Do I Have To Get My Mom’s Permission To Use Birth Control

This is an important question, but it gets a bit complicated because there are a lot of factors that impact the answer - your age, your location and which type of birth control you want to get.

Let’s start simple with condoms. Condoms are (theoretically) the easiest to get because they’re available over the counter. You can also find them in  lots of places,  and they have no age restriction for purchasing them.

Now with that said, there are some stores that keep condoms either behind the counter or locked up. This means you’ll need to get a store employee to help you. Depending on your age, that might be a barrier if asking for them. makes you embarrassed or afraid of being.

And then there’s where you live. I’ve heard  stories over the years from students who live in small towns where everyone knows everyone’s business. They said they didn’t want  to buy condoms at the local store because they were afraid someone would tell their parents they were buying them.

If you’re looking for a hormonal option like the pill, patch, ring, hormonal IUD or implant, then things get a bit more complicated. Same for for a non-hormonal IUD.

In 23 states and Washington DC, a minor does not need parental permission to get birth control. In the remaining states there are either laws that dictate when a minor can consent to getting birth control, or there are no specific laws. This means that the health care workers have a lot of discretion in how they want to handle a minor looking for birth control.

Sound confusing? It can be. Check out these two resources for more information. Sex, Etc. has a lot of information about sexuality issues broken down by state. Guttmacher Institute has a chart that you may find useful.

Another complicating factor is health insurance. If you’re on your mom’s health insurance she may be able to get information about your contraception and doctors’ visits when she gets her explanation of benefits.

If you have concerns  about what your mom may find out, talk to the doctor / health center / health clinic about your concerns.

If your doctor is your pediatrician they may have some policies about confidentiality they can explain to you. Health clinics can also talk to you about privacy and confidentiality. They may also offer you the option of not using your mom’s health insurance, though that will require you to pay out of pocket.

If you’re a college student going to your school health center,  I’m pretty sure they’ve been asked this many, many times. Talk to them ahead of time and/or check out their policies on their website.

There are a couple of other birth control options that don’t require you to go to a doctor. Withdrawal and natural family planning require no doctor, no store, and no health insurance. But, and this is a big but, they’re also not the most effective when it comes to preventing pregnancy.

Until next time, be safe and have fun!

Have a question you want answered? Submit it here: https://milsteinhealthconsulting.com/heydrsue