Helping Your Teen Choose the Right Birth Control

Birth Control: Helping Her Choose the Right One

Approximately half of all teens in the United States have had sex by the time they turn 18 years old. A teenage girl who is having intercourse has a 90% chance of getting pregnant over a one year period. If you think that your teen is having sex, it is time to discuss birth control with her. It is important for her to choose the right birth control option based on her unique needs.

Once you’ve discussed the issue with your teen and decided that birth control is the right course to take, how do you help your daughter chose the right method? Consider these facts:

Some experts think that teenage pregnancy rates would decrease if teens chose birth control options that are not “user-dependent.” What this means is that choosing a long-term option that doesn’t require the user to remember it can lead to lower teen pregnancy rates. For example, implantable birth control is inserted once, lasts for three years, and doesn’t require the user to remember to do anything on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. The birth control pill requires the user to remember to take a pill near the same time each day, and studies have shown that teens tend to underestimate the number of pills they miss. Keep this idea in mind when evaluating the options.

Many of the longer-term birth control options have one downfall –- they don’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Your teen could consider using a reliable method of pregnancy prevention AND a contraceptive that protects against STDs. Two methods of birth control can mean lower pregnancy rates and increased protection against infection.

If your teen has an allergy to latex, this limits her options for birth control a bit. Most male condoms are made of latex, but it is possible to find polyurethane condoms. Read the box carefully to find out what the condom is made of. Additionally, the female condom is not made of latex and is safe for those with that allergy.

People can also have an allergy to spermicide. Nonoxynol-9 is one spermicide that is particularly known for causing skin irritations and allergic reactions. If you are allergic to spermicide, you would want to avoid using any birth control option that requires it, such as the cervical cap or diaphragm. Be cautious when choosing male condoms, too. Check the label to make sure that the lubricant on the condom doesn’t contain a spermicide.

If your teen is over 198 pounds, the contraceptive patch is not an effective option for her. The patch loses its effectiveness when a patient is 198 pounds or over, meaning more chance for an unintended outcome.

Explore the Options

Once you have considered some of the factors involved with choosing a birth control, take a look at the birth control methods available. Many birth control options are out there. Some protect against sexually transmitted diseases, and some don’t. Many options require a prescription from a healthcare provider, but some are available over the counter. Educating yourself on the birth control options out there can help you help your teen make a good decision for herself, her body and her future.

_Sources:

Centers For Disease Control. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2005.MMWR 2006:55 (No.SS-5).

Hatcher, R.A., Rinehart, W., Blackburn, R., Geller, J.S., and Shelton, J.D. The Essentials of Contraceptive Technology.Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Population Information Program, 2003.

Implanon. Organon USA. September 5, 2008. http://www.implanon-usa.com/Consumer/index.asp?C=6892739860944849537&source=google&HBX_PK=G%20Implanon%20Ad3&HBX_OU=50&gclid=CL2AmcuA4pgCFQECGgodwRljcA

Stevens-Simon, C., Kelly, L., and Kulick, R. A village would be nice but...it takes a long-acting contraceptive to prevent repeat adolescent pregnancies. American Journal of Preventative Medicine.2001 July 21(1):60-65.