What I don't get is why every story on this doesn't begin with the fact that this was in response to a noticable increase in PREGNANT STUDENTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL!
Visit http://nwlc.blogs.com/womenstake/2007/10/media-madness-o.html

There have been 7 pregnancies over the past 5 years in all of Portland's middle schools; the middle school in question had 1 pregnancy last year.

I don't want to see young girls getting pregnant. I also don't want to see them on the pill There has to be a middle ground that does not include having pre-adolescents and young teens taking hormones that could have untold effects on their developing reproductive systems. I'm sorry, I think that's ridiculous.

I certainly would not want my child to take a drug without fully understanding how it might affect her body and her future. What about the possibility of later infertility? Are kids that young prepared to make a choice that could potentially have longterm ramifications?

Actually, according to the CNN article, "Portland's three middle schools reported 17 pregnancies during the last four years, not counting miscarriages or terminated pregnancies that weren't reported to the school nurse."

So Emily, how would you feel about the school dispensing condoms?

Also, I'm assuming that the school just doesn't dole out pills without informing them what they are. And there's no chance of later infertility because of using the pill! This sounds a lot like the anti-choice argument that contraception is "bad" for women...just saying.

oops, turns out the cnn article is wrong--7 is the correct number although there's no indication that this includes abortions or miscarriages.
I don't think that access to birth control--with parent permission--oversteps parental rights.
Fact is, Maine is a very economically depressed state and I'd much prefer that the school provide a full service health center--yes, even bc for the 5 13-year-old who are sexually active.

So Emily, how would you feel about the school dispensing condoms?

All for it. Frankly, I'd love for girls (and boys) to be educated about the many different types of safe sex/pregnancy prevention options as well as their effectiveness and risks.

It does concern me that girls might get a false sense of security about the pill and neglect safe sex methods to prevent STDs.

Also, I'm assuming that the school just doesn't dole out pills without informing them what they are. And there's no chance of later infertility because of using the pill! This sounds a lot like the anti-choice argument that contraception is "bad" for women...just saying.

I personally know a half dozen women that were started on the pill as young teens and it forever altered their cycles to the point where they cannot get pregnant (or at least, not without even more medical intervention) And let's not forget that even for full developed adults, hormonal birth control isn't 100% risk-free.

I can understand people worrying about 11-14 year olds on birthday control but if they do worry about them being sexually active and if they don't have the resources or education to take care of themselves I can understand that.

However, I wonder if the pill is a sign of the school washing their hand of their kids. I lost my virginity in high school as did a majority of my friends and I do not think I wasn't ready for the decision but I couldn't imagine being ready for it in middle school. I know everyone's different but I doubt there are that many emotionally mature 12 year olds out there making informed decisions. I would wonder if the school has also tried other programs...such as self-esteem issues among other things within the school as well?

Also wanted to voice concern about the fact that in order for birth control to actually be effective, it has to be taken regularly. I just think that is a lot to ask of a pre-teen girl. And if she's not taking every dose every day, then how is it helping her at all?

I went on the pill when I was 13 because I have PCOS. I remember being so worried that people would find out and think I was having sex (worried about slut-shaming, I guess, but I didn't know how to think of it in those terms yet).

Anyway, I developed just fine, thanks. I've also had many doctor reassure me that being on the pill for so long will not effect my fertility (some before I even asked).

Um, I also managed to take it correctly. All it took was someone explaining to me that I would need to take it the same time everyday for it to be effective.

I agree with secondhand. I don't think age would hae anything to do with whether or not they remember to take the pill. I know 20 year olds who can't remember to take the pill at the same time everyday...

By Middle school most kids have adjusted to being on a schedule and are aware of time and such. I'm pretty sure that if they attach the time of taking the pill to a certain event.. Like I did for my lunch break..they shouldn't have a problem remembering.

I think the issues of remembering is more connected to how worried/adamant they are about not getting pregnant.. Most people I know who have issues about taking the pill on time sometimes don't really have the crazy fear of pregnancy as i do :)

Emily, the pill is much safer for 13 year olds than getting pregnant. I'd hope that 13 year olds would just not have sex, but if they're going to, they should be on the pill.

Believe me, I really, really don't want 13 year olds getting pregnant.

I am simply voicing my concern that providing birth control pills isn't the best solution. At all.

personally, hormonal birth control makes me nervous...while those are personal reasons that i certainly don't extend to the rest of the female population, giving it to middle school kids makes me nervous. but not for any legitimate reason. hell, i get freaked out taking otc pain-killers. i just don't like pills.

i would prefer they give out condoms...but that's really for the disease prevention factor.

as for parental consent, that's a tricky one for me. while i'd love to live in a world where kids can be open and honest with their parents about sex, we don't. i know i couldn't have told my mom i was having sex in high school, much less middle school. parents who are intent on controlling their kids lives can refuse to let them have birth control, but they can't keep them from having sex. so i think this begs the age-old question, At what point is a child old enough to make their own decisions about their bodies?

You know, it occurs to me that one of the "side effects" of giving out the pill instead of condoms is that what they're doing (because I assume they're keeping some kind of medical records--otherwise, they're just being irresponsible) is tracking which girls are having sex. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If you give out condoms, boys can take them too, and girls can have plausible deniability by saying that they're just picking them up for a friend, but medication doesn't work that way. Now, there may be some reasons why pills are still a better bet than condoms; what if these girls are having sex with boys who refuse to use condoms and they have to take matters into their own hands? What if these girls are not so much having sex as being raped (statutory) by older men (fairly common with high school girls) and they don't have the power in that situation to demand condom usage?

But records are--or should be--being kept, and leaves the girls vulnerable, and makes male contribution to sex invisible in a way that's a bit disturbing.

Colleen, in general, I'd say that if the kids are old enough to be having sex, they're old enough to be deciding how to manage the consequences.

By "old enough to be having sex," I don't mean to imply that I think that any middle-schoolers are old enough to be having sex, because I don't, but merely acknowledging the situation as it stands which is that they are having the sex.

I would wonder if the school has also tried other programs...such as self-esteem issues among other things within the school as well?

I whole-heartedly agree that there are self-esteem problems at work here. I don't think it's normal for a 12 year old to want to engage in sexual intercourse, thinking and talking about it, yes, but actually engaging in it, I dunno.

I can tell you that the town of about 19,000 that I grew up in has at least one or two 12 year olds a year get pregnant, so, sadly, it's not an uncommon occurrence. Most of them are from lower income families and some of them have expressed that they wanted to get pregnant so they would have someone that loves them (very clearly implies self-esteem issues as well as other issues – possible abuse, etc and a very naive 12 year old view of life with a baby). I always wonder how old the boy involved is/was.

People are getting caught up in how young the girls who will be taking these pills are. The issue is how old the girls are -- they're old enough to get pregnant. And the boys are old enough to get girls pregnant. Two-thirds of the girls in that school have probably already started menstruating. That means they can get pregnant. That means their sexual drive is higher than it's ever been. Preventing sex is impossible. Abstinence-only education doesn't work at all. Preventing pregnancy is very effective when done the right way. And anyone who is more worried about a girl having protected sex than about a girl getting pregnant is an idiot.

First off, giving middle schoolers active to contraceptives is stupid primarily because no matter how well educated they are, they're just not going to use the contraceptives properly. Grown women I know can't stick with their birth control, what makes you think twelve-year-olds can?

We still don't know about the effects of hormone regulation, and adolescence is a fucked-up time in terms of hormones anyway -- why would you make it worse? Body image plummets during that section, and hormones make you gain weight...I doubt girls will want to stick with something that can add a few pounds, especially because at that age (and, let's face it, for a long time thereafter) pregnancy remains something that happens to Other People.

Making contraceptives available to children that young is endorsing their activities. Which is wrong, to be perfectly frank. Making birth control available to that age group is giving them permission, and it's stupid and wrong.

While I admit that pregnancy at that age is horrific and terrible and completely unfair, I'd also like to submit that life sucks and then you die. We can't make the world fair, it's time to stop. Fucking. Trying.

I think the best solution would be to have pills, condoms, and, of course, comprehensive sex education which includes telling both boys and girls that they have the right not to have sex, no matter what anyone else says.

I think that we can support providing access to bc for these girls as long as realize it is not the only resource that they need. They need full and complete sex education. Issues of self-esteem need to be addressed. Condoms should be available. There should be guidance counselors and trusted teachers in the school where girls (or boys) can go with questions, concerns and fears about sex and a place to bring problems when they arise. All of these things are important, but I don't see how any one of those things means excluding BC. We're gonna deny girls a way to protect themselves because we're uncomfortable with them having sex?

I don't think that providing bc to girls is endorsing their activities, theaerosolkid. I think it's endorsing their safety.

And if we want to talk about why middle schoolers are having sex, I'm all for it. I just think that's an issue with a lot more at play than condoms or bc.

That's so true, aerosolkid. That's why I support denying treatment to smokers who develop emphysema and lung cancer. It would constitute endorsing their activities, and also, life sucks and isn't fair, so why bother?

On the contrary. Life isn't fair, and that's exactly why it is incumbent upon us to make it as fair as we can. It's a losing battle in the short term, but that's no reason to give it up.

Aside from whether or not outside adult parties think it is a goods idea for teenagers so young to have sex, is it really right for us to try and control their sexualities but limiting their options to protect themselves?

One primary issue that comes to mind is the rate of violent relationships/rape for teens. Many are coersed and forced into having sex. It may not be a matter of choice for many girls. They may not feel safe coming forward about what is being done to them, or may blaim themselves and see no valid reason to come forward. I think this is one way to arm teenagers with a way to protect themselves.

Making contraceptives available to children that young is endorsing their activities. Which is wrong, to be perfectly frank. Making birth control available to that age group is giving them permission, and it's stupid and wrong.

WRONG. That's like saying the existence of suicide hotlines endorses suicidal ideation. Birth control is a tool. Making that tool available for use is an endorsement of REALITY. Just THINK for a second. Making it available is designed to help students who are already having sex or are seriously considering it. What are the alternatives? Yelling NOOO!! at them? Do you think that will stop them? It obviously hasn't.

When will people realize that a large bit of village parenting is not about binary YES/NO statements to a child's thoughts or behaviors. How about availing them of the tools adults use to make decisions and live their lives. These children can have sex so inevitably some of them will, absolutely regardless of adult intervention. So, you can either pretend it's not happening or you can help a child grapple with the realities of life.

While I agree that ALL teenagers, not just girls should have access to contraceptives, I don't think that just dispensing the pill to whoever wants it is the best idea. Mainly for two reasons: one, although the pill is good for protecting against pregnancy, girls need to be taught SAFER sex practices. Pregnancy is not the only thing you can catch from sex, and I think these young people need to learn about condoms first and foremost. If a girl wants to go on the pill, I am all for it, but I think condoms should be the first thing that young people learn about, so that they can start practicing safer sex.

Secondly: the pill is something that should be dispensed from a doctor or a health clinic like planned parenthood. Other medications interact with the pill, some women should NOT take the pill, and I think leaving dispensing medication to a public school is not the right thing to do. Girls should have the option to learn about the pill and make the decision for themselves, but I don't think it's the responsibility of the school to hand out these pills.

Again, let me reiterate, I am ALL FOR comprehensive sex ed, passing out condoms, and self-esteem courses. I am even pro-teens on the pill. I just don't think it's the school's responsibility.

I love the fact that middle-schoolers in Maine can get birth control pills. I've seen articles that girls as young as nine have gotten pregnant. If girls that young can get pregnant, then girls need birth control pills. It is the parents responsiblity to educate their daughters. But if parents are not being responsible enough to give their daughters' the Pill, then the school should intervene at all costs.

Birth control has to be prescribed by a doctor or a registered nurse, correct?

I think some people are hearing this news and thinking that girls are going to some unqualified person and asking for the pill and getting it.

During an interview with NPR, the spokeswoman for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care explains that the school based health centers that will be administering contraceptives are "doctor's offices on school grounds." (You can hear the interview here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15436298)

Should 13 year olds in general be prescribed the pill? I don't know.

I do think, however, that even a young woman has the right to decided individually with her doctor what the right method of birth control is for her.

What about Plan B? That should be made available too.

I knew seven girls to be raped in Middle School and if we had a place that we could go after sexual assault that would dispense Plan B (though when I was in middle-school it was developed as such) it would have help immeasurably. Only two of the seven had any contact with medical personnel/police after their assaults. Rape seemed so much more prevalent in Middle School than in High School or College. Often it was older guys manipulating and raping middle-school girls because they were easier marks and less likely to understand their circumstances (and couldn't drive...several of the instances took place during offers for rides home by neighbors). Anyway, I would like to know whether Plan B is in the proposal and if the media could please start to talk about the Rape of middle-school girls rather than slut-shaming, that would be useful for once.

The students will have to speak to a registered nurse before getting the pills, and I feel comfortable that (unless the nurse is a real asshole) their visit will include at least some info on safer sex practices.

Teenagers do not need permission to have sex, as much as we would like them to. The idea that giving kids birth control is permission is harmful, irresponsible, and insulting to our intelligence. If they needed permission, then why are they getting pregnant already? They do have sex, without our knowledge or consent, whether we like it or not.

Yes, safe sex, abstinence and self esteem are all important, but learning those takes time and I would like teenagers to NOT GET PREGNANT while they are working on their self esteem.

Plus, no, this is not the same thing as tracking girls who have sex, because lots of teen girls are going to get on the pill for other reasons. I was on the pill for 2 years before I had sex, for cramps and irregular periods.

Finally, for those that may not know this, teenagers do not ever need parental permission to get on birth control. This is not just a school thing, the law says they have a right to privacy that includes contraception.

They should have a program like this in high schools, too. Sure, kids can always go to a clinic, but when you are trying to ensure privacy it can be hard to make the time. They already have to go to school, so being able to stop into the school clinic and be seen for bc their would be fantastic.

I strongly believe middle schoolers need to be given sex education, not just including information about anatomy and birth control and pregnancy, but also about homosexuality, abortion and every other issue that surrounds sexuality. And yes, I would prefer that they have full access and privacy to birth control.
That said, I can't help it: the idea of 11-year-olds having sex bothers me a lot. It's been 25 years since I was 11, but I still remember how it was to be that age. It was a miserable, confusing time, and most of the kids in my class were not remotely ready emotionally for that kind of intimacy. Maybe kids today are. Maybe I am a prude and a late-bloomer. But it still bothers me.

I'm concerned as to why these young women are having sex in the first place. I know some kids do experiment at this age, but it is possible these girls are having sex with older guys or because of peer pressure.

Also I would be concerned about who these doctors are in this school. Alot of doctors are ready to give girls the pill for everything from acne to period problems. Having a good staff could really make a difference.

I don't think you're a prude, jetgirl, it weirds me out too! When 15 year old girls come into my clinic to get birth control, I always would rather they not have sex. But the point that a lot of people don't get is that these kids are autonomous people who will make their own decisions and mistakes, and we should not withhold access to health care because of our qualms. (I'm not implying you were saying we should, I'm just ranting).

Whats wrong with giving the pill for acne or period problems?

That's why I support denying treatment to smokers who develop emphysema and lung cancer

That's an absolutely ridiculous comparison, and you know it. Smoking has no health benefits, and really the only thing you can argue in its favour is "Hey, this is how I relax", whereas we as humans have a sex drive built into our biology. Sexual activity is a biological imperative and is also, hey, a lot more influential on self-esteem, personality, your place in life, future careers, future success, on and fucking on than whether or not you smoke. Also? Pregnancy isn't a Goddamn disease, like emphysema is.

Now that we have that out of the way, what is providing BC to kids anything other than an endorsement? "Hey, so here's something you can take to not be pregnant! But, um, you're too young to have sex, so, don't. But if you do! You're totally covered." Bullshit. Kids at that age are great at rationalizing things -- believe me, I know, I work with kids -- and providing BC is giving them more ammunition to make a wrong decision and then defend it in their minds.

As for the people who managed to take the pill regularly as a kid, well, hats off to you, you're in the extreme minority. Celebrate your intelligence and commitment.

Pregnancy as the worst thing to happen to a kid of that age? No way. I'd say HIV or any other number of STIs is a worse situation, to be honest; so if you're going to insist upon encouraging sexual activity in pre-teens, condoms are the way to go, I say.

And the pill for acne or period problems? That's entirely different, and you know it.

Why are we even arguing about why we should be enabling young girls to begin risky behaviour? Kids aren't going to double up on birth control, so while they may remain blessedly free of fetuses, just watch the STD percentages take a fucking leap.

Hurray, the end of the world is upon us.

Hi theareosolkid,
Could you please provide some statistical evidence that women you managed to effectively use birth control from a young age are in the minority? Or some statistical evidence that the availability of birth control causes sexual activity to increase among teens?

In my biology class we do "News Flashes" at the beginning of class, and one girl did this, of course in an outraged manner. My best friend and her started fighting about it (I think they were about to throw down) But I think it's a great thing. Especially now that I know it was because of an increase in teenage pregnancies.

Not off the top of my head, I can't. My opinions are based on observation, and I don't make a habit of cataloging the kids I work with. I'll be the first to admit that anecdotal evidence is sketchy at best, but I'm not basing my perceptions on a few kids -- this is a multi-year trend that made itself apparent to me. I didn't go looking for justifications for my opinions, I formed opinions after watching and paying attention.

If you can provide statistical evidence to the contrary, then I'd like to see it. If I'm completely wrong, then that's cool, too.

In my biology class we do "News Flashes" at the beginning of class, and one girl did this, of course in an outraged manner. My best friend and her started fighting about it (I think they were about to throw down) But I think it's a great thing. Especially now that I know it was because of an increase in teenage pregnancies.

I think that it is great that the school committee is giving the students the right to a clinic. However I think that middle school is too young for children to decide on issues that are so critical as sex and contraceptives. I think that high school would be the perfect place to offer this service, college as well, but certainly not middle school. I am all for freedom of choice, and sex ed. however, I think that in middle school making sex that easy is risky. Teach sex ed., but dont offer contraceptives.

providing BC is giving them more ammunition to make a wrong decision and then defend it in their minds.

Now that's "Bullshit". There has been numerous studies done that have disproved the supposed link between easy access to BC and increased sexual activity in minors. There is, however, a link between decreased pregnancy rates and STI's (with condoms, of course) and comprehensive sex ed and easier access to BC in minors.

Here is the most important point in this whole debate: THEY ARE ALREADY HAVING SEX! Since they are already doing it, what objection can you possibly have to comprehensive sex ed and access to BC? Unless you would just like to "punish" those kids that do have sex instead of providing them the education and tools to do it safely.

However I think that middle school is too young for children to decide on issues that are so critical as sex and contraceptives.

But, again, they already are deciding to have sex. I think we are all a little icked out by the thought of a middle schooler having sex, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they ARE DOING IT. So, why don't you want them to have access to tools that prevent pregnancy or STI's?

"I went on the pill when I was 13 because I have PCOS. I remember being so worried that people would find out and think I was having sex (worried about slut-shaming, I guess, but I didn't know how to think of it in those terms yet)."

I have PCOS also and am very concerned about future problems. How are you doing with it?

Look, I really don't see why there's even a debate. If people are having sex, they should have access to contraception, abortion, and information about sex. Not having those things has never prevented anybody from having sex, and you can tell, because prior to the development of effective, reliable contraception, people were still having sex all over the place, which is how we're all here.

So it comes down to this: 13-year-olds are having sex. Would you rather they have proper contraception and information, so that what they have to deal with in later years is the emotional trouble that comes from having sex too soon--because I do think 13 is too soon, or would you rather they get knocked up, and have to either have outpatient surgery or go through pregnancy and childbirth, both of which are much harder on a kid's body than hormonal birth control?

Aerosol, your being squicked out by the idea of preteens having sex doesn't stop it from happening and doesn't mean you get to force your self-admitted opinion on them. You sound very very much like the anti-choicers who say tough-shit to young girls when they get pregnant and feel quite smugly satisfied that they do, b/c, you know, they deserve it for having The Sex, little sluts that they are. Get over it.

By the way, how exactly is my sexual activity influencing my personality?

I think that this is great. No, I don't condone 6th and 7th graders having sex, because I believe that most (key word: most. Maybe some are, what do I know?) kids that age don't have the emotional or intellectual maturity to handle sex. However, if they feel that they are ready to be sexually active, this information should be available to them. I cannot understand why someone would rather see a 13 year-old have a baby than give their kids the information they need to have safer sex (and I say safer because with hormonal birth control they are only protecting themselves against pregnancy.)

"I have PCOS also and am very concerned about future problems."
It definitely shouldn't go untreated, but what future problems are you worried about?

I agree with thearosolkid and Jetgirl. It is disturbing to think of 11 yr olds having sex. It is disturbing to think that someone in school can tell my minor child that it is ok to take the pill and disregard your parents views. It is most disturbing to read other commenters saying that it is all about controlling sexuality. We are talking about CHILDREN for god's sake. In our feminist world are there no boundaries?? **shakes head**

Yes, they are children. And it is disturbing to me to hear aerosol be so cavalier about children becoming pregnant. I'm not talking about controlling or not controlling sexuality. I'm talking about withholding protection from pregnancy from children who are engaging in sexual intercourse. I don't like the idea of children having sex, and I am all for self-esteem programs, and educating them on the consequences of their actions, but I will not get on board with people who view pregnancy as a fit punishment for preteens who become sexually active.

It is most disturbing to read other commenters saying that it is all about controlling sexuality.

It's all about the fact that they are having sex and are GETTING PREGNANT. I get that it's disturbing, but what do you propose we do to lower the pregnancy rate? Ignore it? Pretending like or hoping that middle school children aren't/don't have sex obviously isn't working or they wouldn't be GETTING PREGNANT.

And you people do realize that they are only "making it available" to students. That means the kids have to request it, it's not like they are giving BC pills out at snacktime with M&M's.

We are talking about CHILDREN for god's sake.

And I, for one, don't want these children having BABIES.

i dont understand the problem either. whether the girls are being pressured by older guys or whatever the case may be, the fact is, some of them are having sex. if they ARE being pessured, thats awful, but its not the topic of this thread so ill save my comment on that.

i was on birth control when i was barely 11. i was becoming anemic, among other things, due to my periods lasting 15+ days and soaking through overnight pads in two hours. yeah, i was sick. birth control fixed me right up, and i am a huge advocate for it.

it is also important to note that i never once missed a pill. ever. nobody reminded me. i knew it was my resposnibility to take this pill so i wouldnt be sick. when i got older, it changed to my responsibility to take this pill so i wouldnt get pregnant. but the key word here is "responsible." if these kids arent responsible, theyre probably not going to bother with birth control pills in the first place. if theyre mature enough to ask for it, im going to trust theyll use it. and im also going to trust their judgement to be sexually active, despite their age.

my mom thought i was too young when she found out i was sexually active when i was 16. she said she was almost 10 years older than me her first time. i laughed at her. "she just doesnt get it," i thought. "im a grown woman, whether she thinks so or not!"

really, who are we to judge a new generation that we dont belong to and thus dont understand?

"however, I think that in middle school making sex that easy is risky. Teach sex ed., but dont offer contraceptives."

Sex is always easy; obtaining birth control is not. Offering contraceptives doesn't make it *easier* for anyone to have sex. It just makes it easy for them to protect themselves from pregnancy. I think they should be placing more of an emphasis on condoms though as birth control doesn't protect you from anything but pregnancy.

As someone who was in middle school 5 years ago, I feel qualified to say that SOME girls would be capable of taking the pill effectively, though none of them should probably be having sex. (Not that our opinions on whether they should be having sex or not will change the fact that they ARE in fact already having sex)

"I have PCOS also and am very concerned about future problems."
It definitely shouldn't go untreated, but what future problems are you worried about?

Infertility, weight gain, acne, ect.

It is disturbing to think that someone in school can tell my minor child that it is ok to take the pill and disregard your parents views.

These children are having sex. They are already, I'm willing to bed, disregarding their parents' views. Do you really think a 12-year-old who's thinking of having sex thinks "Hmm. The school nurse hasn't indicated to me that it's OK to disregard my parents' view of my sexuality, so I guess I just won't do it"? Again, these children are old enough to be deciding to have sex; that means that they're old enough to decide whether or not to protect themselves.

Bubblex, I could not agree more when you say "Sex is always easy; obtaining birth control is not." Indeed. Sex is one of the few things that people can do without obtaining any outside accoutrements whatsoever. We've got all the equipment we need.

i actually live in maine, so i know a bit about the details of this just from hearing the debate and reading the news articles...first, this school's health clinic, i'm pretty sure, already had condoms available. they added bc pills to provide a greater spectrum of contraceptives. also, parents have to sign their consent for their child to be treated at the school clinic - it's just that, once they consent, the student has the right to obtain birth control without the parents finding out. so, if someone didn't want their daughter to get the pill without their knowledge - they wouldn't have to sign their consent.

it seems to me that the impetus here has been to reach those girls whose parents are not involved, and are not teaching them about respecting their bodies and being safe with their sexuality.

Mooserider, thanks for chipping in those facts. Most news stories have failed to focus on them. Another thing to consider is that the health center is a community health center (run by Maine medical?) co-located in a school. It is not the school district getting into the business of contraception in the sense many think it is.

Another thing, only 2 school board members voted against the idea.

I also started on the pill at 13 for PCOS. Though they didn't know that's what it was, then, just that something was wrong with my reproductive system. I've taken it properly for over half my life.

Ava, only your doctor can truly address your concerns in any meaningful way, since we don't have your medical history in front of us, but I can tell you this much, once you get your treatment sorted out and find the combo of medications and diet that works for you, it really does get a whole lot easier to deal with. BC, spiro, and metformin are the magic combination for me. Following a diabetic diet seems to be helping a lot too. (A lot of us are insulin resistant.)

The purpose of this middle school doing this is most likely because teenage pregnancy is an issue. Although this is a scary thing to hear, something must be done to decrease the number of kids in middle school getting pregnant. The only thing I am scared of is the fact that middle school kids may not be educated when it comes to STDs or STIs. They may feel that condom use may not be necessary anymore once on the pill, and get infected.

I must admit that this is a complex issue. However, it would scare me to have my 13 year old daughter come home and tell me she just went on the pill and is having sex. I just think it's too young. At the same time, my youngest daughter got pregnant at 17 and I don't want to see these young girls having babies! My thought is that sex ed in middle and high schools ought to emphasize not only bc, but also ways to experiment with their sexuality that are fun but don't expose them to the risk of pregnancy or STD's. Am I naive or is this possible? It seems to me that there are a variety of sexual experiences that are fun and would help teens discover who they are sexually. Why not take a shower together (sounds like good clean fun!), give each other a nice back rub or full body massage, take off all your clothes and hold hands, etc. Sexual intercourse is only one of many ways to enjoy and pleasure each other. There is nothing wrong with it, but both people in the relationship have to be ready for it, emotionally, physically and in other ways.