Sexually Active Teens

In today’s society there are becoming more and more sexually active teens. There are many theories about why this is so. Theories range from increased peer pressure, general acceptance of premarital sex, and movies continually portraying unreal sexual experiences, and expectations. There is more fact than fiction when some supposedly sexually active teens are really not sexually active at all. One of the greatest problems is when a teen feels like he or she needs to become sexually active just to be accepted by their peers. This is particularly sad when the now sexually active teen’s peers are still virgins. Promiscuity is generally accepted in the world of most troubled teens. Many parents have given up and just suggest that the sexually active teen use precaution in their activities. There are still teens that have not lost their virginity that would like to stay that way.

Promiscuity is generally accepted in the world of most troubled teens. Many parents have given up and just suggest that the sexually active teen use precaution in their activities. There are still teens that have not lost their virginity that would like to stay that way.

Teen Sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

It is important for a teen to understand the risks associated with becoming sexually active. Sexually transmitted diseases are an issue that every teen sexually active or not should understands. Information should be readily available and presented by the parents of the sexually active teen.

Sexually Active Teen and Sex Education

Many schools today do not allow sexual abstinence to be taught, but allow education on homosexuality, various ways to have sex, and information on birth control. A student who may come from a family that believes that sex should be saved for married couples, can be ridiculed and isolated even in the classroom. Some schools allow students to miss sex education classes with a note from their parents. This can create an awkward situation for the teen having to go to a “special” class instead of staying with the group. It is definitely easier to just “go with the flow” and listen to a discussion, when they would rather discuss it in a family setting. The obvious benefit of these classes will be for the already sexually active teen. The sexually active teen may learn how to avoid getting pregnant which would be a positive thing.

Sexually Active Teen and Pregnancy

Besides the inherent risks of sexually transmitted diseases there is always the risk that a sexually active teen will become pregnant. For a young person struggling with basic teen problems like acne, and who to ask to the prom, pregnancy can be a huge problem. There are very few teens that are ready to responsibly accept the challenges that accompany raising a child, mostly because they still are one. The sexually active teen that is now pregnant will need to begin making some very grown up decisions. Will they keep the baby, will they give it up for adoption, and will they have an abortion? Each decision will affect the remainder of their life. To give a child up for adoption is very difficult and probably the best for everyone involved especially the baby. If the child decides to keep the child, usually the burden for raising the child will fall on the grandparents. If the decision is made to have an abortion, they will have to live with the consequences associated with that choice as well. In our opinion the best answer for the sexual active teen is to refrain from being sexually active. Abstinence is actually an option and in our opinion the best answer to this problem.

Teen Sexuality and Dating

In the world today it is not unusual to hear kids in grade school say that they are “going out” with another student in grade school. In most cases this is pretty harmless and the youngsters are just repeating what they have heard the older kids say. When a teen moves into high school teen sexuality and going out with somebody has a whole new meaning. It is wise for parents to be involved in their teen’s lives. It is even more important for a parent to be the one to explain teen sexuality, or the abstinence thereof.

When a teen is ready to begin dating it is always better that they date in groups. Group dating reduces teen sexuality. Let’s face it teens in high school and jr. high school are not ready to be parents. With this in mind, it is better that they abstain from teen sexuality rather than taking a chance on becoming pregnant.

Drinking and Risky Sexual Behavior

1- According to a national survey of sexually active young people, 12 percent of teens aged 15 to 17 reported having unprotected sex as a result of having been drinking or using drugs. In addition, 24 percent reported that because of their substance use, they had "done more" sexually than they had planned.

2- Teenage girls who are heavy drinkers are five times more likely than nondrinkers to engage in sexual intercourse and a third less likely to use condoms, which can result in pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Source: Ncadi.samhsa.gov

Teen Sexuality Statistics

Statistics show that approximately 46% of teens 15-19 years of age have had sex at least once. •The majority (59%) of sexually experienced teen females had a first sexual partner who was 1-3 years their senior. 75% of teen girls report that their first sexual experience was with their boyfriend or someone they were living with.

Every year 750,000 women ages 15-19 become pregnant. Prenancy rate is down in the last 10 years. Of those who become pregnant 14% have miscarriages, 29% abort the new baby, and 57% have the child. 11% of all births in the United States are to teens. 7% of of teen mothers receive late or no prenatal care, this leads to lower birth weight babies.

Teen Sexuality Increases Depression in Younger Teens

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Ann Meier, University of Minnesota assistant professor of sociology, studied 8,563 seventh- through 12th-graders over an 18-month period, measuring for depression and low self-esteem. Meier compared the mental health of teens who didn't have sex to teens who were virgins at the beginning of the study, but who lost their virginity during the 18-month period. She found that while the majority of teens did not experience depression as a result of first-time sex, some did -- those being the youngest teens (girls who had sex before age 15 and boys who had sex before 14) and whose relationship was not emotionally close and dissolved after sex. Girls in this group were particularly vulnerable to depression.

Meier believes it's the combination of these factors that make young teens most vulnerable to depression or low self-esteem after first-time sex. "Being female or younger than the average age at first-time sex among your peers increases the chance of depression, as does a lack of commitment or intimacy within the relationship and what happens to the relationship after first-time sex," said Meier. "For girls in uncommitted relationships, ending a relationship with sex has more of an impact on mental health than ending that same relationship if it did not involve sex."

In a study by University of Minnesota (2007, May 24). Teen Sex And Depression Study Finds Most Teens' the following was reported: Science Daily