Plan B will become available to minors: How young is too young to make birth control decisions?

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  Posted by Parveneh Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:44pm PDT

  I don't think there is all that much of a difference between a 17 and 18 year old. 18 is just an arbitrary number assigned to adulthood. While I think everyone should be taught to only have sex with barrier protection and birth control, this is not always the reality of life.

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  Posted by EliseM Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:48pm PDT

  Hm.. too young to make birth control decisions? I think people would agree that a girl who is too young to make important decisions is definitely too young to get pregnant and become a teenage mother.

  So let me ask worried parents instead : Why in the world would you ever NOT want your 17 year old daughter to be able to use Plan B? Why would you want to become a grandparent when it's not even necessary?

  As the description says, Plan B the same thing as taking a high dose of birth control, and does not interfere with established pregnancies, so what's the big damn deal??

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  Posted by Audrey Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:01pm PDT

  I think that it should be lower. Not every girl has a great mom and dad, and if someone that young is having sex, then their parents are probably not very good at being parents. Lets help these girls have a choice.

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  Posted by Ginny Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:19am PDT

  I think that even or especially without a parent, birth control should be available cheaply, quickly, and confidentially to any high-school girl OR boy. I think there should be a counseling tier so that it can be discussed with a freshman just why s/he is feeling the need to make that kind of commitment, but anyway.

  Middle-schoolers who need such things need to come in with a parent at least partially so the parent can get knocked upside the head for not tuning into their kid enough to realize they're making body commitments their emotions and heads can't handle.

  Or at least, so says this former 6-12 teacher, mama of ages 8-19. Yes, boys and girls, and you can bet that my boys have been made aware that there is a total difference in male/female views on sexual emotions. I want my kids, and their significant others to be able to become adults before having kids, and not have to grow up overnight.

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  Posted by springtime Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:44am PDT

  The pill costs between $35 and $60. Few teens have that kind of money floating around, and if they do, it's designated for the mall.

  As for the age factor, parents can't have it both ways. They don't want their young daughters to become pregnant, but they don't want them to take the pill either. Opponents say it interferes with parental supervision. What a crock that is!!! If all that supervision/communication is going on, maybe these girls and BOYS wouldn't need birth control choices.

  Let's not forget that one of the most common forms of birth control now is abortion. It's way past time for this pill. It needs to be more affordable and for girls age 15.

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  Posted by Belva Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:47am PDT

  This is a matter for a parent and child to deal with.Giving young men,boys and women,girls a free pass is not the solution.

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  Posted by JeanneMommy Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:38am PDT

  Most parents delay dealing with the sex issue. Average child has sex at 14. So by the time the parent gets around to talking about it, the kid has already had sex. This is needed to deal with a parents, LACK of parenting. This pill is to deal with a child that SHOULD HAVE been on the pill for a couple of years. Instead of argueing on plan B, start wondering why a 17 year old needs it? Make is so no 17 year old needs to use it because you already dealt with the issue. And I don't mean TELLING them not to have sex. We all know how well teens listen.

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  Posted by hobbit Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:39am PDT

  I think its important for teenagers to know that they have options in case of an accident. Teens need to be educated about sex if not they will find out for themselves and that is how accidents happen. I would rather see a sexually active 16 yr old on birth control and buying condoms, than knowing she is in the backseat of some car with out them. As for the age I think that it should be made available without parental consent to 16 and ups.

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  Posted by Nicole R Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:42am PDT

  If a 17 year old is old enough to have sex ( in her mind) she should be able to get this plan B pill. We are forgetting about mature 17 year olds who do take the pill and for some reason or another it fails, or they miss one. Will they ultimetly get pregnant, maybe or maybe not but this pill can help those odds greatly. Why wouldn't we want our 17 year olds to have access to this pill? In FL I was driving at 17, if I was old enough to drive a car around on the highway at 70 mph then a 17 year old is old enough to make their own decisions.

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  Posted by Amanda Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:46am PDT

  If a 17 year old or younger ( hey, we all know it's happening ) is going to engauge in sexual intercourse at least they will be protected and we won't have to deal with unplanned pregnancies. Hell, I think they should make it manditory for all girls to be on birth control until they are legal old enough to be responsible for all of those actions, either that or make it so if these kids are having sex and making babies that they will be held legally responsible for their actions despite the age. People need to educate their kids and stop depending on just school or hear say to learn, because thats what leads to experimenting with sex and drugs and other crap that shouldn't be going on at such a young age. Sad sad sad..

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