Would you pay for your daughter's birth control?

No, this is not a whiny post, I'm simply curious.

If your daughter asked for it, would you pay for condoms? Oral birth control pills? Other forms? Would you only pay for it if it would help irregular periods/some other case, and not for having sex?

Also, what age would you, or wouldn't you, pay for your daughter's birth control?

When I started having sex, I was VERY young.  My mom didn't get me the pills or anything at that point, but she always made sure I had money on me so that if I got myself in a situation that I could get condoms or something since guys are hardly ever that responsible at 13.

Later on, my mom started paying for birth control for a few reasons, including both the fact that I was sexually active and that it could help things such as acne and my periods. 

I think that if a daughter is having sex, her mom shouldn't deny her birth control and be closed minded about it because that's how girls end up getting pregnant.  The mom should educate their daughter on risk of pregnancy and diseases, etc., and discuss what method of birth control the daughter would like to use so that the mom can help the daughter get it.

Kids aren't going to stop having sex just because mommy won't pay for birth control.

Absolutely yes. And condoms too. I would have many frank discussions with her from the time she starts menstruating so that going to the pill would be a logical step rather than a dramatic, life changing event.

Yes I would. I'd pay for any kind of BC she asked about. I'd buy her OTC protection as soon as there was any inkling she was thinking about being sexually active. I'd continue to pay through all of her school years including college until she got a job.

Well, I should preface this by saying... I don't have a daughter... but I do have 7 nieces.  I would pay for it.  Although I would hope a teenager would wait till they are more mature (i.e. 17 or 18), I think it's unrealistic to preach and expect abstinence.  If they are asking about it that means they are thinking about doing it (or have already!)    I would be happy that she was at least coming to me about it instead of just doing it anyway and winding up pregnant, with an STD, etc.  I started at age 15 and sex was a taboo subject at my house... I was afraid to bring it up, so wound up prego at 16.  I wouldn't wish that one anyone!

Original Post by kathygator:

Absolutely yes. And condoms too. I would have many frank discussions with her from the time she starts menstruating so that going to the pill would be a logical step rather than a dramatic, life changing event.

 ABSOLUTELY!

Definitely, especially condoms.  Pregnancy while worrisome is not nearly as problematic as some of the STDs.

It's hard for me to personalize this, because I have two boys, and don't intend on having any more kids.

However, as a hypothetical - Yes, I would buy my daughter condoms and/or birth control pills.  The age thing is a more difficult question - I want to say it would depend on our past discussions on the subject of sex and my impressions and estimates of her maturity and ability to make educated, sound judgements.  But I don't feel I could deny it to her if for no other reason than you can't follow your child around everywhere, and they need to ability to protect themselves.

yes. Condoms.

My mom didn't pay for mine.

As far as age... yikes. I don't even wanna think about my 10 year old asking me for condoms. 15 maybe.

There would be some serious discussions at any age, but at an age that is just entirely too young, there would be triple. The condom would be provided in the extreme case that they defied everything that I'm about to spend a very long time telling them.

absolutely yes I would, and for your daughter, the neighbor's daughter & a total stranger's daughter.  In fact, I'd like them to start putting birth control in milk, and tell people who want to get pregnant to just stop drinking milk.

Absolutely. Unless I was really interested in paying for a baby. Abstinence might be a nice theory (I would argue it's not) but the facts show that teenagers will have sex whether their parents want them to or not. The most important thing is to help young girls understand they have a choice to say no and if someone tries to pressure them into having sex when they don't want to that is not the person for her. But if it's a girl's choice, then at least give her the tools to protect herself.

if she's asking for it then any age because clearly she's thinking about sex and it's better to keep her safe than to try to force abstinence on her.

I was curious to know, I'm surprised all of you said yes!

I am a 19 and going to a university. Although I saved up money to go to college, it is really eating up my money to pay $24 a month (I cannot go on a less expensive birth control, I need a pill with a high level of hormones or I bleed two weeks a month instead of one).

It would be very difficult to get a job because I am a full time student taking five classes. I'm not quite sure what to do... :/

I've been on birth control for medical reasons since I was 11. My parents had no problem paying for it. Thank god, having my period 24/7 would not have been a good time!

If I ever have kids I would definitely pay for birth control pills if I found out my daughter was sexually active or if she had to go on it for medical reasons.

Now...I would hope she would be holding off on sex until she was at least 16, and if that was the case...her behind would be getting a job asap to pay for it on her own.

My stepdaughter is 12 and just started her period. Her parents aren't speaking to her frankling about anything. Dad thinks mom should do it. I told him he needs to start talking to her about sex right now. He doesn't want to admit she's not a little girl anymore. Mom is an uptight catholic, so I don't think it's going to happen at her mom's house either.

I gave her feminine products and explained exactly how to use each of them. I told her my history of how my period started and how it progressed. I told her to ask her mother and her 2 older cousins as well because they are related to her and she may progress more like them.

I also told her that now that she is menstruating that she could get pregnant even the first time. I told her she must use protection every single time she has sex. She looked horrified. She also looked thankful that I was so frank and honest and had facts to talk to her about.

However, if she came to me tomorrow and said she was going to start having sex, I'd try to get her to postpone having sex until she's at least 16, but I'd still buy her the protection and I'd continue to follow up to make sure she was using it.

Original Post by muttlover:

Also, what age would you, or wouldn't you, pay for your daughter's birth control?

3 years before I think there is any chance she'd have even the slightest inkling to even think about using them.

My mom paid for my birth control, I needed it because I wasn't getting my period, though. And I was famously unpopular, so she didn't have to worry about me having sex. I'm sure she would have paid for it, anyway. My doctor took me off it for a while when I was around 18, to see what would happen, and my mom actually said to me, "You should stay on that, you're about that age."

She stopped paying for it when I was around 19 or so, because I was making my own money. I'm sure she'd still pay for it if I couldn't afford it. I think it's important for parents to encourage safe behaviour.

i started my girl on the pill when she was about 13 or 14. she had HORRIBLE painful long periods. they made them (and her) bearable. i was more than happy to pay for her birth control. she started paying for them herself when she moved out and started college last year.

I did when my daughter was 14, better than the alternative

My mother was big on birth control, so yes she paid for them until I turned 18, and I would do the same if/when I have children. My mother always said if she had a daughter she'd put me on the pill the second I became sexual active, and was always honest about me with it. Instead I ended up the pills for different reasons, lol. But she still put me on em and kept me on em. At first, she hung onto them and gave it to me each day at the same time, eventually I took over.

I learned about the "birds and the bees" well before school taught them through my mother, so I already had a heads up.

I expect the same to be done with a son too (paying for birth control).

Original Post by muttlover:

I am a 19 and going to a university. Although I saved up money to go to college, it is really eating up my money to pay $24 a month

It would be very difficult to get a job because I am a full time student taking five classes. I'm not quite sure what to do... :/

See if your college offers reduced prices. Many do. You also might ask at Planned Parenthood or a similar clinic - many of them are able to offer lower prices than regular pharmacies. Call around to *all* of the pharmacies in your area - prices can vary by ~$10 within the same city. I'm guessing you either don't have insurance, or your insurance doesn't cover prescriptions - check with your university and see if its student plan covers birth control.

If you're on birth control for birth control, discuss this with your partner. He's also getting the benefits of your responsibility, so he might be willing to help you pay for it (particularly if you tell him you won't be able to keep paying for it by yourself).