Sources of Free Birth Control for Teens

The topic of birth control for teens remains controversial. Most parents would prefer abstinence until marriage, for a host of health and moral reasons. The reality for teens, however, is far different. In 2008 the National Institutes for Health reported the first increase in the rate of teen births since 1991. Sexually transmitted diseases remain a very real threat. When teens have access to birth control, they're more likely to use it, which reduces both the risk of pregnancy and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, though it's important to remember that birth control is never 100% effective.

Teens may be too embarassed to seek out birth control in stores or too fearful to ask parents for advice. For these reasons, locating reliable sources of free birth control and advice for teens is a good step.

Planned Parenthood
A teen who has never been counseled about reproductive health by a trained health care professional should seek this advice prior to engaging in sexual intercourse. There is nothing romantic about an unplanned pregnancy that forces a teen to make difficult choices about his future, or a sexually transmitted disease that may have lasting physical and psychological consequences.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has been around for decades and continues to lead the country in providing education and services that help teens make responsible choices about their sexuality. Planned Parenthood is also a source of free birth control for teens. Information about Planned Parenthood, including the location of nearby health centers offering Planning Parenthood services, can be accessed by visiting www.plannedparenthood.org.

Web Sites
Searching online will reveal a number of Web sites that offer free condoms to teens. Condoms are a wise choice for teens because they have been shown to also help prevent a number of sexually transmitted diseases when used properly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before taking advantage of free birth control offers online, it is important to read them carefully. Some sites may require a membership, have age restrictions or require a minimum purchase before a specified number of free condoms will be shipped. Most, however, do protect consumers' privacy by shipping condoms discretely in plain packages.

School Health Centers
While some teens may not consider their school as a free source of birth control, some public schools do provide these services, as do most colleges and universities. If information is not widely shared at a particular school about free birth control, a student can take it upon herself to visit the school nurse or health center. If a teen is worried about parents being notified, she should inquire about the school's policy before obtaining birth control.

Title X Family Planning Clinics
There is at least one Title X Family Planning clinic in 75% of counties throughout America, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Title X Family Planning is a federally funded program that makes it possible for teens to receive free birth control and family planning services without their parents' permission. Teens can locate a Title X Family Planning clinic in their area by visiting the Office of Population Affairs Clearinghouse.

Education: As Important as Access
It is important for every teen to understand that aside from abstinence, no form of birth control is 100% effective. Knowledge of birth control methods and how to use them responsibly can increase the rates of effectiveness. Birth control in and of itself cannot prevent some of the psychological and emotional consequences that can come with having sex before marriage or having multiple sexual partners.

Parents can help reduce teens' fears of asking questions about sex and birth control by extending an invitation to talk and by listening without passing judgment. Pressuring teens to practice abstinence or painting sexuality in a negative light may only lead to unwanted behaviors, such as secrecy or promiscuity. Offering to talk one-on-one or to accompany your teen to a family planning clinic may be awkward at first, but it can also be a positive step in opening the lines of communication and strengthening the parent-child bond.