Sex and teens

Teens and sex can be a risky combination. Find out how to talk to your teen about abstinence and contraception. Few parents want to face the idea that their teens are having sex — but research shows that many teens are sexually active by high school, potentially putting themselves at risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections STIs. When it comes to teens and sex, the key is discussing the importance of contraception before sexual activity begins. Talk about safe sex with your teen even if he or she identifies as gay. He or she may still engage in heterosexual activities, and is at risk of STIs regardless of the partner with whom he or she engages in sexual activity.

This fact sheet offers practical actions for parents to help strengthen their efforts to engage positively with their teens and to have meaningful discussions with them about sex. This information complements other available parent resources by emphasizing the importance of talking with teens about sex and healthy relationships. Parenting a teen is not always easy. Talking with teens about sex-related topics, including healthy relationships and the prevention of HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases STDs , and pregnancy, is a positive parenting practice that has been widely researched. Following are some actions and approaches parents might take to improve communication with their teen about these challenging, hard-to discuss health concerns. Your teen may be getting messages about sex, relationships, and the prevention of HIV, STDs, and pregnancy from a variety of sources, including teachers, friends, health care providers, television, and social media.

Caroline Miller. Talking to teenagers about sex has to be the most potentially embarrassing challenge of parenting — for both parents and kids. As a result, there is very little conversation about it in many families, even though teenagers are sexually active at younger and younger ages. In workshops that focus on social-emotional wellness and decision-making, therapists with the Freedom Institute meet with many high school students to discuss issues that include substance use and sexual activity.

Depending on your teenagers age and the people they hang out with, you will probably find that they have been thinking about or exploring sex and sexual relationships. During the later teenage stages, sex becomes a big deal and each teenager will approach it differently. Young people are talking about, thinking about and having sex.