Expert: Ramona Quilter - 1/31/2007

Question
Hi, I am 17 years old and my boyfriend and I have decided to be sexually active. I really want to be on birth control, but I know if I asked my mother about it she would try to kill me, literally! I don't have anyone else I can go to about this topic. I know that I could go to a planned parenthood and ask about it, but I have a feeling that I would have to pay for birth control and I don't have any money to do so. Is there another way I can get birth control without my mother finding out? Can you help me please?

~Bri  

Answer
If you can't afford to pay for birth control, you can't afford to be sexually active.  There is a cost to being sexually active and a mature person accepts the cost of her decisions, both long and short term.  What if you get pregnant?  What if you contract an STD?  These are things you need to think about and plan ahead for.  There are no guarantees in life and birth control is not 100% effective especially when taken by young girls.  You can use condoms, they are easily obtainable.  

Your boyfriend should help you pay for whatever you use since he is getting the benefit of your decision.  Your mother will eventually find out, so prepare yourself for her disappointment and anger.  Birth control is an expense and you should pay it with your boyfriend and not expect anyone else to cover the cost for you.  Sex is not a right and there are consequences to making that decision.