When you make the decision to go on birth control, you will want to think about talking to your parents about it. Whether you are close with your family or not, it is a good idea to inform your parents about the decision that you have made. Like most teenagers, you are probably a little bit nervous about bringing up the issue of birth control, however. Here are some tips on how to talk to your parents about going on the birth control pill or patch.
1. Be honest and open with your parents about the decision to go on birth control. If you are planning to go on the pill in order to have sex, you may want to let your parent know this. Even the most conservative parents will appreciate the fact that you are being on honest about your intentions. They may like it or they may not like it, but honesty can go a long way.
2. Let your parent know any other reasons that you are thinking about going on birth control. If you have acne or irregular periods, these can both be great reasons to want to go on the birth control pill. The more reasons that you provide for wanting to go on the pill, the more likely you will be to encourage your parents to allow you to do so.
3. Avoid reminding your parents that times are different now. It is likely that your parents already realize that times are different, even if they do not necessarily agree with it. Most parents will feel as though you are intentionally trying to offend them by bringing up how much times have changed.
4. Never demand that you want to go on birth control. Let them know that you feel as though you are ready to go on the pill, and ask your parents how they feel about it. Tell your mother that you feel ready for your first gynecologist visit. Ask her to accompany you to your first appointment. Most mothers will be happy that their teenage daughter wants them to be there during the first visit.
5. Do not bring up any of your friends who have gone on birth control already. Especially be sure to avoid doing this if your parents are aware that these friends are sexually active. There is a possibility that your parents may feel that these friends are not the greatest influence on you. Additionally, no parent wants to hear about your friends when talking about your own situation.
Remember that you do not need a parent’s permission to go on birth control. By visiting Planned Parenthood, you can receive free birth control on a confidential basis until you turn eighteen. If you are planning on becoming sexually active in your relationship and want to prevent pregnancy, this is the most responsible thing that you can do. Your parent may not necessarily want you to become sexually active, but they will respect you later on for preventing yourself from becoming pregnant.
