“There are many boys who are still virgins. The whole concept of girls waiting and boys not waiting seems to be changing.”
—Jake, 18, MD
Do I need a prescription to get birth control?
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To get some forms of birth control--like the Pill, Depo-Provera ("the shot"), NuvaRing, and Ortho Evra ("the patch")--a girl needs a prescription from a doctor.
To get a prescription, a girl is sometimes—but not always—required to get a pelvic exam to make sure her body is healthy and that it is OK for her to take a certain type of birth control. Oftentimes health care providers might prescribe hormonal contraception without a pelvic exam first. Be sure to ask your health care provider before your appointment if you are concerned about the pelvic exam.
Any visit to a doctor or health care provider is a great opportunity to ask questions about birth control--how the method works, how to use it correctly, when to start using it, and any side effects.
Other methods—like the male and female condom, Today's Sponge, and spermicides—are available in the drugstore or supermarket, with no prescription necessary.
For more information about each form of birth control, you can visit Planned Parenthood's Web site by clicking here.
To find a clinic, go to the clinic locator at the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association's Web site.
Your Comments
O0ohH& about that "shot"
Posted by: itZaNAdudEz on Jul 26th, 2008 7:06am
see last time i went 2da doctor i wanted to get the shot. my
doctor was offering it. but my mom walked in and got really
madd. and didn't let me have a say in wether i wanted the
shot or not. and now dat i think back on it, it really would
have been helpful 2prevent many things you know. im 14 and
wut im trying 2ask is do i have a say in wether im given the
shot or not the next time i go 2da doctor?? &wut if my mom
dusnt want me 2have it?? can she really controll wether im
given da shot or not??
the pill: Response
Posted by: StacieS on Sep 11th, 2007 12:26pm
Costs range greatly. Often times, partners will split the
cost since it is helping him stay pregnancy free too! Ask
about price at the health center. It could be $5 a month and
it could be $35. And yes, a teen health center should offer
birth control, like the Pill, Patch, Shot, Ring, etc.
Doctors have been advised to give birth control without an
exam BUT some doctors still insist on doing them. When you
call to make the appointment, ASK first and let them know
your preference.
the pill
Posted by: z0mbie123 on Sep 10th, 2007 4:53pm
how much does it cost?
and can you get it a teen health
center, without an exam?
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RE: O0ohH& about that "shot"
Posted by: DanR on Jul 28th, 2008 4:22pm
Legally speaking, you do have a right to advocate for
reproductive health, but if you are being treated at a
private clinic, the health care provider can tell your
parent or guardian about your treatment. If you are being
treated in a public clinic (a Title X clinic or a planned
parenthood), they can not tell your care giver. You should
try to talk to your Mom about your needs because the most
important issue here is to prevent unwanted pregnancy and
keep you healthy. Good Luck!