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India Richardson

Professor Graue

English 1201

20 March 2019

The Prevention Method

Imagine a young girl who has stellar grades, who is the top of her class, and finds it hard

to disappoint those who are closest to her. This young girl is whom everyone wants to be.

However, one night changes her life forever. This young girl finds herself in the midst of living

her best life then suddenly in trouble with no one to turn to. This young lady is just a child

expecting a child of her own. Due to this young lady not knowing the risk of pregnancy at such a

young age, she is trapped and is now a mother at just sixteen years old. Her mistake could have

been easily avoided with one precautionary step: Birth Control. Birth control is not just used to

prevent teen pregnancy, but birth control is also used to prevent the spread of STI’s, control

hormones and much more (Planned Parenthood). Considering the facts given, most would think

that birth control is the route to go because of the astounding benefits it has for the female body.

However, according to Bill Albert who works for Bustle, “Sixty-eight percent of teens say the

main reason they don’t use birth control is because of fears their parents will find out” (Bill

Albert). In the country, there is an increasing amount of teen pregnancies that occur. This is all

due to the lack of awareness teens have on how much birth control can impact one’s life. Studies

show that teens do not go to their parents on the topic of birth control because of the following

reasons. One is that they are extremely uncomfortable with talking to their mother and/or father

about sex. And two being they just do not know how at risk they are for an STI. Therefore, teens

should be able to make the decision to take birth control by themselves.

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To begin, there are multiple birth control options that are available for young ladies to

take. Options range from the pill that is taken by mouth, the IUD that is inserted vaginally, the

shot that is inserted with a needle, and the patch that is placed on the arm. Being that some birth

control methods are more popular than others, that means some birth control options are often

overlooked. Due to this, girls are often misinformed on the issue. Girls are more likely to take the

birth control pill as opposed to the IUD. Same goes to the patch and the shot. More girls are

likely to get the shot and not the patch. This seems a bit alarming and here is why. It seems as if

a large number of people do not research the different types of birth control.

For example, while the IUD is inserted vaginally, meaning people often fear the method, it is 99

percent effective and can last for up to three years. The birth control shot is inserted every three

months with only 94 percent effectiveness but is also very cheap compared to the IUD. The birth

control pill is taken daily with 91 percent effectiveness but is cheaper than the IUD and birth

control shot combined with only 50 dollars spent out of pocket. The birth control pill is taken

once every day for 28 days. When the 28 days are up, the process is then repeated. With all of

this being said the option of being placed on birth control can be a lot for teens to take on by

themselves. But, some teens find it harder for themselves to go to their parents on the topic of

birth control. Some teens have difficulty consulting with their parents about them having sex, let

alone them being able to ask about potential birth control methods. Many parents are

misinformed about what their daughter is taking. If parents were more open to the idea of birth

control, their teens would in return feel more open to sharing about their sex life and how to

prevent pregnancy from occurring. Also, it is important to understand what birth control is

actually used for in the first place. Birth control is just not used to prevent teen pregnancy, it is

also used to help with the menstrual cycle and for other hormone reasons. With that, this is why
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teens should not have parental consent to take birth control. More teens would be willing to take

birth control if they were not constantly thinking of what their parents think of them.

As it has already been stated birth control is just not used for the prevention of

pregnancy. While birth control can indeed stop pregnancy from happening, birth control is also

used for a number of different reasons. While the Birth control pill has a 91 percent chance of

preventing pregnancy, the pill can also prevent acne (Planned Parenthood). Knowing that acne is

known to make an appearance early in one’s life the pill can prevent sudden breakouts from

happening. Also, the most relieving statistic is that the birth control pill can make menstrual

cycles so much easier. During a girl’s cycle not only are they expected to keep fresh because of

the possible odor periods can produce, but they are also in pain for the duration of the cycle.

Being that one’s cycle can last anywhere from three to seven days, being in pain for that long of

a time can be exceptionally uncomfortable. So, the use of Birth control can also make the life of

a girl a little bit easier.

Many parents, of these teen girls, think that their child only wants birth control because of the

obvious reason, sex, however, they are completely oblivious to the benefits birth control can

have on the body. When a teenager goes up to their parents asking for birth control, the first

question that will be asked is “Are you having sex” instead of questions that actually matter like

“are you being safe” or “ is there a reason as to why you want birth control”. When someone

shuts another person out, he or she makes it hard for that person to come to them again. So, until

parents get out of the habit of immediately defending their reasoning as to why they do

something, birth control should be completely up to the person that is taking it.

Furthermore, the lack of birth control in a teenager’s life can stop their life completely. If

a teen is sexually active but is not on birth control, chances are that teen is at further risk of
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getting pregnant. Dosomething.org, an organization that believes in putting controversial topics

to rest, says that when a teenager gets pregnant her life is stopped to take care of another. When a

child barely has the guidance he or she needs to survive it is extremely difficult for them to

enforce guidance onto someone else. The organization further states, “Parenthood is the leading

reason that teen girls drop out of school. More than 50% of teen mothers never graduate from

high school” (Dosomething.org). When a teen gets pregnant it is nearly impossible for her to

continue her education. In many instances, teens are often forced to leave home and find a place

of their own. If a teen does not have a job prior to getting pregnant, a source of money income is

limited. This can all be prevented with the use of birth control. If teens know that they are

sexually active, they should be able to take the necessary precautions to keep them out of trouble.

However, if these precautions are not placed, a teen is mandated to deal with the repercussions of

her actions. With teens being so afraid to go to their parents about the topic of birth control, the

number of teen pregnancies is continually increasing. If the number of teen pregnancies increases

then eventually there will be a decline in high school and college graduates with young ladies.

While Birth control is still not one hundred percent effective, it is still a better option for teens

compared to a teenager having to spend her life living in regret. Children, if planned, are

supposed to happen when their parents are stable, have a good income, and have a quality

education. A young teen mom is not able to sustain that type of lifestyle with a baby and still

have time to pursue her own dreams. If teens had the option of birth control this could all be

prevented in the long run.

Geographically speaking, there is an immense difference in states that require their teens

to have confidential healthcare and those who not. In Utah, there is a law that states minors are

required to have a parent with them in order to take birth control. However, in Ohio, there is a
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law that states minors have confidential healthcare meaning they are able to take birth control

without parental consent. Comparing the two states, Utah’s pregnancy rates are higher than the

ones in Ohio. Utah has a rate that is 5.6 times higher than Ohio. The state of Ohio allows teens to

feel fully covered in their health care. By law, Ohio is required to keep any type of healthcare

confidential. So, if a teen is to walk into a clinic and ask for birth control, the clinic is obligated

to give the teen birth control without the parent knowing. So, because of this, Ohio’s teen

pregnancy rates are outstandingly lower than in a state like Utah. According to Planned

Parenthood, “In most states, teens are allowed to get birth control without their parents’

permission at their nearest Planned Parenthood health center or from their regular doctor or

nurse” (Planned Parenthood). This is important due to the fact that many teens do not take birth

control because of the fear of what their parents will say. This says that confidentiality is

important and it furthermore inducts the teen to see what it will be like in the real world. If a teen

is able to lay down and have sex, they are also able to take the adult steps and prevent the risks

that can occur. If teens have the opportunity to take this step by themselves, they are able to see

how responsible they have to be in the adult world

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Fig. 1. Utah’s pregnancy rates (“Teen Pregnancy in Utah”)

Fig. 2. (“Trends in Teen Pregnancy and Child Bearing”)

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While Birth control is able to be taken without parental consent in some states, it is still

important for teens to feel comfortable talking to parents about the choices they make. Whether

these choices are about what color to wear to prom or what birth control method should be used,

teens should still feel comfortable talking to their parents. Besides, parents are supposed to be

there to guide the teens and help them not make the same mistakes they made at the exact same

age. If teens are not comfortable talking to their parents about sex, they are at a huge risk for

STD’s. As it has been stated previously birth control is not just used to prevent pregnancies. If a

teen decides to have sex they should absolutely go to their parents because they are now at risk

for getting HIV, and other infections. This can all be prevented if teens talk to their parents and

parents talk to their teen. Planned Parenthood states, “Only forty-three percent of parents are

comfortable with talking to their teen” (Planned Parenthood). This statistic is a tad scary. If the

numbers are that low, that means that teens are not getting informed on the dangers that are out

in the real world. While parents may be uncomfortable with talking to their tees, it is important

for them to get comfortable with the idea of talking to their teen. It is their job as the parent to

protect their child from certain situations like that. It could be argued that parents do not inform

their teens because they do not know themselves. If that is the case, then it is a learning process

for both. At the end of the day, a parent does not want to see their teen ruin their life when it

could have all been prevented with a simple talk.

On the other hand, parents have come forth and explained why they do not like the idea

of their children taking birth control. Parents are under the assumption that birth control is

something that is not good for the body. So, in result of this, they do not allow their teen to take

it. However, parents are misinformed and being told the wrong information. One of the main

concerns is that birth control can affect fertility rates. This can both be untrue and very true. It all
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depends on the research that is taken to find out. That is why it is important to not only

communicate but also look things up when they are in question. While some birth control

methods like the IUD can impact fertility rates, not all birth control methods do. This is why

there are a number of methods that are available for use. Methods like the pill and the shot make

it so that when the birth control is stopped, pregnancy can occur. Of course, it may not happen

immediately but fertility rates are not affected so much that it should be worried about. Also,

parents say they are just not ready to give the talk to their teen yet. It is crucial for them to get

ready because if not, teens are more likely to rebel and get distant from the parent. If a teen and

her parent have the right relationship, they should be able to sort out any differences they may

have. The last reason why parents do not like the idea of birth control is because of the cost of it.

Birth control, in fact, is actually pretty affordable. Often it is given free depending on the type of

healthcare. Therefore, there is no excuse as to why teens should not be taking birth control if

they are sexually active. There is no need for them to be scared to go to their parents if their

parents know the risk of pregnancy and other concerning factors. If parents know the

information then all they have to do is use it to make a good decision about birth control. If not,

teens should have the ability to make that decision on their own.

Although birth control has many benefits, it also, like any other medicine, has its

downsides. While birth control can stop menstrual cycles, and prevent unwanted acne, birth

control still comes with a few side effects. According to Young Women's Health, birth control

can cause extreme pain in the abdomen, chest pain, severe migraines, and pain in the leg area.

While that may seem scary and push a teen away, communication can play a vital role in how

she takes her next step. A teenage girl can go to her parent and address these concerns to him or

her. However, that is only an option in an ideal world. As said before, parents are not
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comfortable talking to their kids on the topic of sex. So for a teen to come to their parents

voicing her fear to a parent that is scared herself only produces a negative reaction. This is the

leading cause as to why statistics are so high for the topic at hand. Parents do not expect to have

a conversation about sex. Maybe they were plan on having a conversation about how their day at

school was. They are not prepared to have a talk on the subject of the birds and the bees.

With all of the information that has been stated, it is important for a teenager to know

what they are doing. While Birth control has both negative and positives attributes about itself, it

is the teen’s responsibility to get informed on the medicine. Even though some states allow

minors access to confidential healthcare, it is not a given that a clinic will take a teen through a

step by step process. This is why parental involvement is important. Difficult decisions can

become not so difficult when one has little guidance to guide them along the way.

To conclude, teen pregnancies are increasing as the years go by. Birth control should be

in place to stop this, however, that is nearly impossible when teens feel they do not have access

to it. It is key to remember that birth control is not just used for the prevention of pregnancy.

While birth control does play a huge role in the hormone of the female body, different forms of

birth control can not only protect young girls but keep them safe from any outside dangers.

Communication is important in situations like this because one does not want to find herself in

something she can not get out of. In the world today, there are a number of diseases that get

spread around and that can be avoided if parents learn to talk to their children. If a parent is

willing to listen to what their child has to say than more than likely their child is willing to

approach and talk to them.

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Works Cited

“An Overview of Minors' Consent Law.” Guttmacher Institute, 5 Feb. 2019.

Bustle. “The Unfortunate Reason Teens Aren't Using Birth Control.” Teen Vogue,

TeenVogue.com, 2 Nov. 2018.

“National Center for Health Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for
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Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Jan. 2019.

Parenthood, Planned. “Where Can I Buy Birth Control Pills & How Much Do They Cost?”

Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.

“Parents Tend To Be Uncomfortable With Giving Their Teens The Most Effective Form Of

Birth

Control.” ThinkProgress, ThinkProgress.

Posted under Parents' Articles. Updated 4 April 2019. Related Content. “Birth Control Pills.”

Center for Young Women's Health, Boston Children's Hospital, 4 Apr. 2019,

youngwomenshealth.org/parents/birth-control-pills-parent/.

Posted under Health Guides. Updated 19 July 2018. Related Content. “Medical Uses of the

Birth

Control Pill.” Center for Young Womens Health, 19 July 2018.

“Teen pregnancy in Utah”. Geocities.ws, 1970-2000,

http://www.geocities.ws/crj617/utahstats/teenpreg.html. Accessed 7 April 2019.

“Trends in Teen Pregnancy and Child Bearing”. Office of Adolescent Health, 30 September

2017,

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-development/reproductive-health-and-teen-

pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-and-childbearing/trends/index.html. Accessed 7 April 2019.

“11 Facts Aout Teen Pregnancy.” DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change.