Increasing Numbers Of Sexually Active 11-Year-Olds.
Hey,
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We are having the usual warm but grey day here again.
Feels quite tropical, looks very dull.
Not exactly Acapulco!
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I was surprised at the latest findings that there has been a big increase in the number of 11 and twelve year old girls who are taking the contraceptive pill.
Five times as many now as there were 10 years ago.
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I read that the number taking the pill is around 1,000, with a further number who have long term devices.
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It seems that doctors do not let the parents know about this, even though their patients are below the legal age of consent, which is actually 16.
It is up to the doctor to decide that the patient is mature enough or not.
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Around 60,000 15 year olds are on the pill as well as a smaller number of other contraceptive methods.
This also shows an increase in numbers over the past ten years, which is about 60,000 now in comparison to about 23,000 then.
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This is worrying many experts, who fear that this rise in early sex could lead to psychological damage and increase the risks from STD’s, which can cause later problems with fertility.
Peer pressure is also strong with such young people, who do not wish to be seen as different.
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There figures were taken from the information provided by 500 GP’s in general practices which cover a representative sample of 4 million people.
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There is now an HPV vaccine for young women, which is recommended for 12-13 year old girls.
This vaccine prevents against the virus which causes most of the cases of genital warts and cervical cancer.
It is given in three shots over six months.
Genital warts are the most common STI in the UK.
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The Department of Health explained in 2007 that to ensure maximum benefits and protection from the vaccine , it would be necessary to administer it before the onset of sexual activity.
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Wow, most things are a lot different now from when we were kids.
Holding hands was a really big occasion then, never mind a first kiss!
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Have a good one,
J,x.
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