I recently found out some kids in my daughter’s class are having sex. They are only 14. One of my friends mentioned that she already put her daughter on birth control. I do not want to condone pre-mature sex, but I do want to make sure my daughter is prepared should she try to engage. Are there any risks to putting young teens on birth control for their health? Should I take her to an OB-GYN to get the conversation started?
During each annual teen well visit, it is imperative for your pediatrician to be asking questions about gender health and sexuality. There is no need to go to an OB-GYN to start the conversation. It is important to have an open line of communication with your child and to demonstrate that there should be no shame for discussing these topics. The goal is to empower your teen to feel safe, unashamed, and in control of their bodies. Contraception is an important topic when discussing sex and offering methods that are safe to each teen should occur based on their medical history and what is optimum for the patient.
