All pharmacuetical products need to be clearly labelled so that medical professionals and women and girls are aware of the known risks and balance them against their needs. Different contraceptives have different side effects. Just being a fertile but sexually inactive woman can suffer from no periods, excessive bleeding, acne, migraine, etc.

What do you say boys?

Ever seen a list of the side effects of a normal pregnancy? What about an abortion?

Choice is preferable to accident.

I've had Implanon for two and a half years. I've never seen the booklet this article mentions but I do know I was fully informed of all the potential side-effects. My sister also had it inserted at a family planning clinic and she actually had to go to a separate "counselling/information session" before they did it! My doctor informed me fully and also a quick Google brings up pages and pages and pages of detailed medical advice, including the stats about the number of women who have it removed because of side-effects. In addition you can find plenty of pro- and con- anecdote on the Internet.

The way the article moves from the hyper emotional language about "aiding and abetting" underage sex to a discussion of a contraceptive used primarily by adults is quite silly. Talk about one issue, or about the other. Conflating the two in this "guilt by association" lacks credibility and makes me suspicious of an ulterior motive.

I am also unconvinced by one unsourced, anonymous anecdote that removal of the device is a problem (although I understand it is more painful than the insertion.) If it's really true that a high percentage of providers don't know how to remove the device, this is a serious problem with training and should be brought to the attention of the manufacturers who are responsible for training health professionals in using it. One anecdote does not cut it as compelling evidence.

Pregnant in Primary School?

Aboriginal girls (in remote communities, on AVERAGE) are sexually active earlier than other girls. Their may be some cultural and 'grooming' aspects to this, but much of it is simple biology.

We know about family breakdown (or non-formation) in aboriginals communities, where a child's NATURAL FATHER is living elsewhere or known...

Repeated research shows this has a HORMONAL EFFECT of fathernessness on girls...

Natural fathers protect their girls. Repeated research has proven that girls without their natural fathers (especially girls who have a 'step-father') are at risk.

They are three times more likely to become pregnant as teenagers and suffer from premature puberty. Girls who grow up with a man who is not their Natural father are likely to reach puberty in primary school!

Ther are also three to 5 time more likely to become pregnant as teenagers, have more sexual partners and related ill-effects like STD infections.

This is AFTER controlling for income, race, and other likely causes. Studies have considered Maori, Hispanic, European, Afro-american. It's not an effect of Race, not Class nor poveerty, it's FATHERLESSNESS.

Children NEED their NATURAL PARENTS.

ABC TV http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s958787.htm
New York Times: http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001224mag-puberty.html
New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg16422062.400-daddys-girl.html
Citations http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2004.00380.x
Citations http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-8624.00569

PartTimeParent@pobox.com
www.Fahters4Equality-Australia.org