Never before has the topic of sexual health been more important then it is today. Unwanted pregnancies have seen an increase for the first time in years. The increase is still considered small but with all the education our children are getting, any increase is too much.
Many parents feel that young girls are receiving all the sex education they need in schools. Admittedly, talking to your teen about sex is not a comfortable topic but it one that must be done.
Nothing our children can learn in school will compare with the knowledge that parents are also aware of what is going on in their lives. This is a period of time when young girls are becoming interested in boys and it is also when they are most susceptible to the problems that can arise from unprotected sex.
Pregnancy has always topped the list of repercussions from unprotected sex. Parents are in a quandary over allowing their daughter to use birth control. Allowing it may be misconstrued as a form of permission, when that is not the case. It may be wiser to let your daughters know that if they decide to have sexual relations, they also need to first begin a form of birth control.
Teenage pregnancy offers a multitude of problems. A teen mother has three options. She can have the baby and keep it; she can have the baby and put it up for adoption; or have the baby aborted. None of them are a viable option as most teens are not ready for the responsibility of motherhood and the psychological impact of adoption or abortion is greatly underestimated.
The wider use of drugs and the more acceptable our young girls are to having sex has resulted in a vast increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases. The birth control pill offers no protection against STD’s. Parents need to not only speak with their daughters but their sons as well. Just because they are male does not make them immune to catching an STD.
Perhaps the best way to broach the subject is by honest and open discussion. Stress that as a parent, you are well aware of what is going on amongst teens. You may find it easier to hide your anxiety when realizing failure to speak up could end up with pregnancy, disease, or both. Be prepared to explain that you are well aware of the repercussions they can face with unprotected sex. You do not have to condone these actions in simply stating that you know they exist. Explain the risks, and state emphatically that if the decision is made to have sex in any form, they must use proper protection.
The adolescent and teen years are fraught with temptation. They are tempted with sex, alcohol, and drug use. What used to be a carefree time in life has become one of serious decision making. Do all you can to aid your daughters and sins in making the right decision.