Contraception study says 13-year-olds should get the pill in certain scenarios
Source: The Guardian
Girls as young as 13 should be able to walk into a high-street chemist and get the contraceptive pill if they want it, an evaluation of an NHS pilot scheme has concluded.
The pilot in south-east London was designed to offer the pill to women and girls over the age of 16 without the need to see a GP. Some young women might hesitate to visit the family doctor for contraception and might feel more comfortable at a pharmacy, where they would be less likely to meet somebody they know. Emergency contraception the "morning-after pill" is widely available at pharmacies.
But NHS south-east London found that girls under the age of 16, some as young as 13, also came to the pharmacy to ask for the pill.
An evaluation report of the scheme, revealed in Pulse magazine, says it has successfully reached young women who had not taken the pill before: 46% were first-timers. It recommends rolling out the scheme nationally "to shift activity out of GP practices" and extending the age group to cover 13-to 16-year-olds.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/25/the-pill-13-girls-nhs
At least the UK doesn't have Rush Limbaugh types polluting radio stains all over the nation.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)xchrom
(108,903 posts)now they did manage to get on the pill -- i don't know how -- but they were.
it was my first exposure to the pill --
liberal N proud
(60,336 posts)bahrbearian
(13,466 posts)signed Levi
Smilo
(1,944 posts)girls for seeking out contraception.
Funny how all the religious types are so up in arms when "young" girls get pregnant (seek contraception) - but wasn't Mary about 13 when she conceived Jesus?
bahrbearian
(13,466 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)With the world at 7 billion people, birth control (all types) need to be low cost or free and easily available to everyone. These bizarre religionists who believe birth control is ungodly are not living in the modern day reality of world overpopulation, which is leading to starvation, war over resources and mass suffering.
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Just playing devil's advocate, but sensible minor limits are a good thing.
Hatchling
(2,323 posts)Otherwise my 13 year old sister in law wouldn't have had her baby on her 14th birthday.
If she had had access to birth control her life would not have taken such a disasterous turn.
Arkansas Granny
(31,519 posts)factual sex education and information. We are doing a real disservice by not providing those services to those who need and desire them, regardless of age.
BB_Troll
(65 posts)What barriers are faced by young teen girls in getting the contraception from Planned Parenthood?
Snake Alchemist
(3,318 posts)Should we do away with that requirement?
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)Preventing teenage pregnancy should be a public health priority. However, the pill does have some risks and should be prescribed with some caution.
obxhead
(8,434 posts)than there are with pregnancy.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)But, stroke is a pretty severe long term risk.
Hormones have a lot of influence on cardiovascular and neurological health.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/421027_2
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/284/1/72.long
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)There are medical conditions that can cause problems. At least that is what I was told.