Emily Webb

ENG 112- Issue Report

October 13, 2019

Controversial Issues of Birth Control

Birth Control has been a controversial topic in society as far back as the 1960s, and many

feel minors are too young to begin use and the parents of the minors should be made aware of

their child’s medical decisions. However, the use of birth control with minors can have positive

influences on many situations that may arise and doing so without parental guidance some feel

may be the most effective way to achieve these outcomes. This essay will discuss the benefits of

birth control offered in schools, the drawbacks, and the controversial discussion for parental

approval among minors.

Birth control use has many opinions and discussions on how it should be distributed.

Although many feel negatively, it does have positive influences on situations that may arise

among teenagers. One of these situations that teenagers may face is pregnancy. Texas, for

example, has the nation's highest repeat teen pregnancies than any other state, typically Texas

sees 27.2 births per 1,000 teens and having strong statistics such as, “Children of teen moms are

three times more likely to become teen parents themselves." (Lindell, A.1) are held accountable

throughout the nation. Many agree that offering birth control in schools could help control teen

pregnancy rates and thus these rates could dramatically drop if open access to birth control was

allowed for teens under 18 and without consent. The good news is these policies for women are

beginning to change and birth control is becoming available in some schools. “I find fairly strong

evidence that young women's birthrates dropped as a result of abortion access as well as
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evidence that birth control pill access led to a drop in birthrates among whites.” (Guldi, 817-27)

Evidence has shown that birth control pills have led to a decrease in birth rates among women

ages 15-21 and this is a major advantage for introducing birth control distribution in schools.

There are seven different types of birth control offered to women. A study was conducted with

parents of teenage daughters whom they discussed varies types and if they were accepting of

their daughters requesting birth control from their doctor. The results showed that, “Parents are

more accepting of their teenage daughters using birth control pills than any other form of

contraception, including condoms, according to a recent study from UC San Francisco (UCSF).”

(NewsRx Health, pg. 59). Through these articles and studies, evidence shows offering birth

control in schools is effective in decreasing birth rates among teens, it helps to avoid a repeat

family pattern of teen pregnancy and parents are more accepting of birth control pills. This

evidence alone gives schools a reason to offer birth control to students.

Every positive situation there will be drawbacks, which takes us into our next discussion

on the reasons birth control should not be offered in schools. One factor that many feels is a

reason why teen pregnancy is on a rise is due to the lack of Sex Education in schools and an

almost complete lack in schools as young as Middle School and not due to birth control not

being offered in schools. A survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control or CDC between

the times of 2004 to 2008 showed that, “half of teen moms whose pregnancies were unintended

did not use any method of birth control, and a third said they didn't use contraception because

they didn't realize they could become pregnant.” (Korman). The CDC highlighted

misconceptions that the teens were under the impression that his or her partner was sterile, or

they couldn’t get pregnant at certain times during the month, they also heard false accusations

that you could not get pregnant if you showered after intercourse. Physicians and school officials
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have argued that this naïve mentality shows evidence that Sex Education is lacking and there is

little to no mention of abstinence. Studies have found that a child’s sexual interest being roughly

around ages 11-12 and parents should not be surprised if they are having sexual intercourse at

this time. This gives a strong reason for proper Sex Education amongst these teens in schools,

especially middle school grades, and how necessary it is to see a decline in sexually transmitted

diseases and teen pregnancies. Although, teens may be more influenced by what peers tell them

than by health officials, having an open and proper sex education at a young age may have

positive effects on decreasing teen pregnancy. Upon starting school in Portland, a child would

need approval for items such as medical check-ups, medical screenings, counseling and even

aspirin but if a bill passes for birth control, the state would not allow the child to need approval

from a parent/guardian for birth control:

I believe that the birth control pill has been linked to possible side effects and

young women should not be offered medication in the same manner young men

would be offered condoms. Birth control pills should be dispensed by a physician

fully aware of a person's medical history and fully prepared to discuss all possible

side effects." SUSAN MELAUGH Sharon (Boston Globe)

Parents and guardians are becoming angry about these decisions. Long-term side effects of birth

control are unknown and little studies have been taken on children as young as 12 using birth

control. These stats are too discerning and should be a major point in the poll against birth

control. Parents do not want their child being exposed to birth control without prior knowledge

and are concerned that it may be able to happen, and they wouldn’t have a say in this decision.

Parents are already struggling with the idea of their child being sexually active and would rather

schools provide proper Sex Education first and if birth control is a path they choose to take, they
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will decide for their child and under the care and supervision of a proper health care professional.

“SANCHEZ: In Portland, school officials say most of the phone calls and e-mails they received

have been from angry parents who argue that only parents, nobody else, should decide whether

their child should use any kind of birth control.” (Sanchez) These strong statements against birth

control in schools display reasons behind the unknown side effects that birth control may have

on teens, the concern for lack of sex education and rather the push for medication, as well as the

parent’s discernment about not being able to speak or be informed about their child’s medical

decisions. By these statements, many would feel strongly against birth control being offered in

schools.

The age in which a child is legally considered to be an adult may vary among states, most

will agree you are legally considered to be an adult around 18 years of age, until that point your

parent is your sole financial support and medical beneficiary. Oftentimes, the support extends

well past 18 years. This is often the reason behind the controversy if teens should need parental

approval for birth control offered in school. There are supporting facts and reasoning for both

sides. Doctors and Nurses in a Minneapolis area discuss the reasoning behind teens seeking

confidential care and agree it allows them to get treated for viral sexually transmitted diseases,

alcohol abuse, and birth control to prevent pregnancies. “The bill would overturn provisions in

the 1971 minor's consent law, which has allowed teens to seek confidential medical treatment for

pregnancy, venereal disease, and chemical and alcohol abuse.” (Health & Medicine Week, pg.

807) Doctors argued if you limit their access to birth control and other means by requesting

parental approval that shuts the door to individuals who do not have parents or guardians to make

these decisions and thus a viral outbreak might occur or an increase in teen pregnancies.

Although the risks are understandable Representative Tim Wilkin, R- Eagan feels differently,
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“confidential medical treatment has encouraged sexual activity and other risky behavior. Teens,

especially those with drug and alcohol abuse issues, should have parental guidance in making

health care decisions, he said.” By having birth control pills and other options readily available

without reprimand or approval from a parent, teens are more inclined to continue sexual behavior

without true consequences. A study was performed on 10,000 adolescents in grades 7-11, they

were studied and interviewed twice over 12 months to exam the relationship between maternal

approval of birth control and sexual outcomes. Studies revealed there was an increase in sexual

intercourse stemming from the paternal approval from birth control use so “safer sex” measures

must be taken. “Jaccard and colleagues4 found that higher levels of maternal discussions about

birth control were associated with a higher probability of sexual intercourse.” (Jaccard, Dittus).

Approval of birth control is an option, but you must also talk with them about safe sex practices.

Teens must know the risks that can come from unsafe intercourse. Many fears that if you start

talking and start giving the option of using birth control to protect them from situations such as

teen pregnancies that the child may be more inclined to start having intercourse. This may

happen but protecting them to the best of your ability ahead of time will also help them, “A

second alternative explanation is that when parents learn that their child has engaged in sex, they

decide that the child needs to be prepared for safer sex, so they convey approval of the use of

birth control to their child.” (Jaccard, Dittus). Teens are having sexual interactions younger and

younger so having the talk with them early and often will help prevent unwanted outcomes and

will make the birth control talk easier and the option for birth control in schools a more open

discussion. The health care provider advice and studies performed throughout this discussion of

parental approval for birth control show evidence of the controversial issues. Many Physicians

feel parental approval is not needed due to the risk of outbreaks for those who do not have a
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parent to approve situations, others argue having these options available without approval will

allow the teen to have a higher probability of sexual intercourse and possible unwanted outcomes

and approval must be requested. These issues will continue to be discussed and it is unknown if a

decision would be agreed upon.

Let’s recap birth control positives, the drawbacks and the controversial need for parental

approval. The approval of birth control among teens in school has shown strong evidence for

decreasing the teen pregnancy birth rate but do these positives out way the need for better Sex

Education in schools. This drawback is a major concern among many parents, health care

professionals and representatives trying to decide the best bills to pass for our states and nations.

Should each of these need parental approval or would it be better for the teen to have

confidentiality? Many argue by opening the teen's options to birth control without approval the

risky sexual behavior may increase but it also may help avoid pregnancy epidemics for those

who do not have a parent for approval. These issues may always be controversial, and it may be

the choice that each State needs to make alone.

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Works Cited

Birth Control in Middle Schools Debated. NPR, Washington, D.C., 2007. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/189775

903?accountid=10163.

Guldi, Melanie. "FERTILITY EFFECTS OF ABORTION AND BIRTH CONTROL PILL

ACCESS FOR MINORS." Demography (Pre-2011), vol. 45, no. 4, 2008, pp. 817-27.

ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/222946

293?accountid=10163.

Jaccard, James, and Patricia J. Dittus. "Adolescent Perceptions of Maternal Approval of Birth

Control and Sexual Risk Behavior." American Journal of Public Health, vol. 90, no. 9,

2000, pp. 1426-30. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/215105

386?accountid=10163.

Korman, Amanda New, England N. "Study shows Weak Sex Ed Leads to Teen Pregnancies."

North Adams Transcript, Jan 21, 2012. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/917000

350?accountid=10163.

Lindell, Chuck. "Bill Helps Teen Moms Prevent Repeats: It would Allow Access to

Contraceptives without Parental Consent.Unmarried Teen Moms Access to

Contraceptives without Parental Consent. Activist, Lawmaker Aim at Law Barring

Minors' Access to Birth Control." Austin American Statesman, May 08, 2017. ProQuest,
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https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/189606

2268?accountid=10163.

MAUREEN, COMPILED B. "READER FEEDBACK: Would You Favor Distribution of Birth

Control Pills in High Schools in Your Community?: City Edition]." Boston Globe (pre-

1997 Fulltext), Nov 03, 1994, pp. 30. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/290706

616?accountid=10163.

Sexual and Reproductive Health; Panel Approves Bill to Restore Parental Notice for Birth

Control." Health & Medicine Week, Mar 22, 2004, pp. 807. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/206869

164?accountid=10163.

"University of California - San Francisco; Parents of Teen Girls More Accepting of Birth

Control Pills than Other Contraceptive Methods." NewsRx Health, Mar 03, 2013, pp. 59.

ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/129109

1879?accountid=10163.