Thread by @cicerfics

This is a very silly thing for me to worry about. But in the wake of my omega!LWJ threadfic, I need to get this off my chest. Just for the sake of my own conscience.

So let's talk about contraception for a hot minute!

Here's the thing: I am a former schoolteacher and a current medical writer.

Teen pregnancy is a subject that concerns me greatly! This issue is near and dear to my heart!

And I am writing a dumb little AU that handles the matter very lightly. But it's a serious issue that has a profound impact on teen parents' lives.

Wangxian are gonna be fine. They're fictional characters, living in Ancient Fantasy China. Also, their families are rich. They can get themselves knocked up at sixteen with minimal consequences.

Not so for real-life human beings!

And I know that some of my followers are, like, newly eighteen, and probably having their first sexual relationships. I don't want to give the impression that having a baby as a teenager is "no big deal."

It's the kind of thing that can have a truly massive impact your education, your career, your lifetime earnings, your relationships, and your psyche.

So I am having a Mom Moment, and I need to encourage you to USE CONTRACEPTION.

If pregnancy is a possibility (given your/your partners' genital configurations) then USE RELIABLE CONTRACEPTIVES.

The pull-out method isn't reliable at all, not for most people. Condoms and the pill aren't reliable either if you only use them 80% of the time. You gotta be super consistent about this stuff.

Please use your noodle and be smarter about birth control than wangixan.

If you struggle to remember to use contraceptives, talk to your OB/GYN! They hear this concern a lot, and they can help find a solution!

There are plenty of set-it-and-forget-it options like IUDs and the implant.

In the US, many forms of contraceptives are covered under the Affordable Care Act. Planned Parenthood also offers a sliding scale for uninsured patients.

Failing that, your city/county health department can help. Give them a call to find resources in your area.

Heathline has a great rundown of contraceptive options and where to get them:

healthline.com/health/birth-c…

Mama Doctor Jones also runs an amazing Youtube channel with tons of great info about OB/GYN stuff. She's trans/queer-inclusive, too!

youtube.com/channel/UCrPhc…

(Apologies for the US-centric nature of this info! But the US healthcare system is all I know. If you live elsewhere, talk to your insurance provider, your local government, or your national healthcare system to find resources.)

Be smart, be safe. Do your best not to make any babies if you're not ready for them.

Definitely do not have a baby at 16 because some crazy lady on the internet wrote a threadfic where that worked out well for everyone.

Thank you, and good night. 🙏