This document discusses several key issues regarding teenage sexual health. It notes that adolescence is a formative time when habits are learned. Some of the most important issues are physical body changes during puberty, increased interest in sex due to hormones, and the need for comprehensive sex education about risks and consequences. Teenagers are exposed to sexual topics from many sources and need guidance on their values. The document outlines additional challenges such as dating pressure, risks of teenage pregnancy, importance of abstinence or safe sex education, and sexually transmitted diseases.

1. TeenageConcerns

2.  Sexual health, although not a topic that many of the
teenagers nowadays want to discuss with adults, is a very
important issue. Adolescence is a very formative stage, and
the habits learned during the teenage years can often stay with
a person for a lifetime. Some of the most important issues
regarding teen sexual health include physical body changes
and sex education.
 During and after puberty, teenagers will begin to notice a
myriad of physical changes. Boys for instance, will begin to
grow facial hair and their penises will typically grow larger.
Girls, on the other hand, will typically notice that their breasts
become larger and they will begin to have monthly menstrual
periods.These physical changes are caused primarily by
hormones.

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4.  Today’s teenager is faced with sexualized information
at every turn. From magazines, television, the internet,
and even among his or her friends, sexuality is a
constant topic that seems to be intriguing for him or
her.The teenager needs to understand his or her value
and have goals in place when the issue of sexuality
arise.
 Parents have to keep abreast of teenage issues in
society, to talk candidly and honestly about the topic of
sexuality among their children.

6.  Some teenagers begin puberty in their pre-teenage
years or are just starting this stage.This is a time of
many physical and hormonal changes.
 A teenager could experience low self-esteem due to his
or her body image.
 Teenagers crave acceptance from friends and do not
want to stand out.
 He or she may constantly look for confirmation from
the outside, comparing himself or herself to the images
in the media.

8.  With dating can come peer pressure to engage in
sexual activities.
 This is a time that parents need to highly monitor their
child’s whereabouts.
 Dating is not only taking place on weekend nights.
 Teenagers also find time to socialize in the afternoons
and evenings after school, while their parents are a
work.

10.  Teenage pregnancy is a problem that permanently
affects the lives of both the mother and the father.
 The pregnancy rate for women aged 18 to 19 is three
times higher than that of younger teenagers.
 Being a teenage mother makes it difficult to continue
one’s studies with only 40% of teenage mothers
completing high school.
 The possibility of unprotected sex leading to
pregnancy should be discussed early in the home.
 Both girls and boys need a plan in place to avoid being
caught off-guard and pressured.

12.  Abstinence and safe sex education are necessary to
inform teenagers about sexually transmitted disease,
whether the teenager is sexually active or not.
 Stephanie Watson ofWeb MD says
“Half of all sexually active teenagers will catch
chlamydia, herpes, or another STD by the time they turn
25. It is sometimes not possible to look at someone and
know if they have an STD since the symptoms are not
always physical. If the teenagers do not feel comfortable
discussing these issues with their parents, he or she
should find another adult that he or she trusts to talk
with. Remaining silent could cause ignorance to continue
or an illness to be come worse.”
Chlamydia -