the pill

[panpiper]

my daughter has just gone 16 and has a boyfriend for a year. i dont think she is having sex yet but was wondering is she too young to go on the PILL.

[ummmm]

Is she too young to get pregnant?

I

[joko]

she isn't too young to go on the pill.

as soon as she has sex she should take the pill - regardless of age.

no offence, but after a year i would say its likely she is having sex and just doesn't want to you to know.

i may be wrong but don't be too surprised.

get her to go to the docs asap.

[Lonnie]

I would suggest, if you haven't already, a good heart to heart chat, responsibilities of both partners etc., and that the pill isn't a guarentee aginst falling pregnant ,

[sam100]

i went on the pill at 15/16 (a long time ago now) but i think its fine...

[RATTER15]

Had a boyfriend for 1 year and not sleeping together, I doubt that but I could be wrong. She needs to go on the pill!!

[raysparx1]

How do you know she isn't allready on the pill ? you should talk to her about it,if she isn't,then she probably should be.

[noxlumos]

Have a subtle chat. I'd imagine if she's sexually active at 16 she's already got her contraception sorted out, at least I would hope so, but not knowling how clued up your daughter is, it's hard t tell. to be honest she should be usuing barrier contraception as well, as the pill gives no protection against AIDS, syphilis, hepatitus etc etc etc etc, but be subtle, as at 16 she might feel it's not your business, and just be embarassed, especially if you attempt to "educate" her and she's already got it all covered, so if I were you, light general chat first to see how the land lies.

[Eve]

If it's difficult to talk to her then mayge get her a nice card or something and write that you know she may find it difficult to talk to you but you're there for there whatever she wants to talk about.

Say that you understand that she may know all about this already and didn't want to subject her to one of those embarrassing mum speeches but you just wanted her to know you're always there to tal about anything cos she's your daughter and you love her

Put some leaflets and information in it about contraception and such and maybe some useful addresses and such of where she can go for advice if she's too embarassed to talk to you.

[RATTER15]

Jenna, well said, it takes a woman to handle these things in such a delicate way. Top marks!!

[tradey]

16 isnt too young at all.if it was me id prefer her to be on the pill. you said you dont think shes having sex but how do you really know she isnt.you never know she may already be on it she could have gone to family planning.if i was you id have a nice chat with her and ask if she is on it she may get abit upset at you asking but she will get over it good luck

[luckyeight]

noxlumos and jenna - great answers... the one thing I would say is that the pill has a lot of horrible effects on a woman's body (risk of thrombosis, hormonal traumas - mood swings, weight gains etc) and there are lots of different contraception options, like Depo etc and different types of pill. She must use condoms for STD risk prevention, which is also a contraception as effective as the pill. Maybe using condoms is fine and she doesn't need to go on the pill (it's talked about lightly, but it does have a lot of negative risks for women, which condoms don't have).