I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
If you have religious or conservative parents that believe that using birth control could result in you having sex before marriage or at a younger age, they might not be too interested in allowing you to get birth control. This can be frustrating if you are a teenager that relies on your parents for insurance and for transportation to the doctor to be prescribed birth control. Here are some tips for talking to your parents about birth control in order to adjust their focus from sex to how birth control is going to benefit you physically.
1. Frame It in Financial Terms
One thing that you could do is frame the birth control argument in financial terms. Figure out how much birth control is going to cost your parents out of pocket after insurance pays for it. In many cases, it will be free. Then, add up how much money you spend on pads and tampons for your period, as well as any painkillers that you use on your period to get rid of the cramps. Calculate the amount you and your parents spend for an entire year. Also, think about how many pairs of underwear you have to purchase each year to replace pairs that have been stained by blood. Add up all of these costs and show your parents how much they will be saving by putting you on birth control and limiting the number of periods that you get to 4 or less a year.
2. Frame it in Terms of Mental Health
If you get particularly moody or depressed around your period, consider framing the birth control argument to your parents in terms of mental health. Maybe you spend a lot more time crying when you are on your period. This is probably affecting your family's mental health, as well as your own. Talk about how much calmer your home life will be if you don't have to get a period each month. Also talk about how you are less productive on your period when it comes to schoolwork because you have trouble focusing due to the pain of cramps if this is true.
By bringing up all of these different factors, you will be able to show your parents that getting birth control isn't about sex for you. It's about your health and financial wellness. If your parents have questions, see if they would be willing to speak to a reproductive health professional. To learn more, contact a company like Advanced Urology Associates.
Share30 March 2017
