Inspired by the 17 yr old DD w/ bf in room thread.....

[Pete's Mom]

I started BC at 19, one month before I got married. I was too pertrified of getting pregnant so I waited.

 

[danacara]

When I was 16, eight of us from Catholic school mustered up our courage and went to Planned Parenthood after school one day, still in our school uniforms. I remember we were definitely the only people in the waiting room who spoke English and didn't have babies with us. The nurses took us in back, one by one, and we explained that we weren't active but we were "here for education and preventative care." They were astounded. They called in the other nurses to talk to us. One asked if she could take a picture of our group. It was funny. Years later, they still recognize me when I go in there.

I remember that you couldn't beat the price, it was around $5 a month for the pill?

 

[Aurora63]

I went on the pill at age 19, while away at college, both for BC and to help with awful cramps. My parents never discussed sex with me, but I was lucky enough that the sex ed program at school was very educational. They liked to scare us into not having sex by telling us what AIDS, herpes, etc. could do to you.

The most I ever heard about sex from my parents was, "I couldn't habdle it if one of them (me or my sister) got pregnant." Oh, and also, "I know you'll do the right thing." (Spoken by my dad when I was a senior in high school, going to spend the night at my best male friends house with a bunch of other people. The thought of having sex with any of them was revolting to me, but dad thought I thought otherwise.)

My dad also burst in on my sister while she was over at a friends house (who was a girl) because he was sure they had boys over and were having sex. They were not, and my sister was mortified!

Seven years later, I am married and still on the pill, as I'm still not ready for a baby. Though now, mom is!

 

[shleybird]

My daughter and her friends all decided on Depo shots, so when they were 17, we started having shot night at my house. They are 20 now and we still have shot night every three months. ( I'm the only mom nurse ).
They have not had any side effects from the shots and no pills to remember every day. And the biggest is no unplanned pregnancies. My daughter was a pill baby, back before they understood that certain antibiotics interfered with the pill's effectiveness. Granted I was 20 and married, but it was still a shock.
When my boys are old enough I will make sure they have condoms always available. Hopefully by then they will have something in a shot for them also, along with the condoms. I want to teach them that it is as much their responsibility as the girls when it comes to birth control.

 

[Melann]

My mom had me at the ripe old age of 18, and always told me growing up that when I was ready to have sex (or having it) to let her know so she could help me be protected. Needless to say when I turned 18 and began having sex, I wrote my mom a note. The next day she called me when she was at work to let me know she had made a doctors appointment for me! Now 22, I have been on the pill for years, and could not have thanked my mom enough for the way she handled the situation. She knew she couldn't stop me from doing it, she just wanted to make sure I was taking precautions!

I think this is the same approach I will take with my children (when i have them)

 

[disneychrista]

My mom always said I could come to her if I need to, in regards to birth control & sex, that is until I actually did. I was 17 and had my first "real" boyfriend. I guess she thought that if she ignored it, it would go away. Well it didn't. In fact by the time I was able to get into the free family planning clinic (6 weeks later) I was already preganant (2 week shy of my 18th birthday).

I am very open and honest about this with my two girls, now 13 & 11. And when the day comes that either of them come to me for help I will be there for them.

And I firmly believer regardless of what type of hormonal birth control girls are on condoms are a requirement.