| Your teens may be sexually active or
| |
| | drugs may do it to make you have sex. So
|
| thinking about it. Teens get most of
| |
| | be alert. Your drink may contain
|
| their sex information from peers and much
| |
| | "roofies," another name for the date rape
|
| of it is false. For example, some teens
| |
| | drug. (American Social Health
|
| think drinking a can of soda pop before
| |
| | Association, "Sex on the Brain")
|
| sex prevents pregnancy. How many other
| |
| | * ALWAYS use a condom if you're sexually
|
| falsehoods have they heard?
| |
| | active. Some 17% of sexually active
|
| What's true is that the U.S. has the
| |
| | females ages 15-19, and 9% of sexually
|
| highest rate of teen pregnancy in the
| |
| | active males ages 15-19, didn't use a
|
| industrialized world.
| |
| | condom the last time they had sex. These
|
| Teen sexual activity increases as grade
| |
| | teens are risking pregnancy and STDs.
|
| level increases. According to a 2003 CDC
| |
| | (Kaiser Family Foundation, "U.S. Teen
|
| study, 62% of 12th graders had engaged in
| |
| | Sexual Activity")
|
| sexual intercourse, as compared with 33%
| |
| | * If you've had unprotected sex just once
|
| of ninth graders. Another study, "Sex
| |
| | you can get pregnant or STDs. Some STDs
|
| and America's Teenagers," conducted in
| |
| | can be cured, but others, such as genital
|
| 1994, says teens account for 25% of the
| |
| | herpes, genital warts and HIV/AIDS can't.
|
| STD cases that occur yearly in the U.S.
| |
| | (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
|
| These are just some of the reasons for
| |
| | Services, "Teen Talk")
|
| talking to your teens about sex. Mayo
| |
| | * Birth control pills DON'T protect you
|
| Clinic experts see sex education as an
| |
| | against STDs. (U.S. Department of Health
|
| "ongoing conversation." The conversation
| |
| | & Human Services, "Teen Talk")
|
| is easier, according to Mayo, if you keep
| |
| | * Despite what you may have heard, oral
|
| things low key, are honest and direct,
| |
| | and anal sex is REAL sex. Neither is
|
| and try to understand the pressures your
| |
| | risk-free. (
|
| teens face. Share these facts with your
| |
| | * Nobody - and that means you - has to
|
| teens.
| |
| | "pay back" a pricy date or gift with sex.
|
| * Despite what your friends may say,
| |
| | Instead of sex you can show you care by
|
| everyone ISN'T having sex. Friends may
| |
| | holding hands, kissing, hugging, taking a
|
| talk about sex to sound cool. Talking
| |
| | walk, and listening to music. (American
|
| about sex isn't the same as having it.
| |
| | Social Health Association, "Sex on the
|
| (American Social Health Association, "Sex
| |
| | Brain" and
|
| on the Brain")
| |
| | Ask your kids to come to you if they have
|
| * Abstinence - and that includes not
| |
| | questions about sex and/or sexual
|
| having vaginal, oral, or anal sex - is
| |
| | feelings. Tell them that you will answer
|
| the only way to prevent STDs. (
| |
| | their questions honestly and best you
|
| * Peers who offer you alcohol and/or
| |
| | can, even if you blush while doing it.
|
