Teens and Birth Control: What You Should Know

As a parent of a teenager, or soon-to-be teenager, the topic of birth control might come up soon (if it hasn’t already). And even if you haven’t talked with your teen about birth control, it’s a subject that’s good to discuss. Hearing your teen’s thoughts, worries, and goals is the best place to start for an honest, open conversation about what birth control means for teenagers.

The first thing to know is that birth control is approved by the FDA for use by teens, and it’s safe for them to use.¹ There are side effects to birth control, but they’re the same for teens as for anyone else. That goes for emergency contraception like Plan B as well.

Taking birth control doesn’t necessarily mean someone is ready to start having sex. Many people take hormonal birth control as medicine for its side benefits, like helping with heavy or painful periods,² treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),³ and even managing acne.⁴ There are a lot of reasons to start taking birth control, and it’s worth taking the time to figure out what makes sense given your child’s unique needs.

Birth control “plays a significant role in regards to my daughters and not just for the fact that it gives them a choice. Unfortunately, my daughters inherited issues with bleeding and cysts. So for me, birth control now is healthcare for my children,” says Abbie, an adyn community member.

Making the decision to start using birth control can feel momentous, but it’s one that most people make at some point in their lives. Knowing that both you and your teen feel educated and on the same page ensures that you’re both starting off on the right foot. Talking to their doctor or medical provider, and giving your teen time to talk to them by themselves, is a good place to begin. From there, you can both decide on what feels right.

Is birth control safe for teens?

Hormonal birth control is approved for teenagers by the Food and Drug Administration,¹ and the World Health Organization similarly says that birth control can be used by adolescents.⁵ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37% of women in the U.S. aged 15–19 are currently using contraceptives (including condoms).⁶

There’s evidence that some of the hormones in the combined birth control pill of hormonal birth control can slightly increase the risk of dangerous blood clots in some people.⁷ If you have a family history of clots, you should talk to your doctor about what the right birth control option is for your teen. Hormonal contraceptives with estrogen or the progestins desogestrel, gestodene and drospirenone might raise their risks.⁷

There is also some preliminary research on whether the hormones in hormonal birth control affect teens differently. This is an area where far more research is needed, especially  gold-standard double-blind controlled studies.

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Some preliminary studies have indicated that hormonal birth control may affect some aspects of teen brain development, though, as this review paper notes, we don’t really know right now what those effects are, or even if they’re good or bad.⁸ Similarly, the effects of hormonal birth control on mood are unclear, and likely vary from person to person. Some studies say some kinds can slightly worsen symptoms of depression in teens,⁹ but other research in women aged 25-34 shows hormonal birth control may help.¹⁰

There are also some signs that hormonal birth control, specifically the combined hormonal pill and the injection (Depo-Provera), could hinder bone density development in teens. A review study notes that rates of bone fractures in teens taking those types of birth control may be slightly higher, but that the evidence isn’t conclusive yet.¹¹

Side effects of birth control for teens

While there can be side effects to hormonal birth control, the vast majority of these side effects are the same no matter a person’s age. These side effects can include irregular bleeding, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and mood changes.¹ Some side effects like acne¹² or migraines¹³ can actually be helped by one type of birth control, but made worse by other kinds. Taking the time to learn about the different methods and their pros and cons can be really helpful. If your teen finds they’re experiencing negative side effects, know you can talk to their doctor and switch to a different method.

What’s really important to note is that these side effects can differ greatly from person to person, so one user might have a totally different experience than their friend, even if they’re using the same birth control.

Finding the right birth control for their body is the key.

Factors to weigh when choosing birth control for teens

When deciding to start taking birth control, it’s important to weigh the potential harms against the benefits. Hormonal birth control prevents unwanted pregnancies, can reduce the severity of painful or heavy periods, help treat PCOS, manage symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD),¹⁴ and more. Contraception can be even more important for people who might have a high-risk pregnancy, like those with diabetes.¹⁵

There’s also no evidence that hormonal birth control affects future fertility for teens, or anyone else. Fertility can take a few months to return after stopping birth control, but it returns to normal levels.¹⁶

Best birth control options for teens

There are a lot of different kinds of birth control. Picking the best birth control comes down to a few different factors, including health goals, schedule, and even genetics. Each kind of birth control has its pros and cons, and they all can come with side effects, some of which can differ.

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The best advice is simply to talk with your teen about birth control. Missing these conversations can just make things harder down the road both for you and for your teen.

“It’s something my parents never really discussed. I had two sisters. We didn’t talk about any of that. I don’t know why.” says Tori, an adyn community member. “Since I was 17 years old I’ve popped a little pill each day, blindly, because it’s what my OB-GYN prescribed to me when my mom came to the conclusion that my virginity would soon be lost.”

Two important things to think about for birth control for teens are how effective a birth control method is, and how often it needs to be taken. After that, it’s good to consider whether there are side effects your teen may want to avoid or include, like the potential for mood swings, heavier or lighter periods, or acne.

Highly Effective birth control options for teens:

•  combined hormonal pill
•  mini pill
•  hormonal IUD
•  copper IUD
•  implant
•  injection
•  ring
•  patch

There are many birth control options that we consider highly effective at preventing pregnancy, meaning they’re 98% effective or better with perfect use. These highly effective options include the pill, ring, implant, patch, IUD, and injection, and they’re all 99% effective if used perfectly.¹⁷ Typical use can vary a bit more. The patch, ring and pill are all 91% effective with typical use, and the shot is 94% effective.¹⁷ Much of the difference between perfect and typical use comes down to forgetting to take the pill or switch out a ring or patch.

IUDs are always 99% effective, because you don’t need to remember to take them, or switch them out regularly (hormonal IUDs last for between three¹⁸ and eight years²).¹ For that reason, doctors often recommend IUDs to teens. An IUD can be a great option for some people, but others may not like it as much. Similarly, some people might not like the idea of getting something implanted in their arm, or needing to remember to switch out a ring or patch.

It’s also important to remember that hormonal birth control doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms, both male and female, are the best way to protect against STDs.²⁰

How to talk to your teen about using birth control

Birth control can be a sensitive topic, and it’s not always one you, or your teen, might want to bring up. Be open and empathetic when talking to your teen about birth control, and hear out their worries and wants. Studies show that there are still a number of misconceptions around hormonal birth control in teens, including whether it’s reversible (it is),²¹ and if you can switch brands of the birth control pill (you can).²²

Know your teen might also want to talk to their doctor confidentially about birth control. Doctors aren’t obligated to share these conversations, and in many places are prohibited by law from doing so without permission. In many states, teens can access birth control²³ without a parent’s permission, though other states place restrictions on access. If you’re with them at a doctor’s appointment, consider leaving the room so they can have a private conversation with their healthcare provider.

Explore what birth control is best for your teen

One of the most important takeaways when considering what birth control might be best for your teen is that you’re never locked into any one method. Your teen can switch at any time if they don’t like the side effects or method, or they want to try something different. In fact, trying multiple options is often the best way to find a birth control method that they really like, and which they can use long-term.

For help making those decisions, we designed The Birth Control Test to give people genetics-backed insights into which birth control options are best for them.

Learn more about The Birth Control Test today.