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The reasons many teenage girls start taking birth control pills may surprise you.
Just because your teenage daughter wants to go on the Pill doesn’t mean she’s necessarily planning on having sex, Mom and Dad.
In fact, a third of teenage users go on the Pill for non-contraceptive reasons, most commonly menstrual pain relief, more regular periods — which could help prevent migraines in some -- and clearer skin, according to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute.
As far as she knows, author Rachel Jones says, this is the first time anyone has looked at Pill use for reasons other than to prevent pregnancy. “Even my colleagues were surprised when we first ran the numbers.”
Jones based her report on numbers from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the CDC. The report's data were gathered using in-person interviews with 7,356 women ages 15 to 44.
Pill users were asked whether they took it for any of several reasons besides birth control: cramps or pain during their period; treatment for acne or endometriosis or regulation of their periods; or for some other purpose (although a few oral contraceptives are approved for treating in acne in women who also want to prevent pregnancy, the other non-contraceptive uses are “off-label”).
Many women said they used it for non-contraceptive reasons other than those listed, Jones says, noting that some perimenopausal women take the Pill to smooth their path to menopause.
An estimated 18 percent, or 11.2 million, women between the ages of 15 and 44 are currently on the Pill. About 14 percent of Pill users — representing 1.5 million U.S. teens and women -- take it only for non-contraceptive reasons, she says. About half of them have never had sex.
In addition, 9 percent of sexually experienced oral contraceptive users haven’t had sex in three months or more but continue to take the Pill. “They do have sex unexpectedly, so they’re prepared for it," Jones says. Plus, she says, they probably like having fewer cramps, a better complexion and regular periods.
Jones, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute, decided to look at non-contraceptive uses of the pill after interviewing teens about issues related to sex. The girls “were really fascinated and interested in the pill for menstrual regulation.”
She says she hopes her report will get the word out that teens and women take the Pill for “real immediate health concerns,” not necessarily because they’re sexually active and don’t want to get pregnant.
Jones recalls one girl who went to see her doctor with her mom. “I have really painful periods,” the girl told the doctor. “Would the Pill be appropriate?” Jones says the girl’s doctor turned her down because she wasn’t sexually active.
Then, Jones says, there was the teenage boy who blanched when his girlfriend told him she wanted to go on the pill to ease her cramps. “No, don’t,” he urged his girlfriend. “Your parents are going to think we’re having sex.”
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When my 16 year old daughter couldn't get out of bed due to menstrual cramps, it was time to look at options. Unfortunately, the pediatrician's office kept saying "birth control" rather than using a term more apt to the condition "pain control" of menstruation. I spoke to the office directly about using a different term than "birth control" as that isn't the reason she is on the pill and shouldn't be "encouraged" to take it for that reason. They said "that is what it is". Using that term gives our young women (and men) the notion that it is safe to have sex now since she won't get pregnant. With such a large portion of young women (from age 9 and up) on "the pill" for reasons not related to pregnancy, can't we as a society encourage our physicians to use different terminology for girls not sexually active?
Yes, I think that would be helpful in conveying the message (though not replacing good communication on parental expectations and advice on using good judgement). My daughter too regularly experienced painful cramps, sometimes to the point of seeming in labor. I didn't like the idea of her going on the pill as a teen, but nothing else had worked. Hopefully too, those who "have sex unexpectedly" will realize that they're not really prepared unless they also have a condom.
I used to think the pill only functioned by preventing ovulation, but recently learned that it also affects the cervix and uterine lining in a way that would prevent implantation should ovulation and fertilization occur anyway. This article makes one think of all the women whose relieved suffering could be in jeopardy should some of these "personhood" amendments pass and allow laws banning such forms of birth control.
I have to disagree with you. If your 16 year old can't understand the benefits of taking birth control beyond the sexual aspect of it, then your not educating your child properly. Doctors can't reclassify things to make you feel better.
If it is a duck, call it a duck, explain that it's classified as a web-footed water fowl as well but that doesn't make it any less a duck. It's your job to educate your children.
I understood it at 16. If your 16 year old didn't understand it then you need to teach her, but likely she did and you're overly sensitive about her sexual behavior. Maybe it's because she learns more about sex from the music she listens too and the things you tell her not to do instead of teaching her the realities. I don't know your story, but it is for birth control- that is the primary purpose of the pill. It's the side effects that are beatifically to non-sexually active women.
Talk to your kid about STDs and AIDs. When I was a teen pregnancy was the last thing I was afraid of if I were sexually active... it was the LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. No need to rename birth control, there's plenty of things you can use to scare your daughter away from having sex. Or mention that you can still get pregnant on the pill.
I am really not sure it is such a good idea to give hormone altering drugs to someone young and still developing, however, I have known people who have the "practically in labor" cramps, and they are horrible! I guess if it's the difference between missing school every month, or taking a pill...well, it would be up to the family to decide and talk to their doctor about the risks. There are alternatives as well, such as Blue Cohosh. I have used it with no issues, it definitely helps with the cramping and the "ATTITUDE" issues! Don't just jump on the drug bandwagon, get educated about ALL of the options out there. It's cheaper, too!
All women in this much pain should learn about endometriosis. You have no idea what it is like to have to crawl out of bed because you are in so much pain just because you are a woman and got the gene for this disease. I have seen so many women (including teens) unable to move because they are in so much pain. All the females in my family have it and birth control pills are the only things that help. They are the only prophylaxis, as period become irregular with this pill so it makes it hard to try and take pain meds before it starts.
Why is this news now? Cripes, back in the mid 80's I went on the pill, directed by my doctor, to help regulate my periods and the pain associated with them since I was only getting them every 6 months or so.
This has been going on pretty much since the pill came out - using it for other reasons than preventing pregnancy. It amazes me that now all of a sudden there's an interest in it and warning moms and dads that their little angel may not actually be having sex, but bad periods instead. Doctors have known the pill helps with all kinds of issues aside from pregnancy for years... I guess the press is just now getting a hold of the idea. Great reporting.
This article isn't news. Gynecologists have been prescribing oral contraceptives for years to teens and women for non-birth control reasons. Doctors know that "The Pill" can not only regulate periods and reduce menstrual problems, but it can help acne, migraines, and other hormone-related disorders.
One of the best uses is to stop periods completely, for years! No mess, no bother, no expense for sanitary products, and no wondering when it will start. This may be appropriate for women who suffer PMDD or migraines with their monthly hormonal changes.
Scientists have discovered that women don't have to have a period every month or every three months, that in most women, it's safe to completely stop all periods for a year or two or ten. Periods will usually resume within a few months of stopping the Pill if desired.
Michelle (above), the term "hormonal pills" can equally be used for oral contraceptives that are being prescribed for reasons other than birth control. There should be nothing embarrassing for a girl or woman getting or filling a prescription for "hormonal pills" to treat or control a medical condition.
A basic discussion of women's hormonal cycles, menstruation, and possible problems is entirely appropriate for girls who have started their period. If you are uncomfortable with the topic, then refer your daughter to some factual websites that discuss the issues and options.
Your daughter should also have complete privacy when she's being seen by a gynecologist. Doctors do not need parental consent to counsel, treat, or prescribe to teens under 18 when the issue involves sexuality or reproduction.
As a teenager I suffered from incapacitating cramps during my period to the point that the pain would make me throw up and there was no effective treatment - I was told it was all in my head. When my daughter started suffering from cramps I took her straight to the gynecologist for the pill.
No way was I condoning premarital sex but I was NOT going to subject my child to pain. A teenager's decision to have sex is usually not dependent on whether she takes the pill or not We discussed the fact that this was also a form of birth control but that sexual activity at her age was not condoned and could endanger her health in many other ways.
The fact that this is treated as "news" should alert us to the truth: A lot of people still wallow in ignorance when it comes to "The Pill".
Why information about the pill is not as widely know as we think it should be is not important. That we desperately need to get that information out there IS important.
Lastly, if you know of these benefits, you probably know of the downside. Still, let me point out that when one is on an antibiotic regimen, the pill is generally NOT effective when it comes to birth control.
David, The article is about other uses for the Pill besides birth control. Yes, when on antibiotics, it is less effective for birth control. I take it to control my migraines and horrible cramps. I do not take it for birth control. The pill is a wonderful medication that helps women and teens deal with massive pain as well as preventing pregnancy.
My daughter too had menstral cramps so bad she couldn't get out of bed to go to school. But by 4PM she was Ok enough to go out with her friends. Her mom fell for that crap hook line and sinker. Once I stepped in and said no school no going out and no phone amazingly her cramps weren't that bad anymore and she went to school. There are many ways to relieve mentral cramps without going on the pill. The easiest way is to have a orgasm. You can do that all by yourself without much cost after you buy her a vibrator or just tell her to go sit on the washing machine.
ttmadison - you have to be careful in prescribing bc if you have migraines with aura. My daughter does and did not qualify for several of the most common oral bc pills because of the specific hormones involved. There is some evidence of a slightly elevated risk of stroke in women under 35 with migraines AND aura who take oral contraceptives (1.5 to 2 times higher.)
I suffered horribly as a teenager from menstrual cramps, so bad that I would have to leave school immediately as soon as I started my period and I would even throw up on occasion. My doctor recommended I use birth control, but my parents flat out refused. So I ended up going to planned parenthood to get my birth control and my parents never knew about it. It was too bad for them. The hormones worked beautifully! I could function normally. I have had children and it's funny because when I was dilated to a 4 -5 during labor, I felt like I had just started my period, just to give you an idea of how bad my cramps were. The nurse even told me by that point was when most woman really started complaining about pain. Yeah, I had that once a month.
I have PCOS and need birth control pills for hormone and menstrual regulation as well as decreasing my migraine frequency. All I can say is don't judge your child and be happy they are sharing any information with you about their health.
Have to completely disagree too with you wanting to change the term from birth control to pain control method. Really? It is birth control and if you are too sensitive to call it because you think it encourages you daughter to have casual sex, then A. you are that same ignorant mom pushing abstinence education in schools and B. you obviously need to educate your daughter and stop assuming she's too young to know about birth control. I didn't go on birth control till I was 15 and didn't have sex till I was 22. And I still use condoms. Go figure! I think what helped was the fact my mom never seemed nervous or awkward about the birth control or talking about it even though I know she was. She told me what it was for as did my doctor.
And you can't assume your daughter will stay sexually inactive till marriage. Be smart. Let her know your beliefs and views on sex and how it should be treated. And let her know that you feel like this birth control is needed to help her funtion in every day life but that YOU do not believe it means that you are encouraging risky behaviors of no condom. Educate her to know that it is NOT 100% effective against pregnancy and 0% effective against STD's. In this point education is power and it promotes safe practices from the begininng so that she can practice them for when she becomes sexually active. Also HUGE thing let her know that antibotics will affect birth control when it comes to pregnancy. Many women I know don't know this so I always tell everyone if I know they are on the pill.
This isn't news to me, as I started taking oral contraceptives to regulate my periods some 30 years ago at age 16. At the time, I had to go to a drug store in another town to fill the prescription, as i knew gossip would get around if I filled it in town - I would be labeled as sexually active regardless of the facts. It wasn't until 6 years later that I met my husband and began appreciating the contraceptive aspect of the medication :)
I've spoken to my teenage daughter about the pill, as she was going through a stretch of irregularity and severe cramps herself. It normalized, but if it hadn't we would have gone to the doctor to discuss the option. I've already talked about this with my gyn, so thankfully there wouldn't have been an issue.
Well, I was put on birth control at 16. This was not a choice made by myself. I was given no say in the matter. Whatsoever. I was a minor, with no say in my medical care. Even if I did say object, it would've likely been brushed off. I see so many questions on yahoo answers, that say "Help, my mother is forcing me to go to the gyno!" or something along those lines.....the word "forcing" stands out. This is why minors who are at least 16 years old, need to make sure that they get at least TEN minutes alone with the doctor, so that they can tell them if it is REALLY their choice to get BC pills, or have an exam done, etc.
Sure, it helped my skin and my flow, but the mood swings were HORRIBLE. I thought it was teen angst, but when the moods didn't go away, I knew it had to be the hormones. Hell, I had school every day, and would sometimes forget to take one, and would end up taking one in the EVENING, when I took them in the mornings, which really threw me off, because I would end up taking another the next morning......*sigh*....and then things went downhill....granted, I could've been more responsible with that part, I'll admit.
I had a nervous breakdown, the next year, before turning 17, and I strongly believe that the hormones in the pills contributed to my rollercoaster of emotions. I am not sayint that they were the only factor, but it would come as a big shock.
I never even NEEDED birth control (still don't), the only reason I was put on it was because my family was paranoid that I'd be attacked, or not have enough self control (they'd never admit to the self control one, though).
Funny, about self control, is that I felt the desire for physical contact increase when I started taking it....fast forward to my senior year, and I overheard a girl talking to her friend "I do not want to take these pills anymore, I hate the way they're making me feel, I don't even need them!"
Other girl, and I quote, said "Wow....yeah, take it from a woman, birth control can be bad for you if you don't need it."
Please educate your daughters, and make sure you have explored all other options, before resorting to birth control, whether or not your daughter plans on having sex...birth control is no delicate subject.
To any women, daughters, or dads on here, please LEARN from what I've posted. Don't be quick to go on birth control for a quick fix of acne and cramps.
It is true that BC can cause terrible mood swings and depression. Gratefully there are multiple kinds of BC now that use different things, so if one doesn't work or causes bad side-effects you can try a different one. There are also low-hormone versions of pills available that still prevent pregnancy but cut out some of the other side-effects.
I do agree that our children need to be involved in their healthcare decisions. When my daughter had surgery a year ago, the doctor had told us that she could have the surgery now, or wait until she was 30. It didn't matter. The only reason to have it would be if it bothered her. She told him that she had a lot of pain, and he told her that was a good reason to consider doing it now. The doctor then turned to my husband and me and told us that it was important for her to make the decision to have the surgery on her own. As much as I wanted to jump in and just say "Do it now!", I kept my mouth shut. My daughter proceeded to talk to her friends and several teachers at school that she respected to get their opinion on it. She then went home and looked at how many people had said they thought she should do it, and also listed out the pros and cons of having the surgery. About a week later, she came to me and told me she wanted to have the surgery. She was 9 years old. Kids are not stupid, and they have the ability to think for themselves. We need to guide them and give them parameters, but it is important for them to know that they have a voice.
My daughter hasn't started her period yet, but she hates taking pills and I am not sure that she would care to take BC when she starts menstruating. When I was a teen I had a period that ran exactly 7 days, and for about 4-5 days of it, my cramps were nearly unbearable. I now take constant BC for migraines and don't have periods and I am glad to not have to deal with it. But when my daughter starts having her period, BC is something that I will talk to her about. I have instilled all of the values I can as a parent, and eventually she is going to be out there making her own decisions. I'd like her to be informed and prepared.
That was the effect the brand or the dosage had on you. I never have bad mood swings while on the pill. The one side affect I had was weight gain. That was only with the first pill I took. The next two times I was on the pill no extra weight gain. Finding the right dosage is everything. Not only for things like mood swings but for proper birth control. If you aren't given the right dosage you can still get pregnant. We need to talk to our doctors and our doctors need to listen to what we tell them.
I posted above how I started taking the pill to regulate my period at 16... they worked just fine for several years, then I was for some reason switched to a different brand, and after a few months one of my friends' mother told me I looked like the "walking dead". And unfortunately, I did. I lost a lot of weight, went down to like 85lbs or so - as I'm tiny to begin with, my skin lost all color and I had the eye bags of a 60 yr old. Thankfully, I felt I could get off them since my period had somewhat regulated over the years, thanks to the pill, but I was able to stay off them.
I now have a 13 yr old daughter who does not seem to have any of the issues I had growing up regarding periods or the pain I had with them. She's very lucky and only gets hers for 3 days and she's done - same time every month too. We'll discuss actual birth control when the time is right, although she knows everything there is to know anyway since we've already talked of it. I just hope that if the time comes for her to use the pill, she won't have any adverse reactions to it. They can be just horrible and sometimes not even worth it.
See, but everyone's different. My experience with the Pill has been entirely different. It relieved my horrible cramps and headaches, and evened out my moods, which could verge on the suicidal. However there are SO many types of birth control pill and they all have different effects on users.
DisabledVet68, not for nothing, but your parents were clearly deranged to force you to go on the Pill. Just as warped as the parents who refuse to allow their child to go on the Pill because it might encourage them to have sex. I can easily imagine just being raised by people like that (controlling, intrusive, paranoid, no respect for normal boundaries) would be enough to trigger a nervous breakdown, the Pill aside.
I agree with all of you, but I'm a young adult, and STILL don't consider myself ready to have sex, despite wanting it.
And until this economy picks up, and I can get a job and a low rent apartment, sex is pretty much off the to do list until I can find contraception. Until then, I have to be on my guard everywhere I go, since I have no healthcare coverage without employment.
@FuzzyBearSlippers, my advice to you would be to make sure you're open with your daughter, and make sure her voice is heard if she or you decide to start talking about birth control. Make sure her concerns don't fall on deaf ears....when I was taken to be put on the pill, the doctor sided with my parents, and I was too afraid to disobey and tell her that this wasn't truly my choice. If you give her a say, it shows that you trust her enough to make the right choices regarding her reproductive health...I know she's your baby, but most young girls don't see it that way. Good luck
isis, dear, you do know that there are forms of sexual activity that don't involve intercourse and the risk of pregnancy, right? seriously--if you don't know this, buy a book from Amazon. jeez
I got on the pill when I was 14 due to awful periods. I am glad there is something out there that can help girls and women with this issue. I don't like the stigma associated with it, but people should be smart enough to know that just because a young girl is on the pill doesn't mean that she is out having sex. Birth control is an AWESOME pill and I am forever thankful. I do not want kids in any way, so I am thankful for being able to live my life pain free - and kid free!
When I was 16, this was the reason I wanted to go on BC. I went with the shot instead- I wanted to avoid periods all together if possible, as mine would skip months at a time before I was on something- but when they did come it was like 4 periods worth of pain at once. My roommate had horrible migraines on or off the pill but it helped with her debilitating cramps. Neither of us were sexually active until our early 20's (we're in mid to late 20's now).
Believe it or not, not all teens are irresponsible sex craved maniacs. A lot of them know- as I knew and my friends knew- sex would be great, some day but it's not the pinnacle of their lives. A lot of teens are horrified at the thought of getting pregnant and will avoid sex even on birth control because even a fraction of a percent of a chance is enough to scare them.
It is birth control, you can't call it anything else. The side effects of taking it are the real benefits most of the time.
No, call it what it really is, it's hormone treatment. One of the effects of
hormone treatment is stopping ovulation.
Muri- that's a benefit to some women.
If you know someone who has extremely painful menstrual cramps, they could have endometriosis. Pain meds can help, but birth control pills allow the most changes to the flow to give relief. Another possibility is polycystic ovary syndrome. This can cause abnormal periods and pain. There are more reasons to take birth control pills for medical purposes rather than contraceptives.
I first went on the pill when I was 19. I was having sex at the time, but that was not the reason that I chose to use the pill. For many years, every time i would get my period, my skin would breakout. These large pimples were painful, and I was honestly afraid that if they kept coming every single months for years and years, that they would scar my skin. I can tell you that after being on the pill fora few months, my skin problem at that time of the month absolutely improved. I am now 24 and I barely get a little bump on my face when i get my period. so i am grateful for the pill saving my skin now and into the future. the fact that it prevents pregnancies is just a bonus.
If you're destined to be a hairy woman, taking birth control pills starting around 16 will prevent it but as soon as you stop taking them genetics will rear their hairy little heads. Take a look at your mother if you want to see the writing on the wall.
The good skin is related to the hormones, the reduction in menstrual pain and increase in regularity is because the pill can make periods so light they're almost not there at all. But all hormones are multi-purpose. You have receptors throughout your body and brain.
Hormones can do a lot of bad things. They can impair cognitive functioning and/or make you an emotional basket case. I never could understand the big deal about an irregular period either. It's when you're sexually active that it's more of a problem, creating a panic whenever it's late.
When anybody talks about menopause, it's usually to point out all the negative aspects of it. Having your period sucks. Not having to worry about getting pregnant or getting your period before a camping trip is pretty cool.
I had HORRIBLE menstrual pain when I was high school. Had to take Darvon and leave school for the day, the go home and curl up in the fetal position. No one ever sugggested birth control pills and I never would have taken that poison. Eventually a nutritionist suggested I up my calcium intake. It took three months to work but it worked. Eating a lousy diet of refined foods will also contribute to the pain. Eat the good stuff ladies. Don't buy into the 'put poison into your bodies' - the long-term effects are awful.
I once read that progesterone/estrogen pills were routinely prescribed for teenage girls in the Netherlands. Routinely, because menstrual irregularities and cramps are so common. The fact that the pill prevents pregnancy was considered an acceptable side effect. The Netherlands has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world; the U.S. has one of the highest.
Gotta love those Dutch!
It's too bad that fallopian tubes don't come pre-clamped so that you can get the clamps removed if and when you decide to have children.
It's probably not necessarily the distribution of birth control pills that's responsible for the low teen pregnancy rates. I'll bet common sense plays into it as well. I think abstinence-only sex "education" here in the US is more harmful than no sex education at all.
better yet have boys come with a reversible vasectomy ;-)
I started taking the pill in my early 20's to prevent pregnancy and found out that they helped my migraines. None of my doctors ever put together that the only time I got a migraine was during my period. This was one of the best things to ever happen to me. I had just accepted that every month I would get a debiltating migraine.
As for mood swings and other side effects, there are other types to try so don't give up completely.
Can Some explain how 14% is 1 in 3(33%). Even if we add in the additional 9% we have reached 1 in 4 (25%)
"Teens"
I have taken the pill three times in my life. The first time I started in
high school for acne. Unfortunately the dosage back then made me gain weight too
so I eventually went off them to join the Air Force, and yes the acne came back
but not as bad. The second time was for birth control. When I was done having
babies I got my tubes tied so no more pills. Then I entered peri menopause and
fibroid tumors grew causing me to almost bleed to death. I chose trying the pill
over surgery and guess what it worked. The fibroids shrank and the bleeding
lessoned.
All the uses for birth control pills should be known by everyone. They
aren't just for preventing pregnancy. They also make life better (treating acne,
migraines, cramps, irregular flow, etc) and they can save life (shrinking
fibroids and controlling flow)
At first when I read this, I laughed. However, after reading the posts from some of you I now believe this report, all though I still say there are probably many situations like the one that made me laugh.
My ex had a much younger sister that he treated like his child. She could do no wrong in his eyes.
When I met her, she was 16, I was 34. I looked and saw a girl who was very pretty with a great body, and she was a little "crass" for lack of a better term. Let's just say that the idea that she was a virgin NEVER CROSSED MY MIND, mostly due to the way she carried herself.
So he and I were talking about birth control, and he mentions that his sister got on birth control because of her cramps. I looked at him like he was stupid, and said, "Really???" I didn't mean to do that, but the idea was so preposterous that it slipped out.
Turns out, I was right, and had he not been blinded by brotherly love, he could have seen that "she wasn't no virgin." As we got to know each other, she confided in me. She was quite out there in high school and college (she even stripped on a dare while in college) I never told her brother, but I did give her lectures about being safe and using condoms.
So even if your daughter is on birth control for cramps, at some point, you may want to remind her, BC only prevents BABIES, not AIDS, and that she still needs to use condoms.
My wife used to be on the pill, and it caused a few side effects. One of which, was thinning of hair. Yeah, not so great for a woman, but since she's been off the pill, it's come back, thankfully, because we're still relatively young.
She originally got on BC when she was 13 because of her period and cramps. The cramps were awful, but her "flow" was ridiculous.
It's one of the things so frustrating about any movement against birth control - a lot of women use it for other reasons. I used to have debilitating cramps and a severely bad and irregular menstrual cycle and hormone imbalance. Birth control made a HUGE difference and made my life much better. Some women need this option.
I have PCOS and although at times the cramps are so awful that I drop to the ground for a few minutes, I have learned to deal with it. Warm tea helps me feel better, as well as taking a few deep breaths, and exercise (believe it or not). It's my personal choice to not take birth control although I did take it for a couple of years while in my early 20s when it was prescribed to me due to very heavy periods and cramping.
In the end, it's nobody's business if a girl/woman chooses to use birth control and why (whether for sex, acne or heavy periods), only hers, so it's not safe to assume it's because she wants to be promiscuous.
Duh, can not believe that pill still believe that the only reason to use the pill is as a contraceptive. MANY young women need the pill to lessen pain, lessen blood loss and stop the growth of fibroid tumors. For many it is a medical necessity.
I put my 15 yo on bc 2 years ago; severe cramping, headaches, cranky, lethargy, out of control irregular periods, 10 days on, 12 days off, or not... The provider sat & talked with us both about her objectives. She's once again, a sweet and happy person. Wish there had been an option when I was that age, this was before the pill and we all just suffered greatly. My ISAT score probably made me appear to be a complete idiot because I could not concentrate that week!
It is also true that a practicing Catholic can take medication for menstrual cramps or acne and if it just happens to be packaged in the form of oral contraceptive pills it isn't a sin. All that matters is that your intentions be "pure". If the 99% prevention of pregnancy is just a "side effect" of the prescription, your teenager can be on birth control without any guilt on the part of the parents. It's not a sin under those circumstances.
I'd like to see statistics on how many of those young women are actually taking hormonal contraception and never having sex. I know SOOOOO many girls who LIED to their parents about needing to be on the Pill "for cramps" when in truth it was because they were secretly having sex.
Now, I do have a friend who was diagnosed with endometriosis as a teen and was given the option of surgery or taking the Pill continuously. But in my observation, she was the exception.
That's why I laughed when I first read the title of the article. I posted an example above. I agree with you, TRULY prescribing it for medical reasons is probably the exception, not the rule.
In addition, and I forgot to mention this above, at one point, BC could be covered by insurance if for a medical reason. I remember my doctor telling me that she was going to put "dysmenorrhea" down for me so I could use my insurance to get a better price for birth control. At the time, I was working and I could afford to just pay the monthly fee, but if she wanted to bring it from $30 to $10 per month, I wasn't going to argue. I didn't have bad periods, I just didn't want to get pregnant...
Don't believe everything you read researchers.... Between lies to parents and insurance scams, who knows why teens are putting "bad cramps."
Regardless of age, half the women I know who are on it did not start taking the pill to prevent pregnancy (although that turned into a reason later, so they would fall in the "for both reasons catagory). Generally the ones who were in pain went to their doctor and their doctors were the ones who made the suggestion they go on the pill. If a teen acts like they are in pain and say they want to go to the doctor about the pain, it is probably real. If they say they hear birth control gives you clear skin and they want to go to the doctor over a single zit... Still, I would let them go because it is better than ending up an early grandmother.
At 16, in the late 1970s, I had the most horrendous cramps. I was pulled out of school EVERY month on the first day. I would be doubled over for hours. My doctor recommended birth control pills. My mother nixed that in the bud. No way her 16 y/o was going on birth control. I suffered many years. Mind you, my mother and my sister NEVER experienced my pain, so they knew nothing of what I was suffering each month. Fast forward about 10 or so years, after one very painful month, I made the decision on my own to go on the pill. My life immediately improved. It was amazing. After years of suffering, I was finally living a normal life, pain free. After a few years, I went off the pill. The euphoria lasted a few years, but found myself in need of them again. I finally went off them this year, at 48, and so far, I am OK, but slowly entering menopause or peri-menopause. But, unless I return to those painful days, I will remain pill-free. I say if your quality of life is that bad, regardless of the age, go for it.
I have always had a 'normal' cycle. Never any pain or issues. I have two really good friends who suffer horribly. One misses work. They told me of the times they've had to miss school and deal with the pain over the years. I could never relate until my 14 yr old came into my room at 2 in the morning with tears streaming down her face. I hadn't really taken her complaints about pain seriously, but I did at that time. I called a friend immediately (yes, at 2 am!) and asked her what to buy for that kind of pain and I went to the drugstore right then & there, in spite of the time!
Our daughter is 15 and just started birth control pills to see if it would help her acne. Neither of us is worried that she is going to suddenly want to start jumping in bed with boys because she is on them.
She was apprehensive about starting them should other kids find out. Teenagers can start and spread vicious rumors.
Even tough I have had a vasectomy my wife considered going back on birth control because of cramps. I'm not worried about her cheating on me either.
As a teenager (16), I was placed on BC because of heavy bleeding, cramps that would knock me over in the hallway at school and acne. With that being said, I am now on Lybrel, knocks my periods off. I haven't had one since Dec 2010. I am keeping it that way because women in my family hit menopause early, I am 38 now, my Mom was 40 when menopause hit. Right now my mood is fine, but if any symptoms come back, (night sweats, mood changes and the heavy bleed along with the not knowing when I would start and stop) my next step is a partial hysterectomy. I told my doctor there is no way I am going through what my Mom went through, no need for it in this day in age. Plus, I know I am done having children.
Yes, if need be, I will put my daughters on BC. My 11 yr old just recently started and I see some signs in her, that I had, but since she is not regular, I will not do it. If she keeps this path, at 16 we'll look at it.
I remember back to the days when that time started. I was afraid to leave the house. Out of the blue the cramps would start, they would be so severe there were times I actually passed out. My mother took me to the doctor, my options were, 1. the pill or 2. hysterectomy. At 15 I was way to young for option 2. I thank my mother for putting me on the pill. I was able to begin to lead a normal life. Mothers and fathers out there, educate your daughters. Don't be to embarassed to tell them the truth, they can handle it.