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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

Teenage contraception

46 replies

Funnyfarmer · 04/05/2017 11:11

Just want a bit of a moan really and maybe some advice.
My dd is 16. She has been in a relationship for 4 years now. Her bf turns 16 in July. So we both think now is a good time to get the ball rolling as far as contraception is concerned.
I've just phoned our own gp surgery and our local sexual health clinic
She would have to attend a drop in centre during school hours.
Then attend a consultation with a nurse. Also in school hours.
Then if she decides to go for something like an implant or a coil. She would have to go back again during school hours. Because that's the only time they deal with contraception!
I asked do they do a clinic especially for teenage contraception? They said "no because of funding"
She's got her GCSE's coming up and really can't afford to take the time off school. The clinic is about 4 miles away from the school and with the 1st step being a drop in its going to take up quite a lot of her school day.
Surely there should be more facilities of teenage contraception?

OP posts:

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teainbed · 05/05/2017 23:45

Did you know you can self inject the depot every 3 months? See GP for initial appointment and prescription but convenient if you can't make 'in hours' appointments.

bonbonours · 05/05/2017 23:54

Sad that so many people think mother's shouldn't have anything to do with a 16 year old's cotraceptive. I talked to my mum when I was thinking about having sex with my boyfriend and she took me to the doctors to go on the pill. I hope my daughters and I have a similarly open and frank conversation. Secrecy and embarrassment are exactly what helps lead to teenage pregnancies. Getting advice and help from your mum sounds like a great thing to me.

I can't help,OP but I share your frustration. You would think it was in absolutely everyone's interests to make contraception as easily available to teenagers as possible.

PinkDaffodil2 · 05/05/2017 23:59

I wouldn't recommend getting the implant or coil just before exams. Any side effects or problems or complications wouldn't be well timed. Lots of women have heavy erratic bleeding during the first 2-3 months on implant (generally settles down).

AmeliaLion · 06/05/2017 00:08

That's really crappy. Our local area has a variety of clinics - under 25s, male only, female only and a range of options for just anyone. Varying between 8am and 8pm across 5 days. Only need appointments for implant removal, though it can be a long wait if you just drop in.

I'd get her an appointment for half term when she doesn't have a revision session. If she is clear in what she wants they can give it to her there and then - I've never had to have a consultation in advance (though this may be due to her age). She could always opt for the injection to cover 3 months / check she is comfortable with progesterone-based contraception then sort out something more long term in her summer holidays. That said, is trying hormonal contraception for the first time in the middle of her exams really a good idea? Like all medication they can have side effects.

theothersideoftheworld · 06/05/2017 06:14

I agree bonbonours Surely we should encourage our teenagers to talk to us about these things. I would have been mortified if my mum had spoken to me about sex etc, so I really hope my children will not feel embarrassed at all speaking to me.

DeleteOrDecay · 06/05/2017 08:17

If she is clear in what she wants they can give it to her there and then

Not necessarily. When I got my implant, my GP gave me a prescription. I then had to wait for the pharmacy to have the implant ordered in. Then I had to bring it back to another appointment with a nurse to have it put in. No idea if it's the same everywhere though.

It's a shame that some areas don't seem to be doing everything they can to make contraception easily accessible to all.

Funnyfarmer · 06/05/2017 08:38

I've already spoken to our local drop in centre. It was them who told me they only deal with contraception on certain days and times. Which are all in school hours. It was them who told me she could need up to 4 separate appointments depending on what she chooses. The injection isn't an option. She hates needles. Really hates them. So definitely no to self injection too.
Good point about the after effects of the implant during exam time. Didn't think of that. We're probably going to go with the pill for now. See how she goes with that. At least that would be one appointment at our local gp surgery.
And the only study leave she has. Which is very little. She's expected to stay in school. Apparently no one leaves during study breaks. There not like full or half days. It's hours inbetween lessons

OP posts:

Beebeeeight · 06/05/2017 08:59

I hope you are making it clear to her that she will also need to use condoms as well as hormones.

HotelEuphoria · 06/05/2017 09:15

Apologies if I have missed it but why can't she go to the GP surgery?

My DD got fed up of the two hour waits at the clinic at university so timed her next check up and collection to when she was next home and booked an appointment at the surgery for an evening with the nurse.

She said it was far easier and quicker and flexible than waiting at the drop in centres, which are also during the day round her.

Our surgery, like so many others now, has appointments from 07:30 to 19:30 if they are booked well enough in advance. We had a one week delay for the nurse at that time. All very easy.

HotelEuphoria · 06/05/2017 09:19

PS - DD hates the pull, said it made her nuts, heard bad things about the implant, weight gain, mode swings etc so has successfully used the contraceptive patch for a year now. No mood swings, only has to be changed once a week so no forgetting the pill, no weight gain or increased appetite, absolutely loves it. Good luck with her choices but your DD may want to consider the patch.

Funnyfarmer · 06/05/2017 09:48

Yes definitely condoms too. That's a given. Our gp surgery only does the pill. Nothing eles. All other contraception is dealt with at the local (not so local) sexual health drop in clinic. The one where she needs up to 4 appointments.
We had a good chat last night. We're going to talk to our district nurse next week. Just a chat. And see where she wants to go from there. If she wants privacy in there I will respect that. But every other time I've asked if she wants privacy with her doctor. For other visits such as utis and other illnesses she's always refused.
Teenage years are a mind field.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 06/05/2017 09:50

Side effects are very personal and she won't know until she tries.

They can and must wait until contraception is in place.

Good on you, op - let's face it, who would be picking up the pieces if she got pregnant?

Wineandcoffee · 06/05/2017 09:58

I think consideration should be given to having clinics in or very near secondary schools.

Where I live it is nearly impossible to get to our doctors without a car - it is 4 miles away on a winding country road with fast moving traffic and no pavements. There is no public transport that goes in that direction and only four buses a day to the nearest town where I presume there is a clinic. Luckily my DD felt able to ask me to take her to the doctors for contraceptive advice, but I have no idea what teenagers do if their parents are not supportive. Even buying condoms would involve being served by the very nice, but very gossipy lady in the local shop who knows and shares everyone's business.

specialsubject · 06/05/2017 13:49

So there are buses , four a day works. And there is online ordering too, with plain packs. Easy.

Funnyfarmer · 06/05/2017 15:18

When I was in school. We had a lovely school nurse. Katrina. Both primary and secondary. The same nurse all the way through. Lucky if you ever see the same nurse twice nowadays. She did our sex education classes in primary. We could have gone t her about anything. Somebody obviously noticed in primary school when I started going through puberty. She came to see me. And spoke to me about it one one on one. I suspect she did the same with everyone. If there was a couple in school teachers had noticed getting serious. She would go and talk to them one on one too.
She was brilliant. She also worked at the local clinic. You could pop in and see her anytime for anything. And I grew up in a supposedly deprived area. I just don't understand how our local council don't have the funding for a teen sexual health clinic.

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ErIndoorz · 07/05/2017 07:53

I take my hat off to u that u are so open with ur DD and that she feels she can talk to u.
I also agree that there should be services available out of hours, even if it's just after school/college/work.
Bloody ridiculous having to take time off. Schools can fine parents for taking kids out of school yet sometimes we have no choice

randomuntrainedcuntowner · 07/05/2017 07:59

She will have a school nurse. Tell your dd to talk to her. And yes funding cuts are affecting this sort of thing. Not the clinics fault, so I suggest you just work with what's available to you.

randomuntrainedcuntowner · 07/05/2017 08:02

School age children will only be a small proportion of the women they see. Many women work. But is you want a service sometimes you have to reschedule things. And the multiple appointments are based on guidelines and good practice, seeing as many contraceptive options are invade procedures and may have side effects. So please don't complain about that, as I'm sure if your dd was in and odd in 5 mins, had an implant whacked in with no discussion, and no follow up then you wouldn't like that either

Didiplanthis · 07/05/2017 15:19

I think it's brilliant you are this involved and supportive. Where we are it's 12 or 20 miles to the nearest clinics (open once a week max) on fast country roads with no public transport. The GP is 4 miles away on the same roads. I really hope my dd is as open with me as yours is with you when she is that age. I think people dont realize how limited even semi rural services can be. If my dd doesn't ask for help she could never get there on her own. Yes it is her body and her choice but a supportive adult helping her with those choices is invaluable.

BlueChairs · 07/05/2017 15:22

They won't want to give her the implant first because they don't know if she'll have a bad reaction first and it's surgical to remove it - they made me take the POP mini pill for 3 months before mine. Does the GP do the injection?

Funnyfarmer · 07/05/2017 20:39

She wouldn't have the injection.
As I said before we're going to see our district nurse for a chat next week. Explore our options.
She doesn't have a school nurse. She said she has a life study's teacher who says she's available for them kind of chats.
But she's a teacher not a nurse so couldn't prescribe anything and she doesn't have to follow the same confidentiality rules.
But in her school there as only been 1 teen pregnancy in the last 6 years. And she was very young. 14. With twins too. That was about 4 years ago and the couple are still together and doing great. Compared to the 3 a year teen pregnancys in my high school where we did have the facilities. Maybe more teenagers are talking to there parents more nowadays.
Thanks for the replys everyone

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