Keeping the Sex Talks Going
When the pregnancies of a popular teen TV star and a vice
presidential candidate's daughter took center stage,
premarital sex became an even more pressing topic for
parents.
It was practically impossible to avoid all the press about teen
pregnancy and premarital sex in 2008. And no doubt many preteens
and teens caught wind of a lot of it, too. On the heels of a late
2007 government report showing the first rise in teen pregnancies
in 15 years, Jamie Lynn Spears (teen TV star and sister of pop diva
Britney) gave birth in '08. Then came the news about Bristol
Palin, the pregnant adolescent daughter of Republican VP nominee
Sarah Palin. Amidst it all, this jaw-dropping headline: "1 in
4 Girls Has a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)." A 2008
study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found
that a staggering 3.2 million teen girls could potentially have at
least one of four common STDs (with human papillomavirus, or HPV,
at the very top of the list).
The vaccine against HPV (called Gardasil) also drew attention.
More than half of sexually active people get HPV at some point in
their lives (about 6.2 million people each year, in fact, and about
half of those infected are just 14 to 24 years old). Yet, the CDC
also reported in 2008 that just a quarter of preteen and teen girls
are getting the recommended HPV immunization - it's pricey and
many parents are still worried about its possible impact on
teens' sexual behavior.
What to Watch:
Somewhere between dealing with two wars and a tanking economy,
preventing teen pregnancies could become a top priority for the new
administration (fewer teen pregnancies means fewer abortions). One
major way to help reduce unplanned pregnancies: Teach kids about
more than just
abstaining
from sex. On the cusp of 2008, a government study from the outgoing
administration found that abstinence-only education might not be
the most effective way to go. Federal researchers discovered that
it has little to no impact on whether teens have sex or how many
sexual partners they have. Though it's a heated debate that
shows no signs of ending, sex-ed classes may get a major makeover,
with an emphasis on not just abstinence but also birth control and
preventing STDs.
On the homefront, parents can keep unplanned pregnancies and
STDs at bay by finding out about their kids' sex-ed classes -
asking teachers what's in their lesson plans, coordinating
discussions with kids around class topics, and filling in any gaps.
Also key: Having ongoing, age- and developmentally appropriate
discussions as kids grow (instead of in one big awkward
"talk"). Another simple way to keep early sex from
seeming so appealing: Turn off that TV! A 2008 study suggested that
watching racy shows might play a role in upping teen pregnancy
rates. Although a cause-and-effect relationship isn't clear,
teens who see lots of lewd TV are actually
twice
as likely to become (or get someone) pregnant before age 20 than
those who view very little sexually explicit content on the
tube.
For Kids:
All About Menstruation
All About Puberty
For Teens:
About Birth Control: What You Need to Know
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Abstinence
Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work?
Talking to Your Partner About Condoms
For Parents:
About Birth Control: What Parents Need to Know
News -
Abstinence-Only Education Inadequate, Says Study
News - A Quarter of Teen Girls in the U.S. Have an STD
Questions and
Answers About Sex
STDs
News - Teen Birth Rate Sees First Rise Since 1990s
News - Teens Who Watch Lots of Sexually Explicit Shows Have Twice
the Risk of Getting Pregnant
When Your Teen Is Having a Baby
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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