Did you know that your teenage daughter can receive a contraceptive implant without your consent? This may sound scary to some of us, but the NHS seems to think it’s preferable to unplanned teenage pregnancy. Of course, the problem is not only pregnancy, but also the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Initially, the teen pregnancy rate did not appear to be declining despite numerous campaigns and it appeared that trying to convince teens not to have sex or to have safer sex did not work as well and that encouraging contraception was a more viable alternative.
Contraceptives like the pill and condoms are only effective when used correctly, but condoms need to be on hand at the right time and pills may be forgotten. According to the UK Office for National Statistics, “the number of conceptions among girls under 16 years of age was 7,158 in 2009, compared with 7,586 in 2008 (a 5.6 per cent decrease). Three-fifths (59 .8%) of the conceptions of girls under 16 years of age in 2009 resulted in a legal abortion.’ If this downward trend continues, can we thank contraceptives for the change, and should we then encourage greater acceptance?
It seems some teens still operate under the ‘it won’t happen to me’ assumption despite sex education, so if you can’t stop your teens from having sex when they’ve chosen to, how can we protect them from the consequences? unwished? In the past, parents have argued that it is physically, emotionally, and psychologically beneficial to keep sexual activity within the confines of a lifelong, mutually faithful relationship, but does this thinking still resonate with our teens today?
So what is the contraceptive implant anyway? Implanon is the trade name for the small, rod-shaped subdermal implant that contains etonogestrel, which is a synthetic form of the female sex hormone, progesterone, produced by the ovary to prevent the release of eggs. The hormones released by the implant prevent pregnancy for up to three years after which they must be replaced. A trained doctor can insert it under the skin on the inside of the upper arm in a few minutes.
The benefits of using the implant are that once it is correctly inserted, it requires no follow-up action and is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. It is also discreet because it is not visible under the skin although it can be felt by touching the skin over the implant. It is not necessary to remind adolescents to take the contraceptive regularly. Although the implant is safe to use, possible side effects include irregular bleeding, spotting, heavy periods, or no periods at all. It is also essential to remember that the implant does not offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases or HIV.
So what would you think if your teenage daughter went behind your back and got the implant? Alternatively, what would you think of a father who insists that his teenage daughter receive an implant? Ultimately, it’s her body, should it be her choice?