How would you feel if your 13-year-old daughter was to pop into your local pharmacy and ask for the pill and be given it? And you would never know, of course. This is the latest suggestion in an NHS report. The scheme has already been trialled for four years in two London boroughs which have a high teenage pregnancy rate. Since the scheme was introduced, requests for the morning-after pill have dropped. Researchers admit it is too soon to say if pregnancy rates have fallen. Currently, the over-the-counter contraceptive pill has been given to girls over 16 but the report suggests the scheme should be widened to include girls as young as 13. In Manchester and the Isle of Wight girls aged 13 and over have had access to it at a pharmacy. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says they support the move, adding: "We are confident that pharmacists who supply oral contraception to young people will follow exactly the same guidelines as doctors and nurses." But is this the point? Currently, GPs admit that although they are allowed to prescribe the pill to girls under the age of 16, they face a dilemma, because the age of consent is 16. GPs have to have a discussion with any under-age girl before they prescribe it and they usually agree to prescribe the pill if they think there is a risk of her becoming pregnant. Should girls of 13 be having sex anyway? The fact is that some are; whether their parents know or care is another matter. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now I don't have a daughter so that leaves me looking at this from the outside and first reaction is, far to young, however I then ask myself, what is worse, a 13 year old on the pill or a thirteen year old who is pregnant? Of course 13 year old's, in my mind, are still children and should not be having sex, but it seems these days more and more are and that is a debate on its own, what has happened to our kids being children? I find myself unsure on this one, dammed if you do and dammed if you dont.
Rather that than fork out for the kid from me taxes but they should have a conversation about the fact that bare back sex not a good plan for on going sexual health. Also based on my experiences at school someone needs to ask these lasses how old the bloke is how they are considering shagging cos all the dorty lasses at my school were shagging either car thieves or wierdos who owned a fiesta aged 17 and up. Looking back little better than *****philes really. Some 13 years olds might be mature enough to handle a sex life but they are going to be a very, very small pool.
"Rather that than fork out for the kid from me taxes but they should have a conversation about the fact that bare back sex not a good plan for on going sexual health. Also based on my experiences at school someone needs to ask these lasses how old the bloke is how they are considering shagging cos all the dorty lasses at my school were shagging either car thieves or wierdos who owned a fiesta aged 17 and up. Looking back little better than *****philes really" I'm now retired but I assume any advice will be similar to that for the morning after pill Any pharmacist that is asked for the morning after pill is required to have a discussion with the girl. This includes advising that her parents should be aware, the age of the male involved, look for any indication of abuse (age of the male etc) and advise on use of condoms to avoid STD's.
I would hope that they would be using condoms, as pregnancy is only one of the potential outcomes.... If there going to do it, better that they be protected. At what age does Sex-ed start in the UK now? No surprise that US has the worst rates in the world - their abstinence as contraception and no real education is the cause of that.
To answer the op question.. Yes they should, if they are sexually active at least it could prevent many unwanted children...
Should 13 year olds be given the pill. In a word Yes. Used to be involved in running hostels for pregnant teenagers, it was heart breaking to see nowt but a child hugging her baby, anything that helps prevent this should be supported. The graphic in the post above just reinforces the point.
As a father to a 7 year old girl, I have to admit I am very uncomfortable reading and talking about this. After thinking about it though then the answer from me would be yes, if it is going to stop her from what I believe to be ruining her life then yes fair enough.
