Sarah, 16, and her
boyfriend Mike, 17, have recently become sexually active. They have
been using condoms that Mike got from her older brother. However, Sarah sometimes gets nervous that they may break. Sarah has been thinking about it and has decided she would like to
start taking some other form of birth control in order to protect herself from getting
pregnant.
Sarah’s parents don’t know she is sexually active and she wants to find out what forms of birth control she can start taking without needing her parents’ consent. She has heard about different contraceptives like the birth control pill or NuvaRing from her friends, but she has no idea whether or not she can get them if she is not 18 years old.
Eventually she plans on talking to her parents, but she is not ready yet and for the time being she just wants to make sure she is protected.
Sarah’s parents don’t know she is sexually active and she wants to find out what forms of birth control she can start taking without needing her parents’ consent. She has heard about different contraceptives like the birth control pill or NuvaRing from her friends, but she has no idea whether or not she can get them if she is not 18 years old.
Eventually she plans on talking to her parents, but she is not ready yet and for the time being she just wants to make sure she is protected.
Information
There is no specific age requirement for accessing birth
control. Instead, this is governed by the Ontario Health Care Consent Act, which says that health practitioners (including doctors) can provide treatment (including medication) to patients as long as that patient is "able to understand the information that is relevant to making a decision about the treatment...as the case may be, and able to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision." (See s. 4 of the Act).
If a young person is not capable of understanding info around certain health care decisions, then in most cases it is their parent or guardian who must consent to the treatment.
In this scenario, Sarah does not need permission from her parents to obtain birth control. Most 16 year-olds, including Sarah, are able to understand the information and issues around birth control and thus they don't need their parents' consent before a doctor can prescribe it. However, it is important that Sarah's doctor give her complete information about the pros and cons of taking various forms of birth control, including the risks, benefits and potential side effects. This will put Sarah in a position where she can give her "informed consent", which is what is required under the law. (See s. 11 of the Act. )
In circumstances where youth feel comfortable and safe talking to their parents or another trusted adult about issues around sexuality, then it may be worth considering whether to discuss contraception issues and questions with them.
For more on your health care rights, check out this JFCY pamphlet.
Sarah can get a prescription for birth control from her health care provider, from a sexual health clinic, or (if she is in Toronto) from Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Health Services. If Sarah does not have OHIP it is still possible for her to get a prescription from Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Health Services.
Forms of Contraception
If a young person is not capable of understanding info around certain health care decisions, then in most cases it is their parent or guardian who must consent to the treatment.
In this scenario, Sarah does not need permission from her parents to obtain birth control. Most 16 year-olds, including Sarah, are able to understand the information and issues around birth control and thus they don't need their parents' consent before a doctor can prescribe it. However, it is important that Sarah's doctor give her complete information about the pros and cons of taking various forms of birth control, including the risks, benefits and potential side effects. This will put Sarah in a position where she can give her "informed consent", which is what is required under the law. (See s. 11 of the Act. )
In circumstances where youth feel comfortable and safe talking to their parents or another trusted adult about issues around sexuality, then it may be worth considering whether to discuss contraception issues and questions with them.
For more on your health care rights, check out this JFCY pamphlet.
Sarah can get a prescription for birth control from her health care provider, from a sexual health clinic, or (if she is in Toronto) from Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Health Services. If Sarah does not have OHIP it is still possible for her to get a prescription from Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Health Services.
Forms of Contraception
While JFCY is not an expert on medical matters or sexual health, we have compiled the following is a list
of available birth control options. You will need to discuss them with your health care provider.
Birth Control pills
What is it?
Pills that contain hormones a woman takes for either 21 or 28 days to prevent pregnancy.
How does it work?
- Contains hormones that stop the egg from being released
every month
- Makes cervical mucus thicker to stop sperm from getting
to the uterus
What is it?
A plastic pouch worn inside the vagina
How does it work?
- A woman inserts it before intercourse
- Catches semen which contains sperm
Where can you get it?
Drugstores and some clinics
Spermicides (sponge, foam, gel, contraceptive film)
Drugstores and some clinics
Spermicides (sponge, foam, gel, contraceptive film)
What is it?
Sperm-killing chemicals, usually nonoxynol-9
Spermicides do not protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections
How does it work?
Sperm-killing chemicals, usually nonoxynol-9
Spermicides do not protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections
How does it work?
- Placed in the vagina before intercourse
- Spermicide is released which kills sperm
Depo-Provera
What is it?
A hormone injection given every three months
How does it work?
- Hormone makes cervical mucus thicker
- May stop eggs from leaving the ovary
Where can you get it?
From some doctors and some clinics
Depo-Provera does not protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Use condoms every time.
Fertility Awareness Method
From some doctors and some clinics
Depo-Provera does not protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Use condoms every time.
Fertility Awareness Method
What is it?
A combination of natural methods of birth control
How does it work?
- A woman keeps a record of her menstrual cycle
- She looks for signs that she is close to ovulation
(releasing an egg)
- She and her partner do not have sex around the time of
ovulation
- The Fertility Awareness Method can be used to make
other methods more effective because a woman knows when she is fertile and
can use a second method e.g. condoms
Where can you get it?
A woman can take a course to learn how to use this method effectively
Emergency Contraception
A woman can take a course to learn how to use this method effectively
Emergency Contraception
What is it?
- Methods used if a condom breaks, if there is
unprotected sex, or in the case of a sexual assault
- Two methods to choose from are the Emergency
Contraceptive Pill or the Intra-Uterine Device
What is it?
Pills containing hormones
Pills containing hormones
How does it work?
- Usually stops sperm from meeting the egg
- Also works by stopping the embryo from attaching to the
uterus
- Should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected
sex
- Can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex
Where can you get it?
Clinics and some doctors. It is available without a doctor's prescription at drugstores in Ontario.
The Patch
Clinics and some doctors. It is available without a doctor's prescription at drugstores in Ontario.
The Patch
What is it?
The patch is attached to the skin and delivers hormones into the bloodstream. It is changed once a week for three weeks each month. During the fourth patch-free week, the woman gets her period.
How does it work?
- Contains hormones that stop the egg from being released
every month
- Makes cervical mucus thicker to stop sperm from getting
to the uterus
Where can you get it?
A woman gets a prescription from her doctor or a clinic
A woman gets a prescription from her doctor or a clinic
Nuvaring®
What is it?
A soft, flexible ring inserted in the vagina. It delivers hormones into the bloodstream. It is inserted for 21 days and removed for 7 days. A new one is inserted at the end of the 7-day break.
How does it work?
- Contains hormones that stop the egg from being released
every month
- Makes cervical mucus thicker to stop sperm from getting
to the uterus
The Nuvaring® does not protect against
Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Use condoms every time.
Where can you get it?
Consult your doctor
Use condoms every time.
Where can you get it?
Consult your doctor
JFCY is not an expert on medical matters or sexual health.
For more information on birth control listed above please click here
For more information on birth control listed above please click here
Scenario was written by Cemone Morlese, a PLE Team Member volunteer. Information written by JFCY volunteer Sarah Mehta Alexander and a JFCY staff lawyer.
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