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Is your Teen using Birth Control?
By Mother | June 20, 2008
Having a a teen daughter can really be a challenge. I must admit that it is truly nerve- wracking. Just because we share strong morals and values with our daughters doesn’t mean that they practice it when we are not around to guide them. I honestly think that I will not be able to allow my daughter to begin using birth control. I may be in denial - but, in my eyes, she is still my little girl. While doing some research online, I came across some tips that may help me change my mind and wanted to share them with other parents. Here they are …
Honesty is a Good Thing - Be honest with your teen daughter. Let her know the benefits and side effects offered by hormonal methods of birth control. You can sit together in front of the computer and research together - you may even learn something new. Take the time to set an appointment with your family doctor so she can ask questions that you may not have the answers for.
Just as much as you need to be honest to your daughter, ask your daughter to be honest with you. Yes, hormonal birth control may prevent pregnancy but if your daughter is sexually active then it may not be the answer - she may need other forms of birth control. It may hurt you as a parent but try to find out what your teen daughter is up to so that you can guide her in understanding the consequences that come with any action she takes. You want to make sure you can help her protect herself if and when she decides to go and continue down that direction.
As a parent, you need to be honest with yourself. You can’t lock up your daughter for the rest of her life … don’t you wish you can? Even if you do not want her to … she is bound to make her own decisions. As parents, all we can do is support them and let them see the possible consequences of each action. If you think that your teen daughter is sexually active, do your very best to protect her from all possible life-altering situations she may get herself into.
Discuss the “What if’s”. If you have good and open communication with your teen - this shouldn’t be difficult. Ask her things like, “What if you did get pregnant?” or “what if he was infected?” or “what if others find out?” The answers to these questions may help her make her decisions and they may also help to guide the choice of birth control.
Finally, share statistics. Help her realize the dangers that sexual activity can bring in the form of sexually transmitted diseases. Show her the statistics for birth control options (particularly any you can find based on incorrect usage). Introduce to her the concept that the only safe and 100% effective form of birth control is abstinence.
Taking birth control at a young age may be a smart choice but even if the reasons may be medical, make it a point to talk to your teen daughter about all the possible complications and horror stories that she may face once she decides to be sexually active.
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