Results tagged “birth control” from iVillage - Beehive

A Maine middle school will make a full range of contraception, including birth control pills and patches, available to students in grades 6 to 8 after the local school board approved the proposal this week.

At King Middle School in Portland, birth control prescriptions will be given after a student undergoes a physical exam by a physician or nurse practitioner, said Lisa Belanger, who oversees the city's student health centers.

Students treated at the centers must first get written parental permission, but under state law such treatment is confidential, and students decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive.

The issue has sparked debate across the country, and not surprisingly, across the iVillage boards.

Is this an outrage, or a necessary step to prevent teen pregnancy?

Some iVillagers, such as amcanmom, worry that distributing birth control at school would encourage sex, not educate kids about it: “I am all for having birth control available in school clinics--HIGH SCHOOL clinics. For middle school, keep out the dish of free condoms, for goodness’ sakes! I think providing the means to have sex at ages 11 to 14 would encourage these children to engage in sexual activities. By high school, I think that it isn't encouraging them as much as protecting them. Giving them the information is one thing. Giving them access is another.”

Others, such as member laurenjcg, worry about the health concerns that may stem from taking birth control pills at such a young age: “I realize that there are kids in that age range who are sexually active, and I'm all for sex education in schools--maybe a lot more education than they have now. But, I would be angry as a parent to find out that my child had prescription drugs I wasn't aware of. I can understand free condoms, because they help protect against STDs and don't cause chemical changes in our bodies. But the pill has side effects, and I don't think a child of that age can be expected to make an informed decision about that.”

Parents, such as member eghtyslady, think that the school’s proposal was inappropriate in the first place, and interferes with their roles as parents: “If I had a kid in that school the school administration would they hear from me … I don't think children of that age should be messing with their hormones. And they can receive confidential health care and decide on whether or not to inform their parents? What? If I'm footing the damn bills then I will have open access to all their records health or otherwise cause it's MY business.” Member isabella710 agrees: “Schools are for academics, not social issues.”

Some iVillagers, such as turdlewhipper, however, think providing students with more options to better protect themselves is never a bad thing: “It's providing them the means to have SAFE sex. Whether people want to believe it or not an 11-year-old is already quite equipped to engage in sexual activity. Considering that there are children in this age group that are already engaging in sexual activity the more education and opportunities to do so SAFELY, the better.” Member white.wave7 wholeheartedly agrees: “I think we are burying our heads in the sand if we think restricting access to contraception is going to stop kids from having sex. The fact is, this proposition is based on the number of pregnancies already resulting. These kids are already having sex. Who are we hurting if we offer them more ways to protect themselves?”

The whole issue may indeed be a bitter pill to swallow for some parents, but many, such as member ashmama, think the school board’s decision was a necessary one: “As sad as having to give condoms to 8th-graders really is, I think the school should proceed. This may be their one chance to stop a kid from getting pregnant, dropping out of school, or being sexually abused. I have no idea whether my own middle school offers birth control, but I certainly hope that if there are kids who need it, it is available.” She adds, though, that the school should also offer counseling with every birth control prescription: "No middle-schooler is mature enough to have a sexual relationship (and I speak as the mother of an exceptionally mature, responsible middle school daughter). Kids who choose to have sex need help sorting through their reasons for doing so, as much as they need protection from their own hormones."

What do you think? Should middle schools make birth control available to students? Share your thoughts.

Researchers now say that a safe and effective male contraceptive could be available in the next 3-5 years. Options that may soon arrive in the market include a pill to be taken orally, a patch or gel applied to the skin, and an injection given every three months.

What’s that we hear? A chorus of hallelujahs spreading through the iVillage boards?

Many iVillagers, like member sandybryant, say it's about time there was a male option for birth control: “A male birth control method that is more effective than condoms, and less permanent than a vasectomy is LONG overdue. [Men should be able to] take more proactive measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies.” Member cl-clabk agrees, adding that it presents more options to both single men and women: “This will have a big impact on the younger generation. I hear so many women say that they don’t use condoms because their partners don’t like them. This would be an alternative to the condom for contraception purposes, but still put some responsibility on the man instead of only on the woman.”

Even our iVillage guy members, such as martinisnsushi, say they would love the option of a male contraceptive: “Had such a thing been available when I was single, I would have been all over it, as would most of my friends. We all knew horror stories about casual relationships unexpectedly requiring the marriage/abortion/paternity suit/fatherhood decision, and would have loved to have been one step closer to avoiding that in case she forgot to take her pill, had a complication, or the condom broke.”

There's a strong consensus among married couples as well. Member tina_n_madison says that with a male birth control pill, husbands will be finally able to "do their part": “Men should be able to protect themselves and not have to rely on the woman. I don't want to take a pill everyday. I went through two pregnancies, all the doctors visits, 2 C-sections, and the recovery. It's time my husband took care of the prevention part.”

But can women really trust their partners to take a birth control pill regularly?

Members, like apaprikao, think their husbands' “forgetfulness” can be a problem: “Personally I wouldn't be able to trust my husband to remember to take it every day. I still have to remind him to take his vitamin, take out the overflowing trash can, and fold the overwhelming pile of dirty laundry.” Member danid also questions men’s commitment to taking on such a responsibility, especially because they’re not the ones who actually get pregnant: “The real test will be to see how many men will take the initiative to (1) make and keep the regular doctor’s appointments in order to get the contraceptive (2) keep the medication refilled and paid for and (3) live with any negative side effects that occur. We'll have to see who the real men are when/if this type of product become available."

Members also foresee other problems with male birth control. Says martinsushi: “The one thing I would worry about is the possibility that people would forget about STDs and forego condoms for casual sex.”

Have your say. What do you think about a male contraceptive? Would your partner use it?