Contraceptive implant...

[ummmm]

Girls as young as 13 are being given the contraceptive implant without their parents consent.

What's your feelings on this?

http://www.telegraph....ceptive-implants.html

[smart1]

It's probably a good idea, as girls as young as 13 are having sex without their parents consent.

[Noraq]

preferable to an unwanted pregnancy at 13 for Gawds' sake!!

[lankeela]

Better than getting pregnant at 13

[EvianBaby]

Obviously it would be more ideal that girls that young weren't having sex but if they are than I'd rather then chances of them getting pregnant were siginificantly reduced.

I do think perhaps the parents should be informed though.

[Sqad]

We have the highest teenaged pregnancy rate in Europe and it is increasing.......parents...some parents do little to help these figures decrease and despite the availability of the pill and condoms, something has to be done.

It is a pity that ALL teenagers are considered a part of the trend, but i am afraid that I would have to support this.

[ummmm]

On the link I actually voted 'yes' to it...

I do wonder how I'd feel if it was my daughter. Luckily we're past that stage now....

[commoner]

I have come to believe that there are certain girls of little more than that age who consider getting pregnant a career move......our benefit system being what it is!
I do mean some and not all ;-)

[jomifl]

hopefully along with vaccination against cervical cancer virus.

[ummmm]

I knew nothing about benefits at the age of 13.

[smart1]

I knew nothing about SEX at the age of thirteen! lol

[EvianBaby]

I bet you weren't thinking about having sex at 13 either though. I think young girls know a lot more than we did and it's not that long since I was 13.

With a niece who turns 13 this weekend, it's terrifying.

[smart1]

It's 45yrs since I was 13 - I was still 'playing out'!

[cazzz1975]

its sad but at least underage pregnancies can be avoided :/

[Slapshot]

18yo daughter has had one in for four years before that the pill from about 13 at our behest. As well as it's main job it has a huge calming effect on her periods which were rediculously heavy when they started, so bad in fact that if the pill etc hadn't helped they were looking at possible surgical interventions.

[boxtops]

It depends what it's for - if it's for period problems I'd not be against it, I know a young girl who was put on the pill because she had serious acne and the hormones helped to cure it.

However - what price the Gillick competencies in all this? I'd understood that if the under-16 could demonstrate that they understood why they were asking for contraception, it could be given without parental consent.

I think I'd want to know.

[McMouse]

I imagine some of these 13 year olds are having sex without their parents consent. If contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies then personally I'm all for it.

[commoner]

Wow you must have been living under stones ....It's 65 years since I was 13 and we were all "playing at cheeky" as we called it in those days....mind you there had been a war on so not a lot to do and it made a change from skipping and hopscotch which were the best of the alternatives..........

[boxtops]

I wouldn't have known what to do with which parts, at 13.

[smart1]

I was the same when my periods started slapshot. They were real hellish. The worst day of my mum's life was when GP prescribed pill for me. I was 15, it was 1969.

[rowanwitch]

One of those difficult issues.... the implant is probably a better bet than relying on a 13 year old to take a pill every day ideally you wouldn't want them having sex... my concern would be the children bullied into going for it by an abuser saying they are 'doing it' with a boy their own age so no one asks questions. I was taught with very young pregnancies don't look at the 'boyfriend' look at the adults in the mix just in case... Is that child better off at least protected from pregnancy...probably not as it is often the pregnancy that gets them the help they need