Contraceptives in High Schools?

Question

In regards to providing the pill to teen aged girls in high schools. Am I the only one concerned with what will be prescribed? I understand the thought behind doing this, prevent pregnancies, embarassment at going to a clinic, etc. But if I recall, any time as a grown woman I had received a prescription for this type of medication, I had to have a full physical first to rule out any underlying conditions that could be ascerbated by taking a contraceptive. Will the girls be given complete, and I mean complete including gynocological, physicals before they get their pills from guidence office/nurse?

Answer 1

i agree,i believe in handing out condoms,but the pill is something that can completly make you sick if you arent on the right ones.....believe me it took a few trys to get one that i agree with,plus it totally messes with your hormones,not a good thing when youre a teen whose hormones are already going nuts!

Answer 2

Whoa whoa, what are you talking about? PRESCRIPTIONS cannot be written by anyone but a doctor. That's what makes them prescriptions. Some doctors are more lenient about writing prescriptions for some things than others, but when you're talking about hormones, usually some consultation or care is necessary. Unless the school has a full-time physician on staff, there's no way that they could dispense "the pill."

Now, "Plan B," the "Morning after pill," which is now available over-the-counter for people OVER 18 ONLY, may be dispensed, but that affects only a small amount of people in high schools.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01436.html

That doesn't mean that the nurse at the school couldn't provide assistance to get counseling at Planned Parenthood or some other organization. Do you have a link to show that _schools_ are providing birth control _pills_, not just condoms?

Answer 3

At some schools nurses are going to be allowed to pass out a morning after pill to girls and this pill has few side effects and is no worse than taking tylenol this is a drug anyone can purchase in a drug store. the nurses will ask the girls questions before giving it to them to make sure that they should be taking it....I wish that this was available years ago. Seriously, if kids are going to have sex than their going to have sex. I would say most girl in my high school were having sex and their parents had no ideal. There was rumor that a few had even gotten abortions, and on a few cases i know it to be positively true. And I went to an upper middle class high school in the suburbs. Some girls cant get to the doctor bc their scared that their parents would be mad or dont want to go to the store to buy contraceptives bc they would be embarassed.

Answer 4

I know that when you reach certain grades, you are required to have a physical and all your shots before going back to school, with your charts sent as proof. (At least in PA)

You can say all you want that teens should not be having sex anyway, but the fact remains that they are, rightfully or not. If providing the pill in school will prevent even a small percentage of unwanted teen pregnancy, then it is doing some good. Also, I hope that they have condoms available as well.

Answer 5

"...before they get their pills from guidance office/nurse?" They will not be getting pills from anyone not licensed to prescribe medication. Some states allow a physicians assistant (PA) to do so, other require a doctor. The guidance counselor is not likely to be a doctor and will not be prescribing medication.

The medical professional will have to follow all laws concerning the prescription of medication.

Answer 6

The real issue is whether it is the schools job to prescibe medication and provide health care to the students. I think most can agree that contraception is a healthcare issue.

Many believe that healthcare should be provided through a doctor independent of the school. Also, when minors are involved, parents have a right to be involved (they are legally responsible for their children). Parents have a choice in choosing a doctor for their family as it should be (you would not want to be forced to go to a doctor you are not comfortable with).

Because attending school is not a choice (it the law i think in most states), by providing healthcare at the schools (to include medical advice or distribution of contraception), you are in effect forcing minors (and parents responsible for them) to recieve health care from someone they did not choose.

A better way to do things would be to require a physical exam by a family doctor prior to admission to school, and for the shcool to keep files of who the doctor is for each student. Then the nurse or counciler can refer the student back to their doctor is an issue comes up.

Answer 7

To prevent Sexual Intercourse for those under 18 years of age.

Predators, Internet and/or Non-Internet, and especially Pedophiles affect EVERY age not just under 18 years old.

A lot of teenagers become psychologically aware of intimacy by the age of 13 and a majority know the meaning and consequences of Sexual Intercourse.

Sexual Intercourse CAN be prevented by parental involvement and the Art of Masturbation as suggested by former United States Surgeon General Minnie Jocelyn Elders

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Answer 8

When I got the pill from my doctor, I did not get any complete exam. I think giving the easy access to contraceptive is a great idea, but I hope they are still pushing the use of condoms, as we all know the pill does not work against STD's.

Answer 9

It is in fact the LAW that oral contraception CANNOT be prescribed or provided without a full physical by a licensed physician. So yes. If a school wants to do this they will have to hire licensed physicians to administer physicals.

Answer 10

ridiculous....i swear to god if anyone at my girls school examines them or gives them any form of pill be it aspirin or even antacid and i am not present to consent or not consent i will be so rich they will rename the school after me cause i'll buy it.....going to a gynocologist is a personal decision for any woman as is the gynocologist she chooses...for that matter going to any doctor is personal....whether my daughters are or are not sexually active is none of the schools business and i dare them to insinuate it by presuming to offer my child birth control...if and when my daughters decide to go on birth control it will be their decision to do so and especially their decision on who will provide it and what method they will use....i have done my job (and continue to do so) as a parent in providing my kids with the tools and the knowledge of what is and is not safe behavior as to conduct with sex and its possible results...my girls talk openly with me about the subjects that need to be discussed and are mature, respectable, and very bright young ladies.....the schools dont know what my kids can or cannot tolerate....they are in the business of educating not medicating and thats where it should lie

Answer 11

The whole idea of handing out contraception in school is ridiculous. A doctor would not dispense meds to a minor without parent authorization so why should a school be allowed to. Not to mention that this is only fostering the idea that teen or pre-teen sex is OK.