Being a woman is infinitely confusing. I know that I don’t have the hang of it yet, but most of my friends think I am calm, cool, and put together. I laugh when they say this, and tell them that I am anything but that. Perhaps I just know how to put on a good show, I’m not really sure. All I do know is that it is hard to know what to do and when to do it, and many things about being a woman are exciting and hard all at the same time. There are other things that aren’t quite as exciting, but they can not be ignored. One of those things is looking at and choosing among birth control options.
When I was in high school I learned about birth control options from my cousin. My mom was always very open, but she was too late in that regard. Though I wasn’t doing anything I shouldn’t have been doing, I was wise to what was going on long before my mother thought I was. I think that is a common tale, and though I know it is going to be hard, I have to remember to talk to my daughter about her birth control options long before my mother did. I don’t want her to end up in trouble because I was too uncomfortable to speak up about it.
Most girls first learn about the pill when they hear about birth control options. This is because they are very common, and they are often recommended for girls who may be sexually active before they are married. They are also sometimes prescribed to take care of heavier than normal monthly cycles. However, when it comes to birth control options, these are not the only answer, and they don’t always work well. You do have to remember to take them every day in order for them to be effective. Even one missed pill can spell disaster.
There are now other birth control options that many prefer to the pill. There are shots that can be taken every three months, and some prefer these because they are easy to remember and some don’t have to worry about having a period while they are on the shots. There are also things like the IUD that some opt to use, though these are not among the most common birth control options because they can lead to complications. You may think your daughter is too young, but it is important to talk with them about all of these things, and how important they are. If you don’t, you may be a grandmother before your daughter is out of high school. No one wants to think it will happen to them, but it happens all of the time. Prevention and education are the best paths to follow.
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