If you havent’ read my latest post, it’s about a new chewable birth control option.  I was happy to see a comment from ‘kenneth’ and here is my reply. 

Thanks for your input.  Having a practice that tends to attract many reproductive-aged women and having gone through thousands of family planning visits with them, my experience teaches me otherwise.  I am not saying that 9 is the new 16, but the age at which girls have their first sexual encounter seems to be rapidly decreasing.  I do agree that overall compliance with BCPs has more to do with remembering to take the meds than to swallow them, so why the new form?  Is there that large of a market that will opt for this likely more expensive, brand name medication simply for the ease of swallowing?  As a pertinent aside to your comment, the Gardasil vaccine (the vaccine geared to prevent cervical cancer by reducing infections from the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus) is indicated to be given as early as 9 years old.  Although I would agree that sexual intercourse amongst 9 y.o. girls is uncommon, you might be surprised at what 11 and 12 year old girls are doing these days… the same ones who might not have mastered swallowing a pill.  After having delivered the babies of countless 13, 14 and 15 year old girls during my early training (and one 12 year old girl having got pregnant because she was curious), the main sentiment I wish to pass along is this… there is a slippery slope going on in society about many unhealthy behaviors in children, early promiscuity being just one.  As a parent and doctor, I encourage all of us to consistently be in tune with our children as the primary prevention strategy for unwanted pregnancies at any age!

What’s your take on the intention or marketing strategy of a chewable birth control pill option ?  Do you know many girls or women that would benefit from this new product?