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Would you sterilize your teenage daughter?
Filed under: Teens, In The News, Going Green, Day Care & Education
As if birth control (or lack thereof) wasn't already a controversial enough topic for most, one UK official has now proposed forced, temporary sterilization for teenage girls. As the mother of a teenage daughter, I have to admit my first reaction was to be completely horrified by this, but after tossing the idea around in my mind for a few days I'm now at the point where I'm not completely against the general idea as a concept. Unfortunately it isn't that simple though.
It remains highly debatable if encouraging teens to use birth control is the same as giving them permission to have sex. Is having condoms available in school bathrooms protecting them from unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, or is it simply giving them the green light to be sexually active? To be honest, I'm not sure. I think it really depends on the individual teenager and what their existing views are about having sex in the first place.
What really troubles me about this concept though is not the sterilization itself, it is the idea of it being forced upon teenagers. I can't imagine living in a society where such a thing could be mandatory for those between the ages of 12-17. Presented as a choice, I think the idea could have merit for those who choose to take advantage of it, but forced? It crosses the line on too many other issues - freedom of choice being the main one.
So the question is - If you could make the decision to temporarily sterilize your teenage daughter, would you? Is this a valid concept, or does it take away from our personal rights?
(Thanks, Caelligh!)












ReaderComments (Page 5 of 59)
2-22-2008 @ 6:35AM
Lanie said...I'm all for it. Well, that is to say I'm all for it if it goes for both genders. It is far less invasive a surgery to do what amounts to the same thing to males. I do find it quite disturbing that this is being suggested for girls only. From a medical stand point it would make far more sense ad incur far less risk to perform an easily reversed sterilization on boys than girls.
As for the forced bit? Yeah, fine. It takes far more than all too many parents are already able to give to raise a child. It should not be considered a right. It should be a privilege. The concern should not lie with the rights of the parent-to-be but with the children-to-be. If prospective parents can earn the right to reproduce by taking classes and being screened to avoid even one more abused child then, yeah, I'm game for the forced sterilization.
We get all in a tizzy about what we want and forget what is best for the next generation.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:43AM
Kristin said...Some people will always be against anything that makes sex less punitive for women. I've never met a doctor against the HPV vaccine, and protection from potentially deadly disease is not yet another "values based" issue. If it protected from skin cancer would anyone oppose it? of course not. Same with this sterilization...some are of the opinion women should be "punished" for having sex. Medieval and pathetic.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:46AM
J said...I am not sure of what this can do t a growing young girl's body, but I do know that I am preety young and my little sister has informed me of how young people are now when they become sexually active. I'm not sure what this would do. Would it make then feel it is ok? Would pregnacy make them forget the other outcomes (std, etc.)? Or would this be a way to prevent young people to to depend on things. I agree a lot of young adults ave children and it ends up being at the expense of our government, and those children aren't always raised by their parents. This is a big contriversy. Thie is a big question. I guess you have to hope people teach their children consequences and what they should do, but this doesnt always happen. And is it fair to leave innocent childrens lives up to that? What if they don't have the guidance they should?
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2-22-2008 @ 6:40AM
Jeanne said...Wow can I cut out my childs tongue when he says something I don't like? How about if we start chopping off hands for stealing? Oh I know....any FEMALE that has premarital sex we could take her to an extremely high building and throw her off as punishment! Whatever happened to raising your children properly, with good role models and then trusting that they do their best? By the way...the last time I checked birth control pills were pretty easy to swallow and usually worked pretty well. Hey mom...did you think of maybe lacing her cheerios?
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2-22-2008 @ 7:31AM
Tabatha said...very well said jeanne....
2-22-2008 @ 6:58AM
Myckelle said...Thats ridiculous. As a sex-ed/abstinence teacher, I know that diseases are four times more likely to happen to a teenager than pregnancy. By sterilizing them, they may feel comfortaqble with not getting pregnant, and actually have sex which allows them to get infected at much higher rates. almost one million teens are pregnant per year, but four million get infected.
And what if the operation develops complications and some of these girls remain sterile for life? Who will pay for thier loss?
You cant force that on ALL girls. It makes no sense.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:45AM
Quinnette said...I just don't understand why forced sterilisation would be ok with anyone. I was raised by my community as well as my mother and I was good kid who did not have sex until adulthood and I cannot imagine having to go to a gynecologist as teen for some invasive procedure to deal with something that was not even on my radar yet. By agreeing with the mandate, you are acknowledging you have no control over your children and believe they have no rights and therefore no voice. I consider my kids a human being and as their mother I consider them a human being who has a mother who is capable of making decisions on their behalf.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:48AM
Autumn said...I think this is SICK.NoONE should be Forced to be "Sterilized" especially Surgically.
What if the Operation goes wrong and these girls can't Ever Have children ?? WAKE UP PEOPLE. The Pill Works Properly if you Work It Properly.
Abstinance works 100% of the time.
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2-22-2008 @ 6:50AM
Quinnette said...Kristin, I agree with your post but many, many doctors are against the HPV shot. According to the well known Dr. Christine Northrup, the shot is only good for a few strains of HPV, when there so many strains. She has also said the money would be better spent on education about regular gyno care.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:02AM
Rock said...Sadly, I agree with almost everyone -- to a point,
The point of the HPV vaccine came up. Yes, women have a cervix and the vaccine was created for them. However, the first symptoms, before cancer, can show up as genital warts. Last I heard, men pass that around too. They may not have cervix but they can get the little nasties on their you-know-what and spread it around! Sooo..the people who say vaccinate the boys, have a point too.
While I see that teen pregnancy is a problem, I don't believe in forcing sterilization on a child.
Yes, men/boys today are held accountable -- to an extent for their part in creating a child. However, I worked in a Human Resource capacity for 15 years and have seen how guys beat the system to avoid child support etc. IT IS ULTIMATELY THE WOMAN WHO IT STUCK. Even if the guy pays, many do not exist to the child -- it's just a check. No visits or a few a year at best. I'm not saying all, but I've seen guys with their checks garnished by several women and believe me, these women dont' get nearly enough to help support their children. Many quit their jobs or fake workers' comp to avoid payments -- I've seen it all.
Sterilization will not stop sex, STD's, etc. Only pregnancy. By forcing this on a teenage girl, it is almost like telling them: You are going to do something bad, so we'll punish you before it happens. The key word to elective surgerey is the word ELECTIVE!
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2-22-2008 @ 7:01AM
brenda said...parents again always looking for the answer to their lack of responsibility!!educate and teach as one wrote get off your asses and educate talk communication the big "c" word just lik educating your kids re strangers predators keep them safe try! get off your asses put your selves aside for a few minutes everyday at least talk to your kids you wont be too busy if something happens!!! wake up parents!!!
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2-22-2008 @ 7:03AM
Roz Smith said...No I would'nt sterilze my daughter if I had one. I would teach her to the best of my ability about sex and communicable diseases and everything that comes along with the chance of dropping those underwear just because she thinks she s in love. Peer pressure is tough as well. I had to find out the hard way that's why I'm childless.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:07AM
Terri said...I have had 3 teenaged daughters. I can't imagine ever having this done to any of them. I talked to them, I offered them birth control in case they ever felt the need to have sex. I also told them, this didn''t mean I thought it was OK for them to be sexually active. If you need to sterilize anyone, it's the welfare mothers that keep spitting kids out evey 9 months. First welfare baby out, tie the mother's tubes & hand her a job.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:09AM
pjw said...I think this is giving us the opritunity to have a conversation long needed in this world. What are we teaching our children? I don't have the time to care enough and engage in an ongoing relationship with you so we can take the easy road and medically alter your body so I don't have to bother worring as a parent.
This won't cure anything! In fact if we stopped for one second and realy thought about it we would understand that the sevarity of the complications that would follow would outway any positives (if there are any) to this barberic procedure.
Finally, what most disturbes me is that we are telling our childern that we are still living in the dark ages and only women have the responsibility for this issue. I am disturbed that, if we have to discuss this at all, then why are we not discussing the possibility of boys and girls having this option. It seems to me it is men who don't have a problem with not taking care of there own. This would be why there is so many problems with welfare, unwed mothers, children with issues, which of cource makes a full circle back to teanage pregnancy.
Bottom line we need to make a change world wide and it starts with the mind set of everyone has responsibility. Women and men weather you are parents or not. These children have to know they are loved because they are special, not because they "put out". Lets have a call to action and start the healing from the inside out and stop putting bandaids on what needs stiches.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:17AM
Sue said...The sad thing about this is that if you have a retarded child such as one with Downs you are not allowed to have them sterelized. They are not able to take care of themselves and any children they have will also be retarded. Even though they may be able to do menial jobs they are still dependent on others to take care of them. And as they get older legally they even have the right to marry. It just is not fair to them to give birth to a child whom they cannot take care of.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:13AM
Diandra128 said...This is directed at you ladies that want tubal ligation and are being told NO.
This boils down to a women's rights issue. Why can't a perfectly sane woman get a sterilization if she so chooses? Tubal ligation is reversable. Who gave the Dr. the right to tell you no? Absolutely ridiculous in this day and age, isn't it?
Think about this ladies. Who has the right to tell YOU what to do with YOUR body? Just because you were born female does not mean you are required to be a walking baby factory.
Talk to someone at Planned Parenthood...they should be able to help you get the procedure you want.
On the subject now...No child should be forced into having a sterilization procedure. There are other effective means of birth control (think the pill, the implant, IUD's etc.) and young people must be educated about safe sex. Face it...teenagers have sex. They start very early, especially in some cultures. BUT, if a teenage girl requests a reversable tubal ligation, she should be able to have it done with parental consent. Teenage boys should be able to have reversable vasectomies also.
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2-25-2008 @ 2:27AM
Allie said...Sadly, in the US, If you are under 30 with less than 2 kids, preferably one of each sex, or unmarried at any age, no OB will sterilize you. If you find one that will consider it, they make you go through 6 months of counseling to make sure you aren't going to change your mind, because insurance will not cover the reversal.
Secondly, the clips they are talking about are not dependable at all. My best friend had to have them because she was brittle diabetic and the dr's were afraid that cuaterization would cause an internal infection. They lasted 2 years, and then she had 3 more miscarriages before she died from diabetes related conditions at the age of 28.
Third, teenagers are not the worst cuplrits. I have 4 sisters and a brother by 4 different men, Because any time a woman marries a man without children they want one of their own. It's built in. But my mother did not know what kids were even for besides using as tools to manipulate men, like that even works. I asked my mother to put me on birth control at the age of 12, and she said no. I then had unprotected sex for 3 years before getting pregnant the first time. Thank god i never got an STD.
My point is I grew up with the notion that the only kind of love there was, was the kind between a man and a woman, and that love was expressed by sex. Too many girls are reading romance novels and watching soap operas and watching their mothers thinking this is appropriate behavior. They need communication. From anyone.
I cry every time i have to take my children in for immunizations, let alone forcing surgery on them. *shudders*
2-22-2008 @ 7:14AM
kodav said...I'm with you SKL, and I won't write anymore, just go look at that comment, even tho it's long, it covers everything. Thanks for letting me know there are some who feel as I do. Whew!
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2-22-2008 @ 7:21AM
CJ said...How about we start sterilizing the men that have fathered many babies on welfare from many different mothers.
I actually overheard JERKS conversing about "HOW MANY BABIES U MADE?" they were proud of it!!!!
I commented, How many are you paying support for? Or let me guess... the taxpayers are paying for them!
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2-22-2008 @ 12:01PM
Sue said...The lady is a nut case. Perhaps HER mother should have sterilized HER first! What an insane thing to do to a child. What happened to real parenting skills? I've never heard of such a quick fix thing such as this! Pure insanity.
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