might need to brand hop till she finds what suits.
The implant is a good idea but better to wait till she knows how she tolerates the pill first.
I was on the injection for a few years when younger and loved it as it got rid of my periods but they don't really recommend it when too young now as can impact on bone health which you are building up when your young.
I think it's nice that your daughter feels close enough to get advice from you on this.
I had a similar relationship with my DM as a teen and still get on very well now.

You say 'or did you put her on something else' like it's actually you choosing what your almost-adult daughter takes. It's not.

SHE needs to sit and chat to her doctor about it, and get a prescription for what they both agree would suit her.

You're not 'putting her' on anything. Christ.

Jeez, some of these responses! I doubt many of them have had a close relationship with a daughter in their late teens who confides in their mother asking for advice on contraception!

I know what you mean OP. Take no notice of these holier than thou posters. Take comfort your daughter confides in you, a mark of good friendship for the coming years!

I would suggest against the pill. That's the worst as far as I know. It can cause hormonal imbalances.
I suggest copper coil. That is the best to avoid pregnancies. Ofcourse nothing is 100 % safe but it. Has much higher success rate than other ways.

@Moooooooooooooooooo

Jeez, some of these responses! I doubt many of them have had a close relationship with a daughter in their late teens who confides in their mother asking for advice on contraception!

I know what you mean OP. Take no notice of these holier than thou posters. Take comfort your daughter confides in you, a mark of good friendship for the coming years!

Agree with this fully!!