Many individuals strongly advocate that teenage girls, ages thirteen through eighteen, should not be able to obtain birth control without parental consent. Others believe that it is a right for adolescents to be able to access contraceptives whenever they deem necessary. Birth control pills and other forms of birth control, such as an IUD or a Depo-Provera shot, need to be obtainable by young women without parental notification. Allowing these contraceptives to be acquired without parents being notified prevents judgment, maintains confidentiality, treats menstrual-related side effects, and promotes safety. Teenage girls, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, should be able to maintain birth control without parental consent. According …show more content…
ACLU.org states, “The court concluded in the case, Carey v. Population Services International, “” the right to privacy in connection with decisions affecting procreation extends to minors as well as adults”” (ACLU.org). Some teenage girls do not want their parents aware they are partaking in the use of contraceptives. The reasons vary, but the right to privacy should be honored either way. Many individuals believe that a teen has no right to confidentiality since they are under the age of eighteen. However, the Supreme Court case, Planned Parenthood Association v Matheson, declared, ““the state may not impose a blanket parental notification requirement on minors seeking to exercise their constitutionally protected right…”” (ACLU.org). Another conflicting argument that arises is that teens cannot sign for prescriptions. This issue can be avoided by going to clinic or health department. Age should not be a reason for one’s right to privacy to be violated in regards to birth …show more content…
The Guttmacher Institute reports that, “58% of all pill users rely on the method at least in part, for purposes other than pregnancy prevention—meaning that only 42% use the pill exclusively for contraceptive reasons” (Wind). Some females are plagued with intolerable menstrual cramps or intermittent periods, which can often be a nuisance. Oral contraceptives can assist with both issues. Other methods, such as an IUD or the birth control patch, are effective in treating menstrual-related disorders. These disorders include, but are not limited to endometriosis and Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Despite this information, some individuals believe that birth control should not be used for the treatment of side effects or to cope with a disorder. However, doctors prescribe these contraceptives since they are more effective in treating the symptom or disorder along with other menstrual-related ailments, thus making them versatile. Many infirmities that are caused by menstruation could be eased by allowing birth control to be obtainable by female
Eric Scheidler’s article “Teens Should Not Have Access to IUDs” was full of information opposing the idea of teens and birth control. This article was published in the year 2016, and lists several points as to why teens should not have access to birth control.
On June 7th 1965, married couples in the State of Connecticut received the right to acquire and benefit from contraceptive devises. In a majority decision by the United States Supreme Court, seven out of the nine judges believed that sections 53-32 and 54-196 of the General Statues of Connecticut , violated the right of privacy guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. The case set precedence by establishing marital (and later constitutional) privacy, and had notable influence on three later controversial ruling=s in Roe v. Wade (1973), Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) and Planned Parenthood of S.E. Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992) . The issue at hand was, and is still, one that still causes debate, wether a state has the authority to restrict the use and sale of contraceptives. Though it is not contraceptives, anymore, that is at the heart of the abortion debate, this ruling was the first step to the expectation of constitutional privacy.
The second reason for contraceptives being given to teenagers, will help them avoid many dangerous Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) associated with unsafe sexual practices. Studies have shown an increase in unprotected sexuality among teenagers can result in a wide-range of social problems, such as STDs. The topic of birth control in public schools has attracted much support from the American public, according to statistics surveyed. For example, a 2006 Associated Press-Ipsos survey discovered that 67% of Americans support the provision of contraceptives to students. This study also determined that, “About as many - 62 percent - said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies” (Associated Press).
Trussell, J., Stewart, F., Potts, M., Guest, F., & Ellertson, C. (1993). Should Oral Contraceptives
How can a child make the decision for the life of another child by themselves? In this paper I will outline the mental, physical, and safety issues of minors (age 18 and under) having an abortion and why it is so important that they need to get parental consent before making this life long decision.
Underage people are prohibiting smoking, drinking, or going in field trips without their parents’ permission. Therefore, how can a teenage girl have an abortion without the approval of her parents? Abortion itself is a controversial subject, and underage abortion is even more controversial. Minors should not have an abortion without the consent of their parents or their legal guardians for a variety of reasons.
Weimar, Carrie. "Women taking birth control pills for reasons other than contraception." UF Health Podcasts. UF Health Communications, 1 February 2012. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Minors Access to Contraceptive Health Care." Can I Get Birth Control Without Parent Permission?. 12 05 2005. Web. 11 Jan 2010. .
Even though many teenagers are not expected to be involved in such risky behavior, many are. According to Guttmacher Institute, “70 percent of teenagers have sex before their 19th birthday” (Jester), which shows the massive participation in such activities. However, many methods of prevention, including birth control, have been in the working toward the progress in decreasing unplanned pregnancies in teenagers. Having an open environment with multiple options makes the decision about counteracting an unplanned pregnancy significantly easier. Also, some forms of birth control can be given to teenagers without parental consent (A Wake-Up Call), which ultimately leaves the important decision up to the teenager who has been involved in risky activities, not the parents. Due to the increasing access to birth control, and other methods of preventing pregnancy, statistics show that pregnancies and births among teenagers is in fact decreasing (A Wake-Up
In the United States today, many teenage girls are facing lots of problems. New problems are rising such as an increased pregnancy rate among teenagers. Our teenage girls are less developed and unprepared for the problems which come along with their decision to have sex. It is also too early for teenage girls to become pregnant. Many teens think having a baby is some sort of joke. They believe it will never happen to them but the reality is that every time teens have sex, there is a possibility that the sperm will find its way to the egg if they do not get protection. As a nation, or society, it is in our common interest to protect our teenage girls from getting unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. However, this issue of protecting or preventing our teenage girls from pregnancy plays a dynamic role and is a matter of choice. Many parents and educators have long argued over whether teens should get a comprehensive sex education or abstinence only education. The question is which of these programs is more effective at stopping teen pregnancy. To prevent teenage pregnancy, the United States, should force schools to teach comprehensive sex education for many reasons. For many people, instructing teenage girls about the usefulness of birth control and condoms is more important than just simply mentioning to avoid sex until marriage. Comprehensive sex education is needed to teach teens about the usefulness of condoms.
Yes the health care facilities are trying to help minors with teen pregnancies and slow down the rate. According to New York Post journalists Linda Chavez recently wrote an article regarding the teen pregnancy rate. She said that even though the United States is still has the highest pregnancy rate the numbers dramatically dropped by 52 percent. Linda Chavez said, “In 2008, the last year for which in-depth data are available, nearly 750,000 young women under 20 became pregnant, including some 236,000 teenage girls ages 15 to 17” (Page 1). This shows how many teens were on birth control since the rate had dropped 52 percent. But no matter how much the rates have dropped it still isn’t right for minors to not get permission from their parents.
Nearly all teenagers have had some type of education on sex but only about two-thirds have been informed about birth control methods. The CDC piloted a survey to get a better understanding and to see how many teens are educated on the contraceptives. After conducting the survey they found out that majority of the teens are educated on the topic. But they did find out that teenage girls talk to their parents about sex, birth controls and how to say no to sex.
In America, one million teenagers get pregnant every year (National Abortion Federation, 2003). Of these pregnancies, 78% are unplanned because these teenagers start having sex at a very young age and are unaware of ways to prevent pregnancies. Thirty five percent of the pregnant teenagers chose to abort, as they fear that the consequences of the pregnancy might cause significant effects to their lives. The problems that come with teenage pregnancies include dropping out of school, receiving inadequate prenatal care, developing health problems, relying on public assistance to raise a child, and probably divorcing their partners. In most states, the law allows pregnant teenagers to take their babies for adoption without consulting their parents. The same laws allow the teenagers to have an abortion but require parental notification or consent before carrying out the procedure. These laws prove biased as they favor one resolution over the other, as they force some to bear babies they do not want by restricting their options.
One and three girls in the United States uses birth control, but some parents think teen girls should not have access to birth control. Three percent of young women (ages fifteen to nineteen) have a child every year, having access would help bring the percentage down even more. Birth and Abortion Rates are very, very high in most states in the United States. In surrounding countries such as Western Europe, Japan, etc.. Teens should have access to birth control because it helps prevent teen pregnancy, helps teen girls with painful periods and mood swings, and helps with the thought of abstinence.
There are some questions a patient 's doctor must be a secret, you can not tell a third party about the problem. Another example, if a teenager says to a doctor, "I am depressed, I have been trying to kill myself" ( "Youth confidential: a young person 's right to privacy"). Doctors are not sure of information, because the doctor is this guy right help. Teen confidentiality concerns may be an important barrier to access to health services. Adolescents have the right to contraception confidentiality when it comes to contraception.