Maine middle school to offer the pill and patch to young girls

by Tanya Ryno (Subscribe to Tanya Ryno's posts)
Oct 23rd 2007 12:30PM

A middle school in Portland, Maine has reignited a debate by deciding this week to provide prescription birth control to children without needing their parents consent. Yes, you read right ... middle school. And, in case you forgot (or don't have children,) that's kids that range in age from 11 to 13.

Without being too blunt (and trying to bite my tongue), birth control in middle school is "insane," it frightens me to think that we can't teach our children more about sex (and self-esteem) than just to offer them a pill or patch so that they won't get pregnant. And, while I understand that children 13 years old are beginning to experiment (which in itself is scary), I just can't help but worry about children 11 years old thinking about using birth control. That is just so, so very young.

Not to mention that the pill and birth control patch don't protect children (or adults for the matter) from sexually transmitted diseases ... has anyone even put any thought into the fact that the pill and patch are hormones, should children this young be taking hormones? Are there any future consequences such as cancer or stroke for these young girls? Have enough studies been done? And what 11 year old do you know that will even be responsible enough to take it daily on a regular schedule, which needs to be done for it to even be effective?

What prompted this: Evidently, an outbreak of pregnancies among the middle school girls (17 to be exact ... not including miscarriages and terminated pregnancies) is what prompted the education officials to decide to allow a school health center to make the birth control pills and patch available. I must admit that 17 pregnancies is more than a lot in one school -- so clearly something needed to be done. However, that said, I don't think offering the pill or the patch was the best solution.

The Portland School Committee voted 7-2 for the measure. Obviously, I'm only one opinion ... how would you have voted?

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Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

EM 10-23-2007 @ 2:14PM

Puberty is happening earlier. The school board is just responding to that simple biological fact. You might find it "insane" that they're giving kids that young birth control, but the reality is that they need it.

If you want an appropriate set of targets for your dismay, look at the reasons why puberty is happening earlier: lack of physical exercise, rising body fat percentages, and hormones in food. The school board is just putting a band-aid on the problem by handing out birth control. Don't get mad at the band-aid, get mad at the wound.

Tanya Ryno 10-23-2007 @ 2:25PM

Thank you for your comment! I have kids just entering that age (and originally I'm from Maine) so to say the least, I'm a little horrified. But you're right there is always more than one dimension to all issues.

My view (and it may not be the right one) is that regardless of how we got here, we need to do more to protect our children.

And, my problem with band-aids is that they always seem to fall off before he wound is healed.

Hopefully they'll be able to find a better solution.

Thank you again for your point of view.

Jen 10-23-2007 @ 2:44PM

This is one of the reasons I homeschool, to avoid my rights as a parent from being taken away. Also, when your kids spend most of their time bonding with the family rather than peers, the parents have a much stronger influence. To give the school district a break though, I read the article you referred to, and the parents must give consent for the child to visit the school health center. They aren't going to the nurses office and being given birth control. It's still pretty scary, though.

Jen
http://www.squidoo.com/safecleaning

dee 10-23-2007 @ 4:01PM

I was pretty ambivalent about this whole thing. That was until I read one of the most informative commentaries I have read/heard or seen on the topic. I highly recommend that anyone interested in b/c pills for children read this commentary and then research what the author wrote. I did and it was an eye opener.
Here is the link. mia

http://joeleonardi.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/birth-control-for-children/

Tanya Ryno 10-23-2007 @ 4:47PM

Dee:

Great article ... thanks for sending the link.

People, if you get the chance, check out the link she provided ... it gives a few unexpected perspectives about many issues not being brought up.

For instance, what about possible drug interactions? If the parent takes the child to the family doctor for another condition and the family doctor is unaware (because the mother is unaware) the child is on the birth control pill and prescribes another drug, if there is a negative reaction %u2014 who is responsible?

It's very interesting .... so again, if you get the chance read what the author has to say. You can find the link under comment number 4.

AnaMarie 10-27-2007 @ 8:49AM

I assure you that your parental rights are not being taken away. You are imagining that you have rights that you infact, do not.
I'm a medical student, so I can tell you what we have been taught in our ethics class (which we all hate, but is required). Any young girl can go to a doctor on her own and request birth control. She does have to go through with a pelvic exam, which in itself is enough to keep many from doing this. However, If she admits to being sexually active, and wants birth control, we GIVE IT TO HER, and we don't have to tell you. In fact, we aren't allowed to. Forcing a doctor to tell the parents negatively impacts his/her ability to take care of the patient. We do report it if the person she is having sex with is over 18.

Several of the more conservative students in my class took issue with this. However, the bottom line is that an 11 year old on birth control is healthier than a pregnant 11 year old. I'm 24, so it isn't like middle school was yesterday or anything, but there were ABSOLUTELY kids having sex in my middle school. Tons of sex, with many different people.
As a soon to be medical professional, I'm all for this. People need to smarten up. Start teaching sex ed before kids are actually having it- I'm thinking 3rd grade. Some girls kit puberty at 9, and some of them are having sex. Parents, if you want to be aware of you child's sex life (which WILL happen), take an interest early, and be informative. Open a dialogue and you'll have more ability to affect her decisions later. But mostly, open your eyes.