While many parents hope their teenagers abstain from sex, the fact is that the United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world, according to TeensHealth. Many birth control methods are available to both adolescent girls and boys without parental consent, though openly discussing such issues with your children is usually more helpful than avoiding them, according to the Center for Young Women’s Health.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills may be one of the safest and most effective options for teenage girls, according to the Center for Young Women’s Health. It can also help your daughter experience less painful periods and even fewer acne breakouts. Teenagers can usually obtain birth control pills without parental consent. While oral contraceptives may reduce your daughter’s risk of cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease, they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. One of the most potentially scary side effects associated with the pill is the risk of developing blood clot. However, the risk of pregnant teenagers developing such potentially life-threatening problems more than double the risk of developing blood clots while on oral contraceptives; thus, it is almost always safer for a teenage girl to take the birth control pill rather than avoid it for fear of blood clots.
Condoms
Male and female condoms are widely available to adolescents and adults alike in retail stores as well as some clinics, according to TeensHealth. When used properly, these protective barriers protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, male and female condoms should not be used at the same time; either the boy or the girl should choose to use a condom. A male condom is usually placed on the penis right before sexual activity; female condoms can be inserted into a woman’s vagina to cover to cervix as early as eight hours before intercourse. After sexual relations, the person wearing the condom should carefully remove it.
Birth Control Shot
The birth control shot is available to teenage girls and close to 100 percent effective in pregnancy prevention, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your daughter must get the shot in her upper arm or buttock once every three months for it to work effectively and does not need parental consent to do so. Since some adolescents struggle with remembering to take a birth control pill each day, the shot might be more effective against contraception than pills. However, keep in mind that this does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Photo Credit
- pretty teenager from thailand image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
