Anyone Who's Ever Watched 5 Minutes of "16 and Pregnant" Would Not Only Demand Free Contraception

[Yavin4]

but would demand that it's be given out to both boys and girls like candy.

[peace frog]

1. I heard that

Better yet, require implants so that there will be no danger of 'forgetting' to use protection. Those idiot children need a bit more time in the incubator before being allowed to breed.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. wow

Please tell me you forgot the sarcasm thingy.

[peace frog]

3. If there was a smilie

for kinda-sorta sarcasm, I would use it when I'm mostly kidding. Like now.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. It's hidden behind the ellipsis ( ... ) button

Tricky designers.

Anyhoo -- thanks for the clarification. My bad.

[peace frog]

5. Thanks

No worries.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. There is a UK controversy about implants for underage girls without parental consent, right now

Dramatic rise in teenage girls seeking contraceptive implants

Government statistics disclose that nearly 5,000 teenagers below the age of consent were given the devices last year, compared with about 800 just five years ago.

According to the NHS Information Centre, about 7,400 girls aged 15 or under had implants or injections last year, up from 2,900 in 2005/6. This included 2,500 who had injections last year, up from 2,100.

The figures, reported by the Daily Mail, come after it was disclosed that girls as young as 13 have been fitted with contraceptive implants at school without their parents knowledge.

It followed a Government push on use of the devices to cut teenage pregnancies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9070891/Dramatic-rise-in-teenage-girls-seeking-contraceptive-implants.html

Short radio interview with someone from the school district: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16951331

[peace frog]

8. The child's medical history should be reviewed by a physician

before implanting the device, of course. It would not be appropriate treatment for all, but it would be for many who want it. The stickier issue is whether to inform the parents, who might overrule the children's decision against their will. I'm of two minds on that: while generally I think the parents should be informed, I don't think they should have automatic veto power over the child's decision to get the implant, particularly when the kids are already sexually active. Better to prevent an unwanted pregnancy than offend the parents' sense of entitlement. But it's a tough issue to decide fairly.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. The general rule in the UK is the doctor can urge the involvement of a parent

but, if the child refuses, and the doctor judges the child is mature enough to understand the treatment fully, then it's a matter of confidentiality, and the parent(s) must not be told. I believe it would be a physician at the school clinic; I agree that they ought to know the medical history.

[GobBluth]

6. That show and "Teen Mom" should be required viewing of any parent, hell any adult

I will be getting my daughter some form of birth control, and I hope by the time my sons are old enough, there is something besides condoms (which will also be taught in our house, but just saying) for males.

[peace frog]

9. Watching those shows will turn reasonable-minded fence-sitters

into firm believers in birth control, that's for sure.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. I taught condoms to my children, but I went a step further. I kept a box of condoms

in the medicine cabinet. The kids knew they were there, their friends knew they were there and I replaced the box as needed, no questions asked. They might have been using them for water balloons, for all I know, but they did get used.

[GobBluth]

12. Only problem is the teen age brain about using them

in fact on of the girls on that show had a mother who was pretty pissed off as she kept a basket full of them. I am concerned about STDs, but unless I am actually there to put the condom on (eww!, I am not that progressive!), teen brains fueled by hormones tend to win out. At least I can protect against pregnancy better. Wish there were more options to protect against STD, as that is the real concern for me, much more than a baby for some reason.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. This was during the 80's and 90's, when AIDS started making national news.

We had LGBT friends and over the years we lost some to AIDS. It's a terrible experience to watch someone die like that. Between me and our friends, they were well educated about the risks of not using condoms. Like you, I was really more concerned about STDs than I was pregnancy.

[AngryOldDem]

13. The first season was good.

But now I think it's devolved into the typical teen soap opera, which is too bad.

Still, it is a good cautionary tale and MTV should be applauded for airing it.

[madokie]

15. No doubt

abstinent is bull especially when applied to sex in young people. I know when I was young I lived with a hardon for years and there was no stopping if the occasion presented itself for sex with what I perceived as a willing pretty girl.