Would you introduce birth control pills to your daughter?

By Taiwo Akinlembola

Joy Ofor

FOURTY-two-year-old Ada a mother of three girls, recently in a discussion with a friend who has two female children expressed her fears about her fast growing daughters.

According to her Nkechi, her 15-year-old daughter is so grown up that nobody will believe she is just 15 years. Her 12 year-old sister is also not helping matters as she also looks so much older than her age.

Ada’s friend shared her own fears too; she has all girls and the rate at which they are becoming mature is alarming, with the not-too- friendly male environment.

She stated that at the last party her family attended, she noticed the calibre and status of men that were chatting her 16-year-old daughter up. The basic fear of these two women is the issue of probable unwanted pregnancy and subsequent unsafe abortion. Ada wanted to know if it is okay for her to introduce birth control pills to her 15-year-old daughter. Her friend is of the opinion that it is rather too early.

These two women are not the only ones concerned about their daughters. Not that these mothers are not worried about their sons too, but the issue of teenage and unwanted pregnancy sends chills down most parents’ spine.

Ada asked the question, would you as a mother, introduce your 15-year-old daughter to birth control pills? Readers react. Ah! God forbid! I cannot do that to my daughter. Introducing birth control pills to my unmarried daughter will mean teaching her a wrong lesson. In normal circumstances, a 15-year-old girl has nothing to do with such pills. It will be directly instructing or encouraging the girl to go into prostitution.

If you are certain that your daughter is living a clean life, you need not panic that she could come home with unwanted pregnancy. The parents will be peaceful and calm – hearted, once the child is not living a life of promiscuity. And it will be meaningless introducing birth control pills to such a child.

Even as a married woman, I can’t boast of prescribing the right pill for myself or others. My husband often goes in search of them himself when necessary. This was because I had nothing to do with them when I was young and single. - Joy Ofor

I cannot introduce my daughter to birth control pills. If I should do that, I am encouraging her to be wayward. Birth control pills are meant for married mothers who want to control or stop child birth. It is not for teenagers.

Instead of doing this, I would rather spend time in teaching my daughter Godly virtues and total abstinence from sex. Discuss what the child ought to know about sex with her and help her to appreciate herself. Staying away from sex instead of using pills to prevent unwanted pregnancy is better. A child taught to use pills will surely graduate into aborting pregnancies when the pills fail.

In fact, it is not proper talking about birth control pills in the presence of one’s children. When such matters are being discussed, it is better to exclude them, because they are not ripe for it. There is time for every thing in life. - Mrs. Nnabugwu Okoro

Of course, I would introduce my daughter to birth control pills. I am of the opinion that birth control pills help to get rid of unwanted pregnancies. Apart from that, in the cases of couples who cannot control their sexual relationship, the woman could use it to get rid of the deposit or pregnancy. This teaching or introduction would be for future reasons. I would not advise my daughter to use it now at a young age. Though it looks disgusting and stupid for a mother to teache her 15-year-old daughter the use of birth control pills, but one cannot control the daughter’s movement. It is only the fear of God that can prevent one’s child from bad attitude. Nonetheless, it is advisable. But I would balance it by sounding a note of warning to her that if she tries having sex at this early stage and uses the contraceptives, it could be dangerous to her health and future.

Birth control pills should be introduced to girls at an early stage for future purposes. It can also help the nation in the control of population size. It can also be employed for family planning purpose instead of women removing their wombs which is dangerous to human health. – Adedayo Odusanya

I can never introduce my daughter to such a deadly thing. That could bring jeopardy to her future. I am a Christian and instead of introducing such a thing to my daughter, I would teach her self-control. Birth control pills could damage her womb. In future, one should teach her the usage of birth control pills, she is just too small to be taught such a thing like this at this present age. – Kemi Akinola

It is not advisable. I cannot introduce my daughter to birth control pills. It is just like teaching her the easiest way to murder and getting engaged in prostitution. Instead, I would teach her beneficial things for her present age. – Omolara Akinola

It is not good. That is child abuse. This is a way of making your daughter grow wild. Birth control pills lessons could expose her to sex and immorality which could damage her life. She is just too small for this. Instead, a girl of that age should be taught how to survive during puberty, menstruation and peer pressure. It is because children these days have rapid growth, so much that a girl of 15 years could start menstruating. In the olden days, a girl starts menstruating at age 18 and such a daughter would be shy at her first experience. Not in this days, that a girl of 13 years old gets pregnant. If that mother loves herself and loves her daughters also, instead of teaching her daughters to use birth control pills, she should be taught self-control and good manners. – Moji Fadipe

No, I would not introduce my daughter at age 15 to birth control pills because at her age, what she needs is the knowledge about sex (sex education), puberty and menstruation. Telling her about birth control pills is like giving her gateway to having sex and which should not be so.

Birth control pills have their own side effects and I am not ready to inflict wound on my daughter’s life at an early stage. I would not encourage it and other mothers’ should not encourage it. – Animashaun Zaynab

No, I would not do such a thing because at such age, she should not be exposed to such. Rather, I will teach her a lot about sex education, evils of teenage pregnancies, consequences of having illicit affairs and lots more. Birth control pills, family planning, condoms, etc. should be discouraged at that stage because they would expose her to a reckless lifestyle. Rather, abstinence should be encouraged as it preserves young girls from combating sexual infections and diseases. It also prevents unwanted pregnancies and also earns them respect from their husbands. – Tinuke Dada.

Children now know more than their parents and pretending or assuming that your daughter is still a kid would be the greatest mistake of one’s life. With this age of civilization and all, these kids, through the media and friends they keep know so many things. In fact, you would be surprised when you get to know what they actually discuss with their friends.

I think it is better to let your daughter know what the consequences would be if she sleeps with a man without any form of protection. It is not as if you’re encouraging them to sleep around but they definitely will one day, so it’s good to let them know the implications of taking such an action. – Mrs. Dupe Makinde

I cannot introduce my daughter to birth pills. That would be the greatest mistake of one’s life because such a child would assume that you are encouraging her to sleep around. Children easily take so many things for granted and as such, it is good to instill the right virtue in them at an early stage.

Let them know the good from the bad. Let them be aware that there are certain things they shouldn’t do or cannot do at a certain age and let them realise the consequences of every action taken. Introducing birth control pills to your daughter is like giving her the go ahead to mess around. – Kemi Ojumu

The teaching of birth control pills to one’s teenage daughter demands wisdom. Though it is better to let them know such things at an early stage so that they won’t be lured by men, it is also risky to discuss such issues with them because they might get the wrong signal. Such a child might feel you are encouraging her to sleep around that all you don’t want is an unwanted pregnancy. I would use wisdom in discussing such an issue with my daughter but I would make sure she has grown up a little bit. – Rose Osakwe