If I don't have a family doctor and only have my ADHD doctor, how can I get
on the Pill without my parents knowing?
– MJ*
Surprisingly, lots of parents are more open to discussing sex and birth control
than people think. Starting the conversation is the most difficult part since
it can seem so awkward and embarrassing.
If you can't talk to your folks, though, you can still get the Pill (or the ring
or patch) from a health clinic like Planned Parenthood. Health clinics can also give
you confidential advice on protecting yourself against STDs, like using a condom every
time you have sex.
Specialty doctors like your ADHD doc are great at treating people for specific
health conditions. But specialists are just that — they focus on one area of
a person's health. As you grow and mature, you need a doctor who sees the entire
picture and can offer you advice on staying healthy overall.
Ask your mom or dad if you can see an adolescent
medicine specialist (a general health doctor who focuses on teens), a pediatrician,
or a family practitioner. In addition to offering advice on your changing body
or how to deal with things like school stress, these doctors also can prescribe
birth control pills and give you confidential information about sex. Your ADHD doctor
or school nurse might be able to give you the name of a general health practitioner.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Date reviewed: November 2015