Sex & your teen: what parents & health care professionals should know. (Lifestyle Corner).Today, nearly 70 percent of all high school seniors engage in sexual intercourse before graduating, one in eight contracts a sexually transmitted disease sexually transmitted disease (STD) or venereal disease, term for infections acquired mainly through sexual contact. Five diseases were traditionally known as venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, and the less common granuloma inguinale, (STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) Long distance dialing outside of the U.S. that does not require operator intervention. STD prefix codes are required and billing is based on call units, which are a fixed amount of money in the currency of that country. ) each year and more than 80 percent of all STD cases occur among those under 29. (14) And, an estimated one in five adolescent girls has an STD and doesn't know it. If you're a parent--even if your child is still in diapers--I bet you're white-knuckled with fear right about now. Don't be. The good news on the youth and STD front is that regardless of what you might think, parents still play a critical role in their adolescent's behavior, both in terms of the behavior you model yourself, and in terms of the communication between you and your teen. And, believe it or not, your kids themselves have said in surveys that they're in need of information to prevent pregnancy and disease. Unfortunately, the U.S. falls far behind other countries in providing this information, with one international report finding that Iran provides more consistent sexual and reproductive health education for young people than the U.S. I find that reprehensible. And I urge you to take a more active role in your child's sexual health. This involves insuring that at least once per year your adolescent is seen by a competent health care professional who specializes in adolescent health. But taking your child to a health care professional doesn't let you off the hook. Study after study proves that when parents talk to their kids about sexual issues, their kids listen. And don't worry that talking about sex is the same as condoning it--numerous studies dispute that theory. In fact, studies show that when parents talk about sex, children are more likely to talk about it themselves, to delay their first sexual experiences and to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease when they do have sex. This doesn't mean the only discussion you can have with child is about protection. After all, abstinence is the best protection against both pregnancy and STDs. If you're uncomfortable talking to your kids, turn them on to the Adolescent Wellness and Reproductive Education Foundation (www.awarefoundation.org), a Web site specifically designed for adolescents (see Resources, p. 5). Parenting an adolescent makes the stresses of infancy seem like a tropical vacation. But with strong communication, active listening and lots of love and respect (on both sides), you--and your kids--can make it through and remain healthy. RESOURCES Adolescent Wellness and Reproductive Education (AWARE) Foundation 1015 Chestnut Street, Suite 1225 Philadelphia, PA 19107-4302 215-955-9847 http://www.awarefoundation.org Offers reproductive health education materials for teens, parents and educators. Advocates for Youth 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 202-347-5700 http://www.advocatesforyouth.org Offers information to help teens make informed reproductive health decisions. American Social Health Association The American Social Health Association (ASHA) is an American non-profit organization established early 20th century, and currently active on issues concerning sexually transmitted diseases. History ASHA's roots stretch back to the Progressive-era social purity movement. P.O. Box 13827 Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park, research, business, medical, and educational complex situated in central North Carolina. It has an area of 6,900 acres (2,795 hectares) and is 8 × 2 mi (13 × 3 km) in size. Named for the triangle formed by Duke Univ. , NC 27709 1-800-361-8400 http://www.ahastd.org CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation National STD Hotline: 1-800-227-8922 Provides basic STD information; coordinates CDC STD hotline. Division of Reproductive Health National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 4770 Buford Hwy, NE Mail Stop K20 Atlanta, GA 30341-3717 770-488-5200 http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/drh/index.htm Publishes research-based reproductive health information on wide range of topics. Girls Inc. 120 Wall Street New York, NY 10005-3902 1-800-374-4475 http://www.girlsinc.org Develops educational programs to encourage girls to master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges. HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. Over Fifty http://www.hivoverfifty.org Promotes access to educational and health care programs for persons over age 50 affected by HIV. Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States is a United States organization dedicated to sexuality education, sexual health, and sexual rights. (SIECUS SIECUS Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States ) 130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350 New York, NY 10036 212-819-9770 http://www.siecus.org Develops and distributes reproductive health information for teens, parents, educators and health care professionals. References (1.) "HPV HPV human papillomavirus. HPV abbr. human papilloma virus Human papilloma virus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet." Kaiser Family Foundation The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), or just Kaiser Family Foundation, is a U.S.-based non-profit, private operating foundation headquartered in Menlo Park, California. , Nov. 2001. http://www.kff.org (2.) Collins, S. et al. "High incidence of Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in Women During Their First Sexual Relationship. BJOG BJOG British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Jan. 2002, Vol. 109, 96-98. (3.) "Counseling Can Help Correct misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Infections that are acquired and transmitted by sexual contact. Although virtually any infection may be transmitted during intimate contact, the term sexually transmitted disease is restricted to conditions that are largely . Center for the Advancement of Health. [Press release]. Sept. 27, 2000. (4.) Kaiser Family Foundation Reproductive Report, April 12, 2002. (5.) "HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Among U.S. Women: Minority and Young Women at Continuing Risk." Fact sheet. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC). 2002. http://www.rdc.gov (6.) "African Americans Disproportionately Affected by STDs." CDC. Dec. 5, 2000. (7.) Wiesenfeld HC, Lowry DL, Heine RP, Krohn MA, Bittner H, Kellinger K, Shultz M, Sweet RL. "Self-collection of Vaginal Swabs for the Detection of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis trichomoniasis (trĭk'əmənī`əsĭs), sexually transmitted disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. : Opportunity to Encourage Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Among Adolescents." Sex Transm Dis. 2001 Jun; 28(6):321-5. (8.) "Tracking the Hidden Epidemics: Trends in STDs in the U.S. 2000." CDC. http://www.cdc.gov (9.) "New Resistant Gonorrhea Migrating to Mainland U.S." NY Times. May 7, 2002. (10.) Rosenberg PS, Biggar RJ, Goedert JJ. "Declining Age at HIV Infection in the United States." [Letter]. New Engl J Med 1994;330:789-90. (11.) "Women in a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Clinic Mistakenly Believe that HIV Testing is a Good Way to Prevent Infection." The Alan Guttmacher Institute. [Press release]. May 8, 2002. (12.) "An Introduction to Sexually Transmitted Disease" Fact sheet. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. ). 1999. http://www.niaid.nih.gov (13.) "NIAID Topical Microbicide Research Developing New Tools to Protect Women from HIV/AIDS and other STDs." Fact sheet. March 2000. http://www.niaid.nih.gov (14.) "Older Americans Make Up the New Face of HIV/AIDS, Experts Say." Associated Press. May 11, 2002. (15.) "The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States." Fact sheet. Kaiser Family Foundation June 2001. http://www.kff.org (16.) "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines," 2002. MMWR MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report Epidemiology A news bulletin published by the CDC, which provides epidemiologic data–eg, statistics on the incidence of AIDS, rabies, rubella, STDs and other communicable diseases, causes of mortality–eg, , May 10, 2002. CDC. (17.) "Viral Hepatitis, Type B." Fact sheet. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov (18.) "Some Facts About Syphilis." CDC. March 16, 2000. http://www.cdc.gov (19.) "STDs and Pregnancy." Fact sheet. CDC. Oct. 1997. http://www.cdc.gov RELATED ARTICLE: Talking to Your Kids The Henry J. Kaiser Henry John Kaiser (May 9, 1882—August 24, 1967) was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. Early life Beginning as a cashier in a dry-goods shop in Utica, New York, Kaiser moved many times as he pursued the Family Foundation shares these 10 tips for talking to your kids about tough issues (it's safe to say that sex is one of the toughest). In your discussion, stress the importance of abstaining from alcohol and drugs; a study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) was established in 1992 by Joseph A. Califano, Jr. The stated, official goals of the organization, now called the National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University, are 1. Start early. Once kids reach their teenage years, they tend to depend more on friends, outsiders and the media for information. 2. Initiate conversations with your child. Watch TV or movies with your kids. The numerous public service announcements on youth-oriented stations, as well as sexually explicit scenes, are a perfect opening for a frank discussion. 3. Don't be nervous. Just do it. If you don't tell them about sex, someone else will. 4. Create an open environment. Let your children know you're open to their questions. 5. Communicate your own values. Research shows that children want and need moral guidance from their moms and dads; don't hesitate to make your beliefs clear. If you're a single parent, pay attention to your own sexual conduct; you can bet your teenager will. 6. Listen to your child. Find time to give him or her your undivided attention. 7. Try to be honest. And don't leave any big gaps in the information you provide. 8. Be patient. Resist the impulse to finish your children's sentences and let them think at their own pace. 9. Use everyday opportunities to talk. In the car, while watching television, when putting away the groceries. 10. Talk about it again. And again. Dr. Peeke is a Pew Foundation Scholar in Nutrition and Metabolism, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland University of Maryland can refer to:
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