Actually, the HPV vaccine DOES prevent cervical cancer. Not all cases, not 100%, but it has been proven to prevent it under certain circumstances.

About condoms: there can be side effects to them too. For instance, latex allergies are quite common, as is sensitivity to spermicides or lubricants often included with the condom.

Such lubricants, spermicides, or even the latex of the condoms can lead to a number of complications beyond allergies: vaginitis and yeast infections to name a couple. And left untreated, vaginitis can lead to infertility and increased rates of cancer.

This is not to say that people shouldn't use them -- everyone who can should! -- but it's not as if one form of contraception is inherently bad because it comes in a pill and one is inherently good because it gets thrown away. Ideally, they should be used together to make sure that only the people who want to get pregnant and everyone else reduces their chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

Well said.

This is no different than the HPV vaccine issue. I would far rather sign the waiver as a back up to appropriate conversation with my kids than have one of them get (or get someone) pregnant. While I may feel we have open com lines on all topics, they may not agree; and, I know from past experience that not all families communicate well or at all.

Perhaps signing a waiver and hoping is not the answer. Especially if you look at the stats for STD's, 1 in 4 teens who is sexually active will contract an STD. Will you forgive yourself when your daughter contracts Herpes or genital worts or AIDS?

Are there any certainties in life? No. But the strength of the love of a child and parent can for a lifetime. Is that waiver stronger than your relationship with your daughter?

San:

Birth control is only supposed to be used for 7 years because of the amount of hormones it provides, must be taken every day (which a young child is probably not responsible enough to do), and would severely alter her development during puberty.

Um. Source?

Some issues that seem to be missing from the comments here:

1. When I was a kid in elementary school, the 10 year olds who were not virgins... it was not so much by what we would call choice. Not because kids that age don't know what they're doing, but because kids that age who are having sex tend be be having sex in abusive, exploitative situations, or by choice after having been sexually abused and exploited. Mostly, of course, by people known to them, including family members and family friends. In this situation, giving a girl condoms to give to the abuser in a friendly, pro-active way is not likely to suceed in condom use. Condom doesn't get used, no protection at all. With hormonal birth control by injection or pill that the girl has control over, there's at least the chance she can spare herself ONE of the possible consequences of sex.

2. As mentioned above, I think most of the children who are sexually active at this age likely began their sexual activity in strange ways, ways that are "not okay" to tell their parents about. Can you ask your mom to get birth control because Uncle Ricky likes to "play" with you? Or her new boyfriend? Or your brother? Can you ask your dad for birth control to have sex with your boyfriend because you learned that it was okay from Uncle __/Mr. ___/whoever?

3. Can we justify withholding partial help because it's incomplete or imperfect? Yes, it would be better if birth control that women/girls can control wasn't hormonal, wasn't a drug, had no lasting negative health effects, prevented STDs. Yes, it would be better if kids could talk to their parents and get the help and attention they need for healthy emotional and physical development and activity. Yes, it would be better if kids weren't getting pregnant at age 11. But they do. If we can't fix the world with one stroke, can we help in one small way?

Yes, I will absolutely talk to my children about sex, starting at an early age. Yes, I would absolutely sign a waiver allowing them to seek medical counsel, and birth control if they need it, without my knowledge or consent. Kids can be better at taking care of themselves than we give them credit for, and if they're ready to take a step to help themselves but NOT ready to take that step through their parents - let them help themselves!

He isn't signing that waver because he doesn't have a relationship with his daughter-- he's signing it in case something happens he doesn't know about. He's signing that waiver as a plan B in case he fails to build that relationship.

"Actually, the HPV vaccine DOES prevent cervical cancer. Not all cases, not 100%, but it has been proven to prevent it under certain circumstances."

Funny, it prevents it at the same rate of not being a whore does.

Surprise surprise.

"Um. Source?"

Contact an OBGYN if you don't believe me.

"Mostly, of course, by people known to them, including family members and family friends. In this situation, giving a girl condoms to give to the abuser in a friendly, pro-active way is not likely to suceed in condom use."

According to the above person, the idea that girls can be raped means that we have to give them all the pill is completely idiotic.

It would make more sense to put them all in chastity belts so they can't be raped! You don't stop the abuse by giving them the pill, just stop them from having a baby that would expose the dangerous relationship!

A little girl is raped by her dad. If shes on the pill, she might still be raped.However, once she gets pregnant there would have to be a lot of explaining to do, especially with the prevalence of DNA and blood tests.

"Kids can be better at taking care of themselves than we give them credit for"

HAHAHAHAHA.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Obesity is a huge problem with children these days, and if they aren't responsible enough to not stuff their faces with potato chips, you think they are responsible enough to handle sex and taking protection every day, let alone the fact that it doesn't stop STDs?You are a psychopath. If you have kids, I want to know, so I can contact your local child services and have them taken away and given to people who can properly take care of them, because you are unfit.

"He's signing that waiver as a plan B in case he fails to build that relationship."

How about taking responsibility for your actions instead, you piece of crap?

I don't believe you.

Strangely I couldn't find anything on the World Wide Web about a 7 year cutoff for birth control pills.

So I'm gonna have to say... bullshit.

Any OBGYNs out there practicing their love with their patients care to confirm?

"Strangely I couldn't find anything on the World Wide Web about a 7 year cutoff for birth control pills."

Then you are severely retarded and inept.

<link>

2006

"

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is the protein that binds testosterone, rendering it unavailable for a woman's physiologic needs. The study showed that in women with sexual dysfunction, elevated SHBG in "Oral Contraceptive Discontinued-Users" did not decrease to values consistent with those of "Never-Users of Oral Contraceptive". Thus, as a consequence of the chronic elevation in sex hormone binding globulin levels, pill users may be at risk for long-standing health problems, including sexual dysfunction.

Oral contraceptives have been the preferred method of birth control because of their ease of use and high rate of effectiveness. However, in some women oral contraceptives have ironically been associated with women's sexual health problems and testosterone hormonal problems. Now there are data that oral contraceptive pills may have lasting adverse effects on the hormone testosterone."

<link>

"A woman's risk of developing cervical cancer increases the longer she takes oral contraceptives, according to a study published in today's issue of the Lancet, BBC News reports (BBC News, 4/4). "

But these are just a few studies. Doctors know it. However, its just that abortionist and feminists want to hide these facts.

The pill is not recommended for use for more than 7 years because of the horrible changes that happen to the body from all the extra hormones.

Brooklyn Cake:

You make some excellent points. Many times kids that young are the victims of abuse either currently or previously. I only have one issue with your post:

You say "Yes, it would be better if birth control that women/girls can control wasn't hormonal, wasn't a drug, had no lasting negative health effects, prevented STDs."

Are there documented lasting negative health effects of oral contraception? I don't think there are, at least any that are beyond a doubt (I'm thinking the tenuous link to breast cancer rates).

Aside from that, I'm with you all the way. Abuse is a serious component here that has generally been overlooked.

San,

I was hoping to ignore your posts since they seemed a little less interested in dialogue and more interested in calling people retarded. However, your latest I would like to address.

First of all, it's an interesting article you point to. Another quote you may have used is:

"An interesting observation was that the use of oral contraceptives led to changes in the synthesis of SHBG which were not completely reversible in our time frame of observation. This can lead to lower levels of 'unbound' testosterone, which is thought to play a major role in female sexual health. It would be important to conduct long-term studies to see if these increased SHBG changes are permanent," added Dr. Panzer."

So, they studied it for 7 years, that doesn't make it unsafe after 7 years, it means they ran out of funding. Also, it seems a bit less than conclusive if all they're suggesting is long term studies.

And I wonder if the problem of SHBG or unbound testosterone is linked to over-dosing of medications (if the balance isn't right, there's produced an excess of testosterone). I am still unclear as to how that could lower sexual drive, since testosterone increases sexual drive, but either way, a loss of sexual appetite is what you're looking for, isn't it? (Judging by your posts, anyway...)