One of the toughest decisions that a lot of teens face is
whether to have sex. Teens who decide to become sexually active
must also take responsibility to stay protected from unplanned
pregnancy and
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
.
In the United States, the
teenage pregnancy
rate is higher than in many other countries. Approximately 1
million teen girls become pregnant every year and most of them
don't intend to. In addition to preventing unplanned
pregnancies, sexually active teens must protect themselves from
STDs - which means that condoms must be used
every time
.
The most effective method of birth control is abstinence, which
means no sexual intercourse. Abstinence is the only way that
couples can be 100% sure they will not have to deal with pregnancy
or STDs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has said that sex
education that includes information about abstinence and birth
control is the most effective way to keep down the rate of teen
pregnancy.
As a parent, you play a key role in this education. It's
important that your kids feel, from a young age, that they can come
to you with a question about sexuality, no matter what it is. It
helps if you treat sexuality as a natural part of development, not
something dirty or embarrassing.
Providing the facts is vital, but it's also wise to give
your kids a sense of where you stand. Teens, especially, may seem
uninterested in your views on sex and birth control, or even your
values in general, but they usually take in more than you
think.
At times, kids may not feel comfortable approaching parents with
questions about sexuality. That's OK. But it's important
that they have a trusted adult - like a teacher, school counselor,
school nurse, or doctor - to talk with about birth control and
other issues related to sex.
Birth Control Methods
Couples who do choose to have sex have many effective birth
control methods to choose from. Check out the articles below to
learn important facts about these different options. You may be
surprised - some popular ones aren't as effective as many
people think:
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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