Whether you want to admit it or not, it’s impossible to make it through the adolescent years as a parent without dealing with teen health issues related to sex. From menstruation to pregnancy for girls and voice changing to sexual attraction for boys, there are so many issues that come up with teens and sex; it’s important as parents to address them and not ignore them.
Health issues related to sexuality and girls
It’s no secret that when you reach those teenage years girls go through many important and significant changes. During the early teen years girls begin to experience menstruation and begin to see their bodies change into a woman. It’s important for parents to acknowledge the change and be willing to talk with their daughters about the changes that are occurring. With so many changes they are bound to have questions, and with parents who aren’t willing to communicate with their teens, their children are more likely to have promiscuous behavior.
One of the more prominent issues that are becoming more and more common among teenagers is teen pregnancy. Although there has been a decrease in girl teen pregnancies because of better contraceptive methods and knowledge of sexual consequences, there is still a large percentage of girls becoming pregnant during their teen years. With a teenaged girl, it’s important for parents or guardians to provide their children with the knowledge they need to avoid getting STDs through sexual behavior and to avoid teen pregnancy. Teaching them about contraceptives and responsible sexual behavior can help them avoid teen pregnancy and from contracting STDs and AIDS.
Health issues related to sexuality and boys
It’s no secret that boys as teens are a little sex crazed and perhaps have a more difficult time controlling their emotions and body. This of course is not an excuse for inappropriate behavior; however it’s important to understand the mind of a teenage boy when it comes to sex and their bodies. One of the most prominent issues teen boys are faced with today is protection during sexual intercourse to avoid teen pregnancy and STDs. This is perhaps slightly more common among teenage boys as it is girls for whatever reason or another.
As a parent it’s important to be aware of these issues in particular so that you can talk about them before they happen. When it comes to sex and health issues related to sex, teen boys need to understand some fundamental things:
- Abstaining from sexual activity will prevent ALL sexually-related consequences.
- Unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy. Many teens think that because it’s their first time that the girl couldn’t possibly get pregnant. Teenage boys need to know point blank that pregnancy can happen from having sex just once. Teaching them about the proper protection if they are going to engage in sexual intercourse is something a parent is responsible for.
- Having unprotected sex can give you sexually transmitted diseases. Possibly something just as scary as teen pregnancy is catching a venereal disease such as herpes or the AIDS virus. Educating them about the outcomes of irresponsible sexual behavior and impulsive behavior is extremely important for boys.
- No means no. As teenage boys begin to develop and try to control sexual urges with other teen girls they need to understand and respect the choice of the opposite sex, even if she says no.
Teenagers have several different teen health issues related to sex that they have to learn about, understand, and take into consideration as they continue to grow into responsible adults. Parents play a crucial and vital role in that upbringing and responsibility.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to