Oh, fabulous. Those have even an even greater risk of side effects than the pill does. And you know, it does concern me that girls might get a false sense of security about the pill and neglect safe sex methods to prevent STDs.

I really, really don’t want 11-12-13 year olds getting pregnant, but what I’d like to see is girls (and boys) to be educated about the many different types of safe sex/pregnancy prevention options including the *non-hormonal ones* as well as their effectiveness and risks.

they are offering patches also. I sound like I’m in full support of this, i’m not. I would like to understand exactly what they are trying to solve (perhaps I am right, and its simply teenage pregnancy), how they are measuring success, and when they are going to evaluate the program for a go-nogo decision

If they dont have these three key elements in their program, they don’t have a program.

it IS a huge red flag that these kids are having sex. My point was not: “Hey, they are doing it anyway, lets help em out”.

I was more addressing that making birth control available doesnt mean these kids are going to use it, because the great majority of them are not having sex at that age. Making it available to the tiny minority of girls who are having sex , for whatever reason, is good for the general population as a whole, and is one more step in reducing abortion rates.

Yes, lets focus on what the hell is going on with these kids. Perhaps it IS media and sexual availability on the internet (I have no data one way or another), perhaps movies and TV, perhaps there is some physical biological changes that are happening to use as a species as the planet gets warmer, new chemicals are introduced into our blood streams, etc etc. note: If you told an ancient roman that a 12 year old child was having sex, I bet they would be less horrified than we are. Of course that doesn’t make it OK because we recognize there are emotional and physical needs and consequences of sex. but there are some sociological issues at work here resulting in our shock at this because it is outside of our current norm.

But while we are getting to root cause on the early sexuality, lets not enhance the problem by letting these few kids not have birth control availability.

emily,

I’m with ya on the unknown effects of BC on people this young. But if they are already having their period, is it really such a huge unknown? Granted if they are flooding their system with hormones, of course there will be issues, but i think pills, patches and rings these days are generally far lower doses than when the pill first came out.

All, have no fear, I predict they will rescind this within the month.

As for you,GCW, grow up. Not even Superstar Min is as arrogant and nasty as you. We all have very differernt opinions here, but crap like that is out of line for even the most militant of us.

(Sorry, Mandi, but I couldn’t let that jackass sound off without adding my own two cents. You did a great job of defending your positions, as always.)

Plus….if an 11 year old is having sex, I think birth control isn’t really the issue. The issue is why is an 11-year-old having sex in the first place? I think that would be a huge red light about what is going on with that kid. What have they been exposed to, what’s going on at home, and who are they having sex with?

Early sexualization can be an indicator of abuse.

Doll? I’m not a doll, dear.

And regardless of your so-called “struggle” with your faith, does that mean we all have to tiptoe on eggshells around you?

Nobody around here tiptoes, G. And I’m pretty offended at your insinuation that my faith struggles aren’t really struggles.

As for Red-Letter Christians, so you’re in favor of an expanded role of government in addressing social issues. Alert the media! Of course, we’ve seen how well government intervention has played out historically in addressing such social ills as poverty, education, crime, hunger, birth control, and numerous other issues.

It’s interesting how much you read into my little paragraph. My commentary had nothing to do with the government, but everything to do with the way one man completely generalized a group of Christians and made it negative.

And regardless of your so-called “struggle” with your faith, does that mean we all have to tiptoe on eggshells around you? If you don’t like Joel (or any other Christian for that matter), move on. But it’s not your place to condemn him.

As for Red-Letter Christians, so you’re in favor of an expanded role of government in addressing social issues. Alert the media! Of course, we’ve seen how well government intervention has played out historically in addressing such social ills as poverty, education, crime, hunger, birth control, and numerous other issues.

Oh, I suppose that little incident with the middle schools in Maine has nothing to do with any of this.

Tear it up, girl. Your future awaits.

And what bothers me about giving birth control to pre-teens and young adolescents isn’t ZOMG they’re having sex!, but a real wariness about putting them on hormones that could have untold effects on their developing bodies. That’s just crazy, if you ask me.