Suggestions For Teen Please Posted: 08-13-04 13:00pm
Hello all! I'm new here and i've recently
been researching birth control methods,
mainly the pill/patch. I'm 15 years old
and I would like to have the pill/patch
not only for birth control but for other
advantages as well, like a regular period.
I'm usually regular but from time to time
I am late and that causes very bad cramps.
My dad offered to get me the pill/patch
because recently my 13 year old cousin was
talked into having sex by her brother's 18
year old friend. Unfortunately she did
get pregnant. As a loving father does, he
got worried and decided to have a
father-daughter talk with me. He told me
he didn't want me getting pregnant at 15
and he would get me the pill, but I said
no because i'm not having sex. Later I
realized that I don't need to be having
sex to want the pill, because of other
advantages. Plus, i've been with my
boyfriend for almost two years now, and
the subject of sex is likely to come up
sooner or later. We get along great and
we love each other very much so waiting
until marriage was never a big concern of
ours. Some of you may think i'm too young
to know if we're going to stay together
but many who know me think i'm more mature
than the average 15 year old. All of my
friends are older than I if that gives you
a clue. I don't try to act older, it just
sort of runs in the family to be more
mature and have an above-average
intelligence (not to be conceited). So I
do a lot of research when i'm interested
in something, which is why i'm researching
birth control now. So i'm wondering, if I
do decide to get the pill or patch, how
exactly do I go about doing this? Any
other suggestions you think may help are
welcome and appreciated. Thanks in
advance for your help.
|
Hel
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 28 Location: UK
Posted: 08-13-04 13:22pm
You can visit your gp to discuss going on
the pill - you don't have to be of a
certain age to start using it,
particularly if you are planning to
regulate your periods. The pill usually
does make them lighter and less painful,
you can also plan it right down to the
exact day, so there'll be no surprises! I
am taking the combined oral contraceptive,
which is one of the safest forms of birth
control. If you're in a loving
relationship and are thinking about having
sex soon, it's probably the best for you.
I live in the uk so i'm only telling you
how things are here, i'm not too sure
about the rest of the world!
|
CrazyBanana
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 48 Location: So Cal
Posted: 08-13-04 13:43pm
Hi ashes. It's good to see that you're
being responsible. In regards to
obtaining the pill or patch--1st of all,
do you have insurance? If you go to your
physician, he/she can send you to the
gynecologist (once you ask for birth
control pills and/or become sexually
active, you have to have pelvic exams w/
the gynecologist). The gynecologist can
tell you more about birth control, and
prescribe you the pill. If you are
uncomfortable with your parents finding
out, know that your parents are not
allowed to access any of your medical
records w/o your consent. But you wrote
that your dad actually wanted to put you
on the pill, correct? In which case, he
could take you to get them.
The other alternative would be going to a
planned parenthood clinic. They will
give you pills for a small donation.
When you do become sexually active, you
should probably use more than one type of
contraceptive. Basically, you should
combine pill usage with condoms and/or
spermacides, etc. So that you can be more
certain you won't get pregnant.
|
PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Posted: 08-13-04 14:14pm
Wow,what an awesome dad you have!!!It must
have been very difficult for him to have
that talk with you,but good for him for
doing that!It is great that you are
thinking of birth control before you need
it ,since there are options to be weighed
and the pill needs a little time to be
effective.It does seem that you are more
mature than most your age.Whatever method
you choose,remember no method is 100% safe
and use an backup method just to be sure.I
wish you luck!Patty
p.S.I think you would do well on the
pill,you seem reponsible enough to
remember to take it.
|
ashes
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 62
Posted: 08-13-04 17:28pm
Pattyv- yes, my dad is very open-minded.
I think I inherited from him, because we
can talk about anything.. So I don't
think it was really difficult for him. My
boyfriend and I have discussed precautions
to take before we decide to have sex. So
far the plan is to use the pill/patch and
spermicidal condoms.
Crazybanana- I believe I am on my dad's
insurance. My parents finding out is not
an issue, my dad is fine with it. He
really just doesn't want me to get
pregnant. Now my mom - to put it nicely -
she has communication problems. That
ended up leading to their divorce. She's
very close-minded but with a little sweet
talk and proof that i'm responsible, i'm
sure everything will turn out as
planned.
Hel- i'm looking forward to lighter and
less painful periods. :d thanks for your
suggestion.
Thanks for all your help!!!
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 08:32am
I just wanted to add a couple of things.
Number one, you do not have to go to a
gynecologist per say. You have to have a
pelvic exam before anyone will give you
the pill/ patch, etc., but most family
practioners will do that for you. They
usually only refer you to a gynecologist
if there are problems.
If you go to a family planning clinic
regardless of whether or not you have
health insurance, you can get the pill and
exams for free since you are under 18.
Simply tell them that you don't want your
parents to know (even if you don't really
care) this way they won't ask for
insurance information. These clinics are
government funded and even if you used
your insurance, you will be saving money
not using it. I hope that made sense.
Anyway, it is great to see that you are
responsible and it is also great that you
have a caring and understanding father.
Good luck to you!
|
ashes
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 62
Posted: 08-14-04 17:46pm
Hotasfrick- I was wondering if I had to go
to a gyno or not. Thanks for the info.
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 17:52pm
You are very welcome! Good luck and if
you have any more questions just let me
know.
|
June4life
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 550
Posted: 08-14-04 17:52pm
To get birth control you have to go to the
gyno.
I didnt want to go either, I just wanted
to get the pills, but it doesnt work like
that
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 17:55pm
No, you do not have to go to a gyno.
Her family doctor can do her pap test and
prescribe pills. If they have samples
in the office they can give them to her
right then and there. I know I have done
it for ten years.
I have only been to a gyno one time and
that was because I had a cyst on my ovary.
But for all of my paps, I go to my
family doctor.
|
Hel
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 28 Location: UK
Posted: 08-14-04 18:11pm
It's bound to be different in different
places, for me, I didn't have to do
anything but talk to my doctor and he
prescribed it the same day. I'm in the uk
and i'm guessing that the procedure will
vary from country to country or even state
to state.
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 18:14pm
Yeah, I suppose some family doctors don't
do paps, but here in pa they do! And if
you don't want to go to your family doctor
then you can go to family planning. The
only reason I have ever gone to a gyno is
for complications. But, I guess it just
depends on where you are and whatnot.
But, I have always just gone to my family
doctor.
My suggestion is to just call your family
doctor, say that you want to start taking
the birth control pill and ask what you
need to do.
|
PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Posted: 08-14-04 18:58pm
I would be more comfortable with a
gyn.They are more likely to notice any
abnormalities and have more current info
on birth control.Most insurance companies
will allow you to see a gyn without a
referral.At least that's how it works in
illinois.Patty
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 19:02pm
I personally don't like gynecologists.
Anyone who would go to school to
specialize in that kind of thing really
worries me. That is why I like my
doctor. She only does it because it is
part of the whole package, and she her
life goal wasn't to look at the female
anatomy all day.Lol. That is just me
though!
|
June4life
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 550
Posted: 08-14-04 19:32pm
Hotasfrick, in ny, you have to see a gyno
before going on birth control. And I too
don't have a perscription for the pills
either. When I go to my gyno for a yearly
exam, he gives me 13 packs of pills so
that i'm all set until my next exam the
following year. I get 13 packs because if
the exam isnt exactally a year apart, then
I still have the pills.
|
ashes
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 62
Posted: 08-14-04 23:15pm
I guess i'll just have to found out how it
works down here. Thanks for all the info
your guys!
|
PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Posted: 08-15-04 08:28am
June4life,you have a very generous doc.The
most I ever got was 6 months' worth!I
thought that was good!That was the in the
days before insurance companies were
require to give coverage to oral
contraceptives.In illinois, it is the law
now that oral contraceptives get
coverage,like any other
prescription.Viagra has had coverage for a
while,why not!!Insurance would pay for a
man to get an erection,but not for
prevention of the result of an
erection!Now we get equal coverage!It
needs to become a national law,so more
women can afford birth control.Okay,i'll
step off my soapbox now.Patty
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-15-04 10:01am
In pa you don't have to go to a gyno. At
family planning they will only give me two
packs of pills (because nordette is a
popular brand, it is the same for ortho)
at a time, so I have to go in there every
freakin two months. It is a pain, but a
heck of a lot cheaper. My family doctor
usually give me six months of samples free
and then calls me in a prescpription for
three months worth after the six months.
If she doesn't have samples then she calls
in three packs at a time because that is
the only way the insurance company will do
it. That, or one pack at a time which is
even more of a pain!
I have trouble with this only two packs at
a time thing because I always put off
getting them and end up starting my pill
late. I don't have sex so there is no
risk of pregnancy, but it still messes up
my cycle. But, I just cannot afford
nordette without the family planning
discount. It is outrageously
expensive.
Anyway, as I said, you will just have to
see what you have to do in your area.
All areas are different I guess.
