What do I do if my teen daughter wants on birth control?

I think this is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your daughter. If she came to you with such an important question, she might have done it for more than one reason. One, and the most obvious would be that she feels ready to start their sexual life, in which case...I can only congratulate you as a parent - she decided to come to you, to trust you with a very intimate information, instead of searching on the internet or going to a friend her own age or her partner (we all know you there are so many other places where she could have gone, but she trusts you and understands that, as a parent, YOU are a much more reliable source of information than any other out there). This is an important step in her life and you should not break this bond of trust or have a reaction that might make her hide from you from now on. Providing her with all the answers is crucial, you don't want to confront with other dares later on - unwanted pregnancy, STDs etc. On the other hand, she might just want to talk about boys in general or a boy that she likes in particular, so having a good gossip about that could bring you closer, so if she asks you about birth control maybe you might want to take the opportunity to find out about other aspects in her love life that are important to her and that she might be eager to share. You probably feel that she might be too young for this step, and it's understandable. Until the time you will start craving for grandchildren, it's natural to want to see your baby...well...a baby. You held her in your arms when she was tiny. But right now, she's more than just that, she is ready to be a friend and you should take into consideration if that's the kind of relationship that you want with her. Which in my opinion is healthy for her and for you. Still, an important information that she should get is that quality sex involves knowing your partner's body well enough, and that is complicated enough so she should take some time to find out as much as possible about the person, to establish a bond of trust, so that her first experience will become a beautiful memory later in her life.

If your teenage daughter is interested in birth control it would be a good idea to talk to her about the risks, both physical and emotional, of having sexual intercourse at such an early age, and with someone who is not her husband or a long-term, committed partner. If, after this conversation, she is still interested in knowing more about contraceptives you should review the various types available, being sure to discuss the pros and cons of each one.

Congratulations! Your daughter trusts you with one of the most personal and private things in her life: her sex life. This is an amazing opportunity for you to bond with your daughter, and form deeper layers of trust. The first thing that I would do, is to let her know that I am glad she brought this subject to me, and let her know that I am open to talking about these things with her. After all, its much better that she has brought this question to you rather than searching online, or visiting the doctor by herself. It is also better that you have open lines of communication with your daughter, so that she can bring any concerns and questions that she has to you in the future. I would personally much rather my child know that they can come to me when they are uncomfortable or questioning, rather than having them try to work out these things by themselves. The second thing I would do is to talk to her about why she wants birth control. Explain the possible side effects of birth control, explain the different types of birth control to her (you may have to research) and their pros and cons. Talk about safe sex, not just pregnancy prevention, but STD prevention, and emotional safety. Emotional safety is key. Make sure that she knows what consent sounds and feels like, and is able to define to herself when she is READY. It is important that she does not regret her decisions. However, make sure that you are not discouraging in this conversation. There is nothing worse for a questioning and curious teen than the parent who shuts them down with "wait until marriage" or "your too young." Though these are valid points, it does not help the situation at hand. Be open and kind with your daughter, she trusts you and needs you :)