Scarleteen

I'm 18 years old and my stepmom is very controlling. I live in a dorm at college and it would be easy for me to take birth control without her knowning, but I want to ask her about it instead of sneaking around. How do you think I should bring it up? I'm worried she's going to think I just want it as a contraceptive. Although that's part of the reason, it's also because I want to lesson the pain of my cramps and make my periods lighter. How do I bring it up to her?

Hi adipose,

Do you think framing for her the way you explained it to us (that it's partially for period control) would work? Too, one thing that can help you figure out how to approach this talk is figuring out what your reason for it is. That can help you be clear with her about why you're telling her about this.