A: An IUD.
Apparently, doctors in Scotland are following some new sexual health guidelines, concerning the discussion long-term contraceptive options with young teenage patients who ask about the contraceptive pill, “as long as the doctor does not suspect exploitation or coercion.”
The Express, the paper which originally reported on this,
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First of all, I think a distinction needs to be made between "young teens" and "tweens". I think that an eleven or twelve year old being ready for sex is as statistically prevalent as the teen who gets an eighth month abortion to fit into her prom dress. That said, I lost my virginity when I was... 14? 15? Somewhere in there. And it wasn't traumatizing or awful or damaging. So I do recognizing that young teens are capable of having safe, sane, consensual sex, because I was one of them fifteen years ago (although the contemporary tendency to infantilize teens may mean that I had the advantage there).
I look young. I used to look REALLY young. I went to a doctor once looking for emergency contraception and had to sit through a massive disapproving lecture before he'd give me the prescription (which I then couldn't afford, which made me cry until the pharmacist took pity and actually reduced the price for me). I didn't realize until like two days later (after I was out of the woods) that I could have been in the same situation following being raped, and my healthcare providers wouldn't have known unless I told them. Considering that, the doctor's behavior was beyond douchiness, it was Criminal. The pharmacist's behavior was beyond nice, it was downright humanitarian.
I've been on the pill since I was 15. It has not made me have sex. My deep enjoyment of Sex made me do that. But the fact that I have had unprotected sex on the few occasions that I lost my pills or was late starting or what have you, indicates to me that teens are just going to fuck regardless. This coming from someone who got onto the pill within a couple of months of losing her virginity and who has stayed on it, taking it at the same time every day, for almost 15 years now. And being on the pill did make my "rape" experiences easier, since I had one less thing to worry about.
Anyway, my point is: teen sex and teen rape are two different things. You can't make a dent in the second by attacking the first. And there is no force on the planet that can make a dent in the first, short of murdering the teens that do indulge. And anything that encourages open and trusting conversation between kids/teens at risk and mandated reporters is a GOOD THING.
BTW- when I was volunteering at a women's health clinic they provided abortions to a LOT of women in abusive situations. In the vast majority of those the men were hiding or sabotaging or destroying the women's contraception. The VAST majority. It's a really common phenomenon.
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WHAT.
teen sex and teen rape are two different things. You can't make a dent in the second by attacking the first
So, so well-said. Honestly, I am more and more convinced that the loudest hand-wringing about teen sex is a deliberate distraction by folks who are perfectly content with rape happening constantly and with impunity. They make me fucking sick.
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