Giving 13-Year-Old Girls Contraceptive Implants at School Takes Birth Control Initiative Too Far

on February 7, 2012 at 3:29 PM

pre-op form From one extreme in school birth control policy to another: Here in the U.S., free condoms in high school and Plan B vending machines in college are controversial measures; over in the U.K., girls as young as 13 have been getting contraceptive implants at school. Without parental consent.

Not surprisingly, this particular method of teen pregnancy prevention is also being considered controversial ... but with good reason! Forget the whole "morality" question -- performing a minor surgical procedure on kids without informing their parents (or their doctors!) is potentially dangerous.

Too little birth control, too much birth control -- can't we find a middle ground here, people??

So many reasons why this is a bad idea.

Like most hormonal methods of birth control, the implants, called Nexplanon, can cause serious side effects including weight gain, mood swings, and depression. Can you imagine seeing these changes in your daughter and not knowing the reason for them? Schools apparently don't require follow-up appointments after the initial procedure, either, so I can only assume most girls who suffer from side effects do so in silence. Alone. (If you didn't want to tell your parents about the Nexplanon in the first place, why would you go to them for help with complications?)

Contraceptive implants are NOT remotely in the same league of birth control as condoms. Not that condoms are foolproof, but they certainly won't cause systemic side effects like Nexplanon. Oh, and did I mention the schools do this procedure without getting a legit medical history first? Apparently girls have to "fill out a form" beforehand, but the buck stops there. Great, because so many 13-year-old kids know if things like congenital heart defects run in their family.

Seriously. Middle ground!!!

What would you do if your daughter got a contraceptive implant at school without your consent?

Image via Thirteen of Clubs/Flickr

About the author Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance!

Filed Under: behavior, issues, school, sex

Comments (34)

Nonmember comment from Megan

on Feb 7, 2012 at 3:50 PM

As much as I love the idea of girls not being teen moms (I was one) this is NOT a good idea. Hormonal birth control has side effects and poses health risks. Also, many women have severe adverse effects with birth control and to be dealing with depression, weight, and uncontrollable mood swings during such an already unstable time of life (developing hormones) is just not something the parent should be left out of the loop on. The public school should not be having it's hands in this. Education is their role, not population control. I don't have a solution, as condoms and BC are ALREADY available for teenage girls to use if they desire. It's not the school's place. They won't even let a kid take TYLENOL without a parental note, but this is okay?

Report this comment

i.heart.nerds

on Feb 7, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Something like this would kill many if the women in my family. There is a genetic blood clotting disorder that runs in my family that means we can't use birth control pills.
I think school and teachers are completely in the wrong to hand out birth control period. If a child is old enough and mature enough to have sex then they need to be mature enough to come to their parents for contraception.

Nonmember comment from blh

on Feb 7, 2012 at 4:39 PM

That's completely ridiculous. There's no way a minor, especially as young as 13, should be able to get any kind of surgery without parental consent. Condoms are one thing but this is terrible.

hoticedcoffee

on Feb 7, 2012 at 4:58 PM

Considering the appalling support I've read from commenters on this site for 'tween abortion without parental consent, I'm betting this isn't going to raise too many eyebrows with the "women's right to choose" crowd.

LittleFrogsMA

on Feb 7, 2012 at 6:47 PM

Probably too far. I would be less concerned about prescriptions for pills.

jagamama0710

on Feb 7, 2012 at 9:35 PM

Considering I just had my Mirena removed because it f'ed me up in all sorts of weird ways, I would want to know my daughter was being given something similar.

bretsnag

on Feb 7, 2012 at 10:39 PM

Why don't we stop worrying so much about contraceptives and teaching "safe sex" in schools and start teaching abstinence, self respect, courting and real relationship values?