'They're Gonna Think it Now': Narratives of Shame in the Sexual Health Experiences of Young People

This article explores how shame operated for a group of young females who accessed emergency contraception (EC) following either contraceptive failure or unprotected sex. Accessing EC invoked anticipated judgements and feelings of shame that made them feel out of place - even in youth friendly environments, and this compelled many of them to avoid seeking much needed support. The article explores this issue, highlighting how the complex relationships that young people have with adults around them is often overlooked, and particularly the idea that they may be 'shamers' who unwitting evoke feelings of shame, troubling the notion that it is poor relationships that drive young people to avoid communicating with parents about sexual health matters. This has implications for healthcare practice, not least because current approaches suggest that the involvement of parents and the development of a better rapport with service providers may be the key to reducing teenage pregnancy rates. © The Author(s) 2012.