My mom discovered I was sexually active by flipping through my high school yearbook while I was out celebrating graduation. You’d think that moment would haunt me, but honestly, it’s a blur now. I vaguely recall a quick chat and then a visit to the OB-GYN to get birth control pills before heading off to college.
The truth is, I had a serious boyfriend throughout high school and had been sexually active for a year already. I never told my parents because I would have rather done anything else than admit I was no longer a virgin. So, we relied on condoms. Most of the time.
Now, as a mother to a daughter who’s just two years away from that same age, this story terrifies me. But hey, that was 1986—the “dark ages”! It’s now 2015, and I’m supposed to be the cool mom. My daughter will definitely talk to me about birth control when she’s ready, right?
Not necessarily. A recent study from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that 68 percent of teens believe the main reason they don’t use birth control is their fear of parental discovery. In numbers, that’s seven out of ten teens who avoid protection because they worry about parental reactions.
And yes, we are now those parents. It’s bizarre, considering we were just sneaking around from our own parents not long ago. Truth be told, I’m 46 and still don’t discuss sex with my mom.
But here’s the reality check: it’s time for us to step up and have honest conversations about birth control. As Bill Johnson, chief program officer for The National Campaign, pointed out, “Teens say it’s their parents who influence their choices about sex the most—except when it comes to birth control.”
Many parents express a desire for their kids to use birth control but hesitate to initiate that conversation. According to Johnson, “For many parents, discussing birth control feels like giving tacit approval for sex. They think, ‘If I talk about protection, does that mean I’m okay with you having sex?’ That’s not the perspective most parents have.”
Even if we still feel like kids ourselves, we must mature and guide our teens on this critical topic. They’re looking to us for direction, and we’re failing to communicate our views. The earlier we start these discussions, the better. “Don’t wait until they’re 16 or 17 to talk about sex; that’s often too late,” Johnson cautions. “When kids feel they can approach their parents about sensitive subjects without fear of overreaction, it benefits everyone involved.”
If all else fails, there’s always the yearbook.
For more insights on navigating this topic, check out our post on couples’ fertility journeys and consider tools like the BabyMaker Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo. If you’re curious about what to expect during your first IUI, this resource can be invaluable.
In summary, it’s critical for us as parents to engage in open discussions about birth control with our teens. They look to us for guidance, and we must step up to equip them with the knowledge they need to make informed choices.
Keyphrase: teens and birth control
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