That makes sense about the age of consent being in of itself a factor. Part of what being psychologically prepared to deal with sex with adults involves is having the awareness that you’re going to, at a certain age, have to deal with adults being legally free to have sex with you if you consent, and that if you don’t want to, you’re going to need to learn to say no.

It’s not a law requiring parental consent, and in places where there’s a funded public health program to give out contraception they actually do maintain confidentiality. But with the need to pay for it, and health care costs in the U.S. being what they are, it’s sometimes a de facto barrier. (And some people are pushing to make it a legal requirement.)

Ooh, Carlos and Keiji sound fun together! (And should definitely make out.)