Contraception

Should girls feel forced to be on contraception ? Or should they do what feels right for there body ?

Contraception is a sensitive and controversial topic for many girls as well. Some girls are forced to be on contraception by their partner or the person they are sleeping with, some girls are forced by parents and some genuinely feel its a good idea and works for their body.

CONTRACEPTION

“the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. The major forms of artificial contraception are: barrier methods, of which the commonest is the condom or sheath; the contraceptive pill, which contains synthetic sex hormones which prevent ovulation in the female; intrauterine devices, such as the coil, which prevent the fertilized ovum from implanting in the uterus; and male or female sterilization” The Oral Contraceptive Pill It’s the little tablet taken once a day. The oral contraceptive pill is the most commonly reported method of contraception used by Australian women. There are a few different types of pill to choose from, so it’s about finding the one that’s right for you. The combined pill contains estrogen and progestin and mini pill contains only one hormone, a progestin.

Intrauterine Device (IUD) This small, T-shaped device is made from made of material containing progesterone hormone or plastic and copper and is fitted inside a woman’s uterus by a trained healthcare provider. It’s a long-acting and reversible method of contraception, which can stay in place for three to 10 years, depending on the type.

The Contraceptive Implant In this method, a small, flexible rod is placed under the skin in a woman’s upper arm, releasing a form of the hormone progesterone. The hormone stops the ovary releasing the egg and thickens the cervical mucus making it difficult for sperm to enter the womb. The implant requires a small procedure using local anaesthetic to fit and remove the rod and needs to be replaced after three years.

Girl 1 - “I have never ever been on any type of contraception and have been sexually active for 3 years, I have a very sensitive body and when I used to take the pill to stop your period when I went on holiday it would affect me really badly and make me sick. So, I never wanted to try just because I knew it would make me feel bad and I heard so many horror stories from people. I had a boyfriend for two years and he never pressured me to go it we would just use a condom and be extra safe, now im single it’s a lot harder to be safe as you can’t always trust boys and some boys don’t agree with girls not wanting to be on the pill”

Girl 2 - “ I went on the pill when I was 14 before I was sexually active because of my period and it helped my periods a lot, and I have never, so far three years later, and now sexually active, never had any bad side effects and luckily I am very good at remembering to take it. I personally have had a very good experience from it and I know im lucky as a lot of girls don’t, but it does worry me sometimes cause I know being on it for a long time can affect you so I don’t know what I will do down the line”

Girl 3 - “I am 25 years old and went on the pill when I was 15 when I started being sexually active with my boyfriend at the time, he never forced me I just wanted to for my own sake and also for my periods. Then when I was 24 I started to get very bad migraines and headaches all the time and I would always pass out and have to miss so many days at work and it caused me to become depressed. Doctors told me it is just a phase and I would be okay, until one day I was rushed to hospital and they found something wrong with my brain and loads of tests later they found out it was connected to the pill I was on”

Boys opinions on girls taking some form of contraception, here are five boys different onions on this topic ...

Boy 1 - “I personally don’t mind what girls take or do as it’s their body and I know that girls can have bad side effects from it and it can affect them badly so I think it’s up to them and im happy to wear a condom and just be extra careful”

Boy 2 - “I don’t really like Boy 5 - “ When I first started dating my girlfriend she was on the pill and it affected her badly and she decided to come of it and I was all for her doing what her body needed, so we went from never wearing a condom to wearing a condom and being very careful and I didn’t mind at all as I knew she was in pain”

wearing a condom as I don’t find it comfortable personally so I always prefer the girl im getting with to be one some type of pill or something, so before I sleep with a girl, I will be truthful ,I do ask if they are on the pill, as I don’t want a baby ”

Boy 3 - “ My ex wasn’t on the pill or anything so we would always just use a condom and my friends would always mock me and say just get her to go on the pill and I never understood why they cared so much and i would always try and explain to them that it’s not up to us it’s their body they can do what they want. It made me realise that boys really do just care about them self’s and just want sex and to be honest it made me embarrassed to be a boy.” Boy 4 - “I don’t think it’s fair that I am expected to have to wear a condom when girls can make it easier and just take the pill or one of the other ones, they are the ones that can get pregnant not me so why should I have to wear it ? they are the women”

In this society to many girls are being pressured to be on contraception and by people that should not have an opinion on it like a boy or even parents. Contraception effects all girls differently and everyone has different experiences on it, if you feel as though you are being forced or pressured by anyone to be on it or to get on it then please find someone you can talk to and stand up for yourself.