When to Talk to Your Daughter About Birth Control

It’s one of the most difficult conversations you’ll have with your daughter—but it’s also one of the most important.

We feel that conversations about consent, respectful relationships, and safer sex are important regardless of your child’s gender. This blog will address many hormonal forms of birth control; therefore, we will be focused mainly on how to counsel your daughters.

Discussing sex and birth control may be awkward, but it’s vital for your daughter to have the information she needs to make informed decisions. It’s equally important that she knows she can turn to you or our healthcare team at Chapel Hill OBGYN for reliable answers, rather than relying on her peers or unreliable internet information.

Over half of all teens have had sex by the time they reach 18. Teen births are generally on the decline in the US, but still, more than 200,000 infants are born to teenage mothers.

However, studies from the Centers for Disease Control also show that of the teens who are sexually active, 90 percent used birth control, with the most common forms being the pill and condoms.

But the question remains: When should you have the conversation with your daughter about birth control for teens? We’ve provided some information here that we think will help.

In addition, we’ve compiled crucial facts about the wide variety of birth control options and why we are your leading birth control location.

When to Discuss Birth Control With Your Daughter

If your teen asks you questions about sex, that’s a good cue to have a discussion with them about safer sex and birth control. Likely, she has other questions as well, and it would also be a good opportunity for you to emphasize that she can come to you with any problem or question she may have.

While the average age when teens first have vaginal intercourse is around 17, it’s important to have a conversation with your daughter much earlier than this.

We encourage parents to start talking about body changes, respectful/healthy touch, respecting “no” – prior to puberty. Many experts feel like starting around 8-9 years old is the right time to begin these types of talks, perhaps getting more explicit at age 12-13.

Emphasize That Having Sex—or Not—Is a Choice

Be sure to maintain open and honest communication with your teen, and make sure she understands that having sex is her choice—she shouldn’t be pressured to do it because her friends are or because her partner wants it.

By letting her know that you are listening, she will be more likely to come to you with problems and questions.

Of course, we are always available to answer any questions your child has about sexuality, sexual health and birth control.

What Are the Best Birth Control Options for Teens?

First, we want to be clear that we do not think there is any one type of birth control that is appropriate for everybody. The kind of birth control needed for teens is decided based on each patient’s individual situation.

We feel that the fewer steps required by the patient to take, the easier it is to be compliant. For example, a method placed once a month is easier than one used once a week, and a weekly method is easier than a daily method. (This is true for teens as well as adults.)

That being said, we do believe that the following are the best options to consider:

Implants

These are about the size of a match (4cm) and we carefully insert them under the skin of the upper arm. They utilize hormones to prevent pregnancy and are effective for up to four years.

IUDs

We’ve explored many of the benefits and frequently asked questions about IUDs in an earlier blog post, which explains their effectiveness and convenience.

An IUD is a small, T-shaped device about the size of a quarter that is inserted into the uterus. Depending upon the type of IUD that you have, they may use either copper or hormones to prevent pregnancy. They can be effective for 3-10 years.

IUDs are very effective; there is less than one pregnancy per 100 women in a year for those who use IUDs. An IUD can be removed when a woman decides she wants to have children.

The Pill

While the pill is effective, it depends upon your daughter being able to take it regularly without skipping days. For some teens, this may be hard to remember.

Many may use the pill to ease painful periods or help with acne. It’s also easier to stop just in case the patient has side effects with it.

Other Benefits of Birth Control

Preventing an unplanned pregnancy isn’t the only reason your daughter may benefit from birth control. In certain cases, hormonal contraception, like the types mentioned above, can help teens who have severe cramps and very heavy bleeding during their periods.

In some instances, it can reduce the chances of developing ovarian cysts and help control acne.

Are There Any Side Effects to These Forms of Birth Control?

These forms of birth control are very safe and have been used effectively on millions of women with very few side effects. Usually, when there are side effects, they are mild.

For implants, your daughter might experience:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Mild back pain
• Changes in her period patterns
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Mood swings

For an IUD, side effects may include:

• Cramping
• Irregular bleeding
• Headache
• Tender breasts

For the pill, certain women may have side effects that include:

• Slight nausea
• Lighter periods
• Mood changes
• Mild headache

If you have any questions or concerns about these side effects, please contact us. We are here for you and glad to answer any questions you have.

Tell Your Teens How to Protect Themselves from Sexually Transmitted Diseases

While the methods listed above are effective for birth control, they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Your teen may need to know about condoms and how to use them effectively.

You should also discuss that you can get sexually transmitted infections through oral and anal sex.

Not Sure Where to Begin? Talk to Us!

We are very fortunate to have treated several generations of women in the same family. We have served mothers, their daughters and grandmothers.

We want your daughter to have the accurate information on teen birth control she needs in order to prevent an unplanned pregnancy and to keep her safe from sexually transmitted infections.

We understand that often, it can be difficult to even know where to start when you need to have this conversation.

That’s okay– we can provide talking points, and we’re always happy to meet with your daughter so she can ask us questions as well. Our first priority is safeguarding your health and ensuring that you receive the quality care you deserve in a compassionate environment.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. 

Next, we’ve compiled a series of questions to help you determine what would be the best type of birth control for you.

Chapel Hill OBGYN: Your Leading Birth Control Location

The IUD or the pill?

Nexplanon or condoms?

Today’s women have more options for birth control than ever, and as a result, they have more questions than ever.

We’re pleased to be able to help them as Chapel Hill and Durham’s leading birth control location.

“The key thing to realize is that birth control can be customized to fit your lifestyle and your family planning,” said Dr. Chappell. “Whether you want to eventually get pregnant or if you don’t want to have children at all, we have extensive options for you. We work closely with all our patients to ensure they get the type of birth control that is right for them.”

What Are Some of the Most Common Methods of Birth Control in the United States?

Almost 65 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 49 use birth control.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most common forms of birth control are:

• Permanent birth control or sterilization
• The birth control pill
• Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as the IUD or Nexplanon
• Male condoms

While all of these methods have their benefits, the main challenge is figuring out which method is best to fit you.

We want to review these different methods and provide some insight into which ones might be the best choice.

The Different Types of Birth Control

It’s easier to discuss the many birth control options after breaking them down into different categories.

Barrier Methods

This involves birth control which serves as an actual physical block to prevent sperm from coming into contact with the egg. Examples include:

• Male condom
• Diaphragm
• Female condom
• Cervical cap
• Contraceptive sponge

Hormonal Methods

There are both short-acting and long-acting methods. Short-acting ones include pills (which still remain one of the most common forms of birth control), vaginal rings, birth control patches and injections like Depo-Provera.

Long-acting hormonal methods don’t need to be taken weekly or monthly. In fact, many of them can last anywhere from three to 10 years. These include IUDs and birth control implants like Nexplanon.

Permanent Methods of Birth Control

Tubal ligation (getting your “tubes tied”) is one of the most common forms of permanent birth control. In some cases, the partner may opt to get a vasectomy instead.

Fertility Awareness Methods

Some women base their birth control on fertility awareness, meaning they carefully determine which days of the month they are ovulating and then avoid sex on and around those days.

However, fertility awareness is not as effective as the other forms of birth control. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the typical use of the fertility method causes 12 to 24 pregnancies out of 100 women in a year.

This is compared to less than one pregnancy per 100 for those using the IUD or birth control implant or nine out of 100 for those using the pill or patch, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Things to Consider When Deciding on Birth Control Methods

As we mentioned earlier, no one form of birth control is right for every woman. We’re more than happy to work with you to determine what will work best for you.

In the meantime, here are some things you should think about when selecting a form of birth control.

Is It Easy to Reverse?

Sure, you want kids.

Just not now. But you might be open to it in the future.

Except for sterilization, birth control is reversible. However, if you’re planning on getting pregnant within a year or two, it would be best if you selected a method that is easy to discontinue. A perfect example would be the pill or barrier methods like condoms.

Is It Convenient?

Are you able to remember to take a pill on a regular basis? Are you able to pick up refills every month?

Or would you prefer birth control that you don’t have to worry about for several years?

All of this depends upon your lifestyle and your timetable of when you would want to have children.

How Much Does It Cost?

You should check with your insurance provider to see what types of birth control are covered and at what percentage they are covered.

Do You Need Protection Against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)?

Remember that only male and female condoms can help prevent the spread of STIs. It’s important to use a new condom every time you have sex.

You may not need a condom if you are in a monogamous relationship, and you have both been tested for STIs.

We do encourage regular STI testing to ensure your sexual health.

Other Aspects to Consider

There are other items you should think about when deciding upon a birth control method. These include:

• Your health history
• Your age
• How many children you may want to have
• How soon you want to have children

Understanding your options means we will be able to work with you to find the right birth control.

Chapel Hill OBGYN—The Best in the Triangle

We’re thrilled that we were recently honored as one of the best practices in the Raleigh, Durham and Triangle area with INDY awards.

We were recognized as the Best Women’s Health Practice in Durham County for our Southpoint location, and we were also named the Best Women’s Practice in Orange and Chatham counties.

Melinda Everett, one of our nurse practitioners, was honored with two first-place recognitions from the INDY awards: she was selected as the Best Women’s Health Practitioner for Durham County and the Best Women’s Health Practitioner in Orange and Chatham counties.

Want to know more about Melinda Everett and our world-class team?

Contact us today for an appointment, and see why we’ve been recognized as the best in the Triangle area.