Youth, Sex and STD’s

Youth, Sex and STD’s

You may be asking when I should talk to my child about sex. Research shows that young children are most likely to look to their parents for guidance regarding tough issues. However, as they reach adolescence, they tend to depend on their friends and the media. In talking to your children about issues like dating, relationships, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HPV, Chlamydia, Herpes, Gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS, you leave a lasting impression. This will help you provide your children with information that is accurate and reflects your personal values and morals.
Parents are the most effective and trusted source of information about these topics, but only if you talk to them early enough! Your children need information about relationships and sexuality BEFORE they start dating! Don’t wait for your children to ask about sex or STD’s. Initiate conversations on your own. Use everyday opportunities to talk about issues important to sexual health. For instance, use current events or news stories, music, television, or movie content to bring up these issues.
One of the best ways to be involved in your children’s lives is to make sure they know they are loved and that you are available to help with any question or concern they might have. It is important your children understand that you have high expectations of them. You should make sure that you know their friends and their friends families. Also it is extremely important to establish rules, curfews, and standards of expected behavior and stick to them.
We also need to be a role model. Being a good example speaks volumes to our youth. We can’t expect them to listen to us when we say no sex until you’re married if we are not walking that walk. We can’t tell our children to not do drugs and then do them ourselves.
Research shows that parent-child rapport is directly related to teen sexual health. This includes Dads. Dads are the first example for our young daughters as to how a man should treat a woman. Dad plays a key part in the self-esteem of young ladies. Teaching and talking continually to them about self- respect is the greatest lesson. Studies show that teens that are close with their parents are more likely to remain sexually abstinent and postpone intercourse.
Sandusky County parents need to step up to the responsibilities they have been given as parents. In this county we have seen girls as young as 13 having babies. We are seeing girls at the age of 15 already infected with multiple STD’s. In our county (findings for 2005) 31% of our youth have had sexual intercourse, and 58% of those ages 17 and over. Of those high school youth who were sexually active, 39% had done so by the age of 14. Another 31% had done so by the age of 15 years of age. Females had sex at a younger age than males. By age fifteen, 77% of females have had sex compared to 62% of males.
Globally, 333 million new cases of curable STD’s occur each year among young adults. 1 in 4 of these STD infections occur in teenagers.
This is really frightening information but just the tip of the iceberg. We can’t expect our teens to be open about everything. We will increase our chances of keeping communication open if we remain savvy about teen sex and what is going on in their lives. Inform yourselves. Check out current information because there are STD’s that can kill. Some places to start are www.heartfre.com. and www.abstinenceclearinghouse.org and www.medinstitute.org. Please watch the programming they are watching on television. MTV is a good place to understand what media our children are exposed to.
Remember, it is not as important to be their friend as it is to be the very best example we can possibly be for our youth. If you’re not a parent, please think about getting involved in programs in the community that would allow you to be a mentor and role-model to a youth. First Call for Help would have those listed organizations.