Contraception

This has arisen in efforts to try to encourage the young sexually-active Scottish population to use longer-term contraceptive methods. 

 

According to records, 3000 Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) including hormone releasing implants which are injected into the girls arm just under the skin and last for up to 3 years and the coil, have been prescribed girls under 16 in the country in the last 5 years. In the case of the coil, if doctors are happy that the girl understand what she is becoming involved in then girls as young as 13 can receive the prescription without their parents knowledge. As these methods don't rely on remembering to take medication, authorities believe that they are more suitable methods of contraception for younger women, however, others believe it could increase the spread of STDs as they often result in the lack of use of barrier methods of contraception.

 

The director of the Family Education Trust Norman Wells said:

 

“Health boards are inadvertently condoning and even encouraging sexual experimentation and unlawful sexual activity. - They are also exposing children and young people to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, since LARCs offer no protection against them.”

 

Some people experience side effects with these LARCs such as nausea, acne and headaches or changes in menstruation, some of which some girls find that they actually improve when taking oral contraceptives. Figures show that almost a third of girls that are 15 in Scotland are already sexually active, and in comparison with the rest of the countries in Europe, has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy.

 

A spokesman for NHS Lothian, who recently opened five sexual health satellite clinics, said: “It is our intention to make LARC more easily available to those who want it, including under-16s.”

 

A spokesperson for NHS Borders said: 

 

“LARCs are highly effective, reversible and, most importantly in this age group, independent of the user.”

 

Whilst a spokesperson for the government said they are more supportive of a policy where you “delay sex until you are ready, be safe when you are”.