“Can a 15 year old get on birth control without parental consent?”
This question comes from J.L.
The answer comes from Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, when the topic came up during the workshop “Safe Sex is kNOw Sex” at the Sistas Saving Our Selves summit March 12 in Florissant, Mo.
“In the state of Missouri, if you want contraception, you can do that without parental consent. And if you need STD testing, you can also do that without parental consent.”
Yes. Missouri law will allow minors age 12 or above to obtain contraceptive services without the consent of a parent. 26 other states along with the District of Columbia also have similar laws. This does not apply to pregnancy termination procedures.
The US teen birth rate is higher than other industrialized nations such has Great Britain and Canada. In 2005, MO had almost 13,000 teen pregnancies. 2009 national data showed that by the 12th grade, 67 percent of teens were considered sexually experienced. 52 percent of those same teens were sexually active by the 12th grade.
As a family physician for the past 10 plus years, the above data was not a surprise to me. For some parents, it may be unsettling to know that their “babies” can obtain birth control without their permission. However, I have found that many teens still do not feel comfortable sharing with their parents about sex. Although, I always recommend that they have an open relationship with their parents, I have no reservations about prescribing contraception. To the dismay of the adult society, teens are more sexually advanced than in decades past. As adults, we must face reality!
There are several places in St. Louis city and county that will provide contraceptive services:
- Planned Parenthood, 4251 Forest Park Ave, 314-531-7256
- Family Care Health Centers, 4352 Manchester, 314-531-5444
- St. Louis Co Health Center(Pine Lawn), 4000 Jennings Station Road, 314-679-7800