Title: Teen Sex - Counseling
Category: Positive Parenting
In America today teens are having sex more than in any time in our past
history. Of 8 million 13 to 14 year
old, one and a half million or 1 in 5, have had sex.
About one fourth of 15 year old girls and one third of 15 year old boys
are sexually active. About 77% of
all teens up to age 20 and 86% of males are sexually active.
These statistics are surprising in light of the numerous sexually
transmitted diseases including the deadly AIDS virus.
Besides catching dread diseases and possibly dying, a fairly high
percentage of these teens go on to get pregnant.
Studies show that many of the teenagers, particularly early in their
sexual history, do not use any form of contraception.
The statistics of suffering from sexually transmitted disease in teens is
extremely saddening. The statistics of pregnancy is also saddening, in my opinion,
in that half of the girls who do go on to give birth never complete high school.
A very high percentage of these young ladies live the rest of their lives
below the poverty level. Being a
young pregnant teen also increases the risk to the mother and the baby including
toxemia, anemia and prematurity of the infant.
Studies indicate that about 1/5 of first premarital pregnancies in teens
occurs within the first month after intercourse begins and 1/2 occur after the
first 6 months. These statistics
are all sobering and should wake up not only the teens but also their parents.
Are we discussing sexuality with our teenagers, sons as well as
daughters? Are we preparing them
for healthy sexuality in marriage and discussing abstinence as a safe option
guaranteed to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy?
Are we tying this message to our personal faith and discussing it openly
and honestly with our children? I
hope that most of my fellow parents of teens are.
I certainly am and I know that my daughters and soon to be teenage son
are growing up in a much different world than I did 25 years ago.
The message of free sex and "everyone's doing it" and "if
it feels good, do it" displayed by shows on television and today's movies
is disturbing to me as a parent. I
feel an obligation to discuss these messages with my children openly and hear
out their views so that I can help teach them to see through these fallacies.
I also believe, as a Catholic and a Christian, I owe it to my children to
teach them what the church stands for and what Jesus taught in the New Testament
as well as the teachings of the Old Testament.
I certainly hope and pray that my children respect the individuals they
date and consider very carefully their motives as well as the motives of their
dates.
Healthy sexuality involves a lot of cuddling of our children from the
time they are infants. A young girl
who is never held in her father's arms and told that she is loved experiences
confusion and a need for affirmation as a female.
Young boys
If your daughter does become pregnant, I recommend strong family support
with consultation with both your pediatrician and obstetrician and consideration
of adoption as a good option. I
believe adoption counseling is a wise option for all birth mothers.
Information can be obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics
committee on Early Childhood Adoption and Independent Care by writing to the
American Academy of Pediatrics, P.
O. Box 927, Elk Grove Village, IL 60009- 0927.
Also information and advice can be obtained from the Child Welfare League
of America, 440 First St. NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC
20001 or (202)- 637-2952. There
are also many good adoption agencies throughout the state of Louisiana.