It’s one of the most difficult decisions for a parent to decide if their teen daughter is ready to go on the pill. No one wants their child to mature to the point where she is having sex but it is an inevitable development, and parents need to know how to handle it when the time comes. If you’re the parent of a teen and you’re trying to figure out if she is ready to go on the pill, take a look at the list below.Examine the SituationThis situation is difficult because you want to make sure that your daughter is protected, even if she isn’t ready. For example, your 14-year-old daughter is most definitely not ready for the emotional burden of having sex but you have a feeling that she is already sexually active, since you cannot monitor her 24/7 to make sure that she’s not having sex, do you put her on the pill to avoid pregnancy? It’s smart to put her on the pill because a teen pregnancy can ruin her life, but you should probably force her to talk to a social worker at the same time. An outsider (someone that’s not her parent) might be able to get through to her about the seriousness of the situation, and she might think twice. On the other hand, if your daughter is waiting to have sex until she is on the pill then you need to decide if she is ready to take that step. Have Her Get a Check-UpThere are certain places like Planned Parenthood that will give teenagers the pill (or other birth control methods) without them getting a check-up or pap smear first, so it’s your responsibility to see to it that your daughter sees a gynecologist. It’s important to make sure that there are no medical conditions (i.e. high blood pressure) that would make being on the pill risky, and that your daughter is not on any other medications that would conflict with the pill. In any case, the doctor will be able to offer a prescription that best fits your daughter’s body.If She Understands the ResponsibilityBefore you give your daughter permission to go on the pill, you need to make sure that she understands the responsibilities that come with having sex. Inform her of the emotional responsibilities of sex, as well as the physical responsibilities (i.e. yearly gynecological exams). Make sure that she is ready to take on that emotional burden that comes with having sex with a man. Also, you must make sure that she realizes that the pill will not protect her against STDs, so it’s still necessary to use condoms. Likewise, you must make it clear that just because she is on the pill that doesn’t mean that she has to sleep with anybody, it’s just a precaution. If She Will Use It CorrectlyOne of the problems with teens going on the pill is that they are often irresponsible about taking it on time. She should take the pill everyday around the same time (it doesn’t have to be exactly the same time) and she cannot forget to do this. If she doesn’t take her pills then the birth control is not going to be effective, so you must make sure that she knows how important it is to have a steady routine. If she isn’t responsible enough to remember to take the pill on time then she probably isn’t responsible enough to be having sex.
Add your reply to Marlee