Sue Scheff: Teen Sex Game – SNAP – Parents be on alert
by Sue Scheff on Jan 27, 2010
A very sticky topic, jelly bracelets. Why would these harmless bracelets be dangerous? What is going on in our society to create such disturbing games being played by our teens and tweens?
Since being an educated parent will help you to have healthier and safer teens, you need to be aware of these types of games that are being played. In a previous article, Rainbow Parties, shocked many. This bracelet game, Snap, is another blow to a parents mind.
Some people have may have heard about the latest fad in colleges, high schools, even middle schools! This social phenomenon involves “snapping” the bracelet off the wearer, enabling the snapper to earn a sexual favor from the snappee based on the color of the snapped off bracelet.
Here are the color associations:
- Yellow - wearer is willing to HUG
- Pink - wearer is willing to give a hickey
- Orange - wearer is willing to KISS
- Purple - wearer is willing to kiss a partner of either sex
- Red - wearer is willing to perform a LAP DANCE
- Green – indicates that ORAL SEX can be performed on a girl
- Clear – indicates a willingness to do “whatever the snapper wants”
- Blue - indicates ORAL SEX performed on a guy
- Black - wearer will have regular “missionary” sex
- White - wearer will “FLASH” what they have
Sex bracelets are a teen fad with a dangerous sexual twist. The bright colored bracelets are popular with teens, but they’re creating controversy and many children, and even adults, wear these decorative bracelets without any sexual connotation or meaning whatsoever.
Teach your children about the dangers of STD’s. We can talk about sex to our kids, some schools offer sex education and we can even “believe” we have a very open relationship with our teens – but do you really know about these trends? Peer pressure can be part of this dangerous game. The more you know, the more you can help to educate your teens.
These topics are not to scare you, they are to educate you. Your child may be wearing one of these bracelets and it has no association to this disgusting game. It is only about you knowing that this does exist – as hard as it can be to believe.
Watch video - learn more – read more - being educated will help you have safer and healthier teens.
Tags: Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sex Bracelets, Snap, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Teen Issues, Teen Sex Education, Teen Sex Games
Sue Scheff: Parenting Teens – Sex Education (STD’s)
by Sue Scheff on Dec 15, 2009
Parenting teens today is challenging and although many of our concerns today are focused on technology and online safety, we need to go back to basics – a trend that a parent of any generation needs to be concerned about. Teens having sex. Years ago it was a fear of pregnancy, today it is so much more. Sexually transmitted diseases are not going away and kids/teens needs to understand the consequences which can not only lead to infertility, but in extreme cases, the end of life.
The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that there is one sexually transmitted disease that affects more teenage girls than any other age group. Last year, 1.2 million cases of Chlamydia were reported among teens. That’s 100,000 more than the year before.
Source: Connect with Kids
Chlamydia on the Rise
“I don’t really know anything about it.”
– Berit, Age 16, when asked about Chlamydia.
The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that there is one sexually transmitted disease that affects more teenage girls than any other age group. Last year, 1.2 million cases of Chlamydia were reported among teens. That’s 100,000 more than the year before.
What is Chlamydia?
If you ask many teenage girls, you’re likely to get a blank stare. “I really don’t know much about it at all,” says 14-year-old Tavia.
Or you’ll get a wrong answer. “Um, it’s one of the female body parts,” says 14-year-old Jade.
Most kids don’t know it, but Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that infects 1.2 million teenage girls every year.
Kids often don’t know what it is and they don’t know they have it, because the symptoms may not show up for years when it’s too late.
“Chlamydia infections have been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and lead to infertility,” says infectious disease specialist Dr. Kimberly Workowski.
According to the CDC, nearly half of all new Chlamydia cases are among teenager girls for two reasons: first, teens are less likely than adults to use condoms; second, the immature cells in a teenage girl’s cervix are more vulnerable to infection.
Still, it’s a “very curable disease,” says Dr. Workowski. Curable, if it detected. Many teens, however, don’t suspect they have the disease, and they’re afraid to go to a doctor to get checked.
“I don’t think they’re really educated about that stuff yet, they don’t even listen, they don’t care,” says Jade.
Experts say parents should take the lead, and talk with their child about getting tested.
“You can get a non-invasive test, like a urine sample, to see if there is any evidence of chlamydia,” says Dr. Workowski. The experts say, if parents think to themselves, “there is no way my child has chlamydia!” they need to consider the consequences if they’re wrong.
“You’re daughter…can be infertile,” Dr. Workowski warns, “because of this infection.”
Tips for Parents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chlamydia (“kla-mid-ee-uh”) is the “most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the US today. It is estimated that 4,000,000 new cases occur each year. The highest rates of Chlamydia infections are among 15-to19-year-olds, regardless of demographics or location.
Chlamydia is transmitted through sexual contact (primarily vaginal and anal) with an infected person. According to the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception International (AVSC), about 75% of infected women and half of infected males have no symptoms of chlamydia. In other words, most people infected with the disease don’t even know they have it.
Symptoms
In women, symptoms of chlamydia may include:
- an unusual vaginal discharge
- bleeding after intercourse
- bleeding between menstrual periods
- abdominal or pelvic pain
In men, symptoms of chlamydia may include:
- discharge from the penis
- burning with urination
- swollen and/or painful testicles
(Keep in mind, most people with chlamydia have no symptoms at all.)
Treating Chlamydia
The best way to prevent sexually transmitted disease (STDs) is to not have sexual relations. The CDC recommends that people who are sexually active use a condom, and get regular checkups for STDs. Though condoms are good at protecting against some STDs, others such as herpes and HPV may still be passed on through sexual contact.
Most STDs are readily treated, and the earlier treatment is sought and sex partners are warned, the less likely the disease will do irreparable damage such as the formation of scar tissue in the woman which can lead to infertility or an increased likelihood of a tubal pregnancy which can be life threatening.
Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. It is also important that sexual partners receive treatment in order to prevent getting infected again. Doctors also recommend avoiding sex while being treated to reduce the chances of getting the infection again or giving it to someone else.
References
- AVSC International
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- American Academy of Pediatrics
Learn more about teen pregnancy.
Tags: Connect with Kids, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sexually Transmitted Disease, STD's, Sue Scheff, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Sex, Teen Sex Education
Sue Scheff: Teens and Sex Education
by Sue Scheff on Jul 21, 2009
Recently I discovered an interesting and fantastic Blog/Website by Sarah Burningham. She offers straight talk about teens – including those sensitive subjects that many parents will cringe with. I love her blunt and direct advice and parenting tips. Be sure to check it out – Sarah Burningham is an Author and writes a column for ABC Family Website.
Let’s Talk about Sex…NOT the Birds and the Bees
While doing some research for my next writing project, I stumbled on an article in Time magazine called “How Should We Teach Our Kids About SEX?” (The article put “sex” in all caps – not me.)
Even though I mostly get questions from teens, I get some emails from parents, too. And the most common question in these parental emails deals with talking to their teenager (usually daughter) about sex. Not a surprise, really. Sex is a hot button topic.
My favorite line from the Time article is, “Just Do It. Just Say No. Just Wear a Condom. When it comes to sex, the message to America’s kids is confused and confusing.” That says it all. If parents are confused and grappling with how to talk about sex, how is a teenager supposed to feel comfortable going to her mom or dad with questions? (And every teenager I know has questions.)
So, I wanted to send one word of advice to all the parents out there: TALK.
I know every family is different. Some parents want their teens to wait until marriage. Some just want their teens to be safe. Others (like my father) would rather not think about sex at all when it comes to their daughters. (Although, kudos to my parents for talking to my anyway.)
But no matter how you feel, you must TALK. Your teenager is listening. And your teenager is smart. She doesn’t need you to beat around the bush. What do the birds and the bees have to do with it, anyway? The first time I heard the phrase “heavy petting” I thought of a petting zoo. Literally – goats, cows, the works. Yes, I got the real meaning eventually, but I wish my mom would have just been straight with me from the get-go. Dating and figuring yourself out as a teenager is complicated enough. No need to throw terms like “petting” into the mix.
So instead of having one formal sit-down conversation in 5th grade to cover all the bases (BAD) or ignoring the subject completely (WORSE), open up to the idea that the sex talk is ongoing. And then do it. Talk.
Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahBurningham
Tags: Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Peer Pressure, Sarah Burningham, Sue Scheff, Talking to Teens, Teen Help, Teen Sex, Teen Sex Education
Sue Scheff: Teens Complacent about AIDS
by Sue Scheff on Jun 25, 2009
Source: Connect with Kids
“We understand [AIDS], but it’s just more of they don’t care, it won’t affect me, personality.”
– Seth, 16 years old
Ask the average teen what he or she knows about AIDS, and they usually know the basic facts.
“It’s a sexually transmitted disease, and you can die from it,” says 15-year-old Britney.
Leslie, 14, says, “A lot of people are infected every day, and you get it by not being safe.”
“They know a good deal from sex education and stuff. They know it’s dangerous and that it has the possibility of being lethal,” says 16-year-old John.
“Yeah, it’ll kill you,” echoes Seth, also 16. “You don’t want to get it. It’s definitely a bad thing.”
Many young people certainly know the risks and understand the dangers of HIV and AIDS. So why do teens continue to take chances with their health?
“Teens take chances, but that’s just more of the feeling of being invincible and being young,” Seth says. “We understand it, but it’s just more of they don’t care, it won’t affect me, type of personality.”
“You don’t even think about it even though you hear about it every day,” says 16-year-old Peter. ”You don’t really think about it unless it hits home.”
Health experts are taking note of this ambivalence and are trying to zero in on the 13-25 age group, which is the fastest growing population of new HIV infections.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” says Kay Scott, president of Planned Parenthood of Georgia. “What we know works is comprehensive sex education, connection to school, church and other community groups and really strong support from parents.”
Scott says parents should consistently talk to their children about their values and beliefs, risks and responsibility. But more than anything, Scott says, they should find a way to show their kids that AIDS is real.
“One of the most powerful tools that I’ve seen used is having people with HIV and AIDS talk to young people about what their risks were and how they were in denial and just didn’t think it would happen,” Scott says.
Teenagers agree that the message strikes a chord.
“Knowing someone close that has experienced it or has contracted it – that’s very eye-opening,” Peter says.
Tips for Parents
Recent reports show that nearly half of high school students are or have been sexually active. Unfortunately, with sexual activity comes an increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). That’s why it is extremely important to talk to your kids about being sexually responsible – before they engage in sex. Consider the following statistics provided by The Alan Guttmacher Institute:
- Every year three million sexually active teens – about one-in-four – acquire an STD.
- A single act of unprotected sex with an infected partner puts a teenage woman at a one percent risk of acquiring HIV, a 30 percent risk of getting genital herpes, and a 50 percent chance of contracting gonorrhea.
- Chlamydia is more common among teens than among older men and women. In some testing situations, 10 to 29 percent of sexually active teenage women and 10 percent of teenage men were found to have Chlamydia.
- Teens have higher rates of gonorrhea than sexually active men and women aged 20 to 44.
Talking to your child about sex and sexually transmitted diseases may not be something you look forward to, but it could be the most important step in protecting your child from risky sexual behavior. Studies show that teenagers who feel highly connected to their parents are far more likely to delay sexual activity than their peers. Before approaching this sensitive topic, consider the following tips developed by Peer to Peer: Stop, Think, Be Safe!
- Start early – Research shows that younger children seek their parent’s advice more than adolescents, who tend to depend more on their friends and the media. Take advantage of the opportunity to talk with your young children about sexual health. Discussing dating, relationships, STDs and HIV can make a lasting impression. And it gives you a chance to provide your children with accurate information that reflects your personal values and principles. The quality of parent-child relationships has an important influence on adolescents’ sexual behaviors.
- Initiate conversations with your child – Don’t wait for your children to ask you about sex, HIV or STDs. Although you can hope that your children come to you with their questions and concerns, it may not happen. Use everyday opportunities to talk about issues related sexual health. For example, news stories, music, television shows or movies are great starters for bringing up health topics. If your family is watching a television show where the teenagers are promiscuous or a teen is pregnant, ask your kids what they thought of the program when it’s over. Ask if they agree with the behavior or decisions of the teenagers in the show. Just a few questions can start a valuable conversation.
- Talk WITH your child, not AT your child – Make sure you listen to your children the way you want your children to listen to you. Try to ask questions that will encourage them to share specific information about feelings, decisions and actions. Try to understand exactly what your kids are saying. It is important for your kids to feel that they have been heard. Try not to be judgmental. Let your kids know that you value their opinions, even when they differ from your own.
- Create an open environment – Research shows that kids who feel their parents speak openly about sex and listen to them carefully are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, compared to teenagers who do not feel they can talk with their parents about sex. Adolescents who report a sense of connection to their parents, family and school, and who have a higher grade point average, are more likely than other teens to wait to engage in intercourse. Teens who report previous discussions of sexuality with parents are seven times more likely to feel able to communicate with a partner about HIV/AIDS than those who have not had such discussions. An open family environment not only reduces sexual risk-taking behaviors, it also gives teenagers a safe place to ask questions and get accurate information. As parents, be available, honest and attentive. Praise your children for coming to you to talk about sex, which will teach them that you are always available for information or advice.
- Be prepared and practice – It isn’t necessarily easy to talk about sex with your kids. In fact, it can be extremely difficult for some parents. Don’t be afraid to practice. You can practice in front of a mirror, with your spouse or partner, or with friends. Your ability to speak comfortably about sexual health will make your children more comfortable asking questions and discussing sensitive issues.
- Be honest: It’s okay to say, “I don’t know” – When your children trust and value your opinion, they will be more likely to come to you with their questions and concerns. It’s also important to know that you do not need to be a sexual health expert. It’s okay if you don’t know all the answers to all of your children’s questions. It’s okay and honest to say, “I don’t know.” In fact, if you don’t know the answer to a question, you can search for the correct information together.
- Communicate your values – In addition to talking to your children about the biological facts of sex, it’s important that they also learn that sexual relationships involve emotions, caring and responsibility. Parents need to share their values and principles about sex. Although your children may not adopt these values as their own, they are an important source of information as your children develop their own set of values about sexuality.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Peer to Peer: Stop, Think, Be Safe!
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Campaign for our Children, Inc
Tags: AIDS, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sex Education, STD's, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Sex Education
Sue Scheff: The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
by Sue Scheff on May 06, 2009
Source: National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy
May 6, 2009 is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. How do you score? Take the National Day Quiz and find out.
Take the National Day Quiz 
Grab the National Day widget
Teens | Parents
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/pdf/2009/2009_ND_obama_message.pdf - Letter from President Obama.
Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 6, 2009. The purpose of the National Day is straightforward. Too many teens still think “It can’t happen to me.” The National Day helps teens understand that it can happen to them and that they need to think seriously about what they would do in the moment.
Why a National Day? Since the early 1990s, the teen pregnancy rate has declined 38 percent and the teen birth rate has declined 32%. In fact, few social problems have improved quite as dramatically over the past decade plus. The most recent news on this front, however, has not been positive. According to data released in March 2009 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the U.S. teen birth rate increased for the second year in a row since 2005. These increases follow 14 years of continuous decline in the teen birth rate. That is, after declining 34% between 1991 and 2005, the teen birth rate has now increased 5% between 2005 and 2007.
“Clearly a renewed focus on preventing teen pregnancy is needed,” said Sarah Brown, Chief Executive Officer of The National Campaign. “We hope that – in some modest way – the quiz will help teens think carefully about sex and contraception, the possibility of pregnancy, and the lifelong challenges of being a parent.”
About the National Day. On the National Day and throughout May, teens nationwide will be asked to go to The National Campaign’s teen website—StayTeen.org —and take a short, scenario-based quiz (available in English and Spanish). The quiz challenges young people to consider what they would do in a number of sexual situations.
In 2008, more than 300,000 people took the National Day Quiz—up from 75,000 in 2002. Participants were able to take the quiz online or download a print version in English or Spanish. National Day Quiz discussion guides for parents and teens were also available and were downloaded thousands of times.
Over 1,000 teens who took the National Day Quiz took part in a post-quiz evaluation survey. Among the findings:
- 73% said the Quiz made them think about what they might do in such situations;
- 54% said the Quiz made the risks of sex and teen pregnancy seem more real to them;
- 50% said they’d learned something new from the Quiz about the consequences of sex;
- 55% said they’d talk to their friends about the situations described in the Quiz;
- 51% said the Quiz made them think about things they hadn’t thought about before;
- 54% said they’d encourage others to take the Quiz;
- 57% said some of the situations in the Quiz were things that they or their friends had faced; and
- 48% said they’d talk to their parents or other adults about the situations described in the Quiz.
Additionally, 56% reported taking the quiz as part of a school activity and 31% said they took the quiz at home. About one-third of teens (32%) learned about the quiz from a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult and another one-third (30%) of teens learned about the quiz from one of our online media partners.
Partnerships. The National Campaign works with a variety of partners to make the National Day a success year after year.
- National Partnerships. National Day partners include a diverse group of media outlets, health sector leaders, education leaders, businesses, youth-serving groups, groups representing elected officials, fatherhood and male involvement groups, faith-based groups, and other prominent national organizations. These groups promote the National Day to their members, affiliates, customers, audiences, and contacts in ways the National Campaign could never have afforded or accomplished on its own. For an up-to-date list of this year’s National Day Partners, visit our Partners page.
- Media Partnerships. Each year, The National Campaign works with a variety of online and traditional media partners to spread the word about the National Day. Among this year’s partners are ABC, ABC Family, NBC, The N, Seventeen, CWtv.com, Maury, and many others. For more information about our National Day media partnerships, visit our Media Partners page.
- State and Local Partnerships. The National Day continues to be a remarkable organizing event for states and communities nationwide. To help these state and local promotional efforts, the National Campaign develops and distributes a variety of teen-friendly materials—such as National Day wristbands and pens—to help raise awareness of the National Day among teens and adult professionals who work with teens. For a state-by-state breakdown of National Day activities, please visit our What’s Happening in 2009? section. If you are planning a 2009 National Day event, please tell us about it.
Outside information:
More information about teen pregnancy.
Tags: Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Resources, Parenting Teens, Parenting Teens and Sex, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Health, Teen Help, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Teen Sex Education
Sue Scheff: Teen Pregnancy on the Increase
by Sue Scheff on Jan 23, 2009
Teen birth rates up? Parents need to take steps to learn why – what can they do to help their young teens understand having a child is not easy. Before you are faced with this difficult and sensitive situations, continue opening communication about sex as well as contraceptives. Years ago a young teen getting pregnant seemed like the worst possible situation – now having unprotected sex can not only lead to pregnancy and big decisions for young teens, but deadly diseases. Take time to learn more.
Source: Connect with Kids
“It does give them another way to look at themselves, and to look at their bodies as a powerful force and not just sort of ornamental.”
– Laura Mee, Ph.D., Child Psychologist.
One girl gives birth to a baby. Another plays basketball with her brother. What’s the connection?
Studies show girls who play sports are less likely to have sex and less likely to get pregnant. One reason may be these athletes gain confidence and respect for their bodies.
“It does give them another way to look at themselves, and to look at their bodies as a powerful force and not just sort of ornamental,” explains child psychologist, Dr. Laura Mee.
Experts say experiencing pressure on the court gives them the strength to resist pressure from a boyfriend. And, in their free time, it gives them something else to focus on besides how they look, “Their hair, their clothes, their, like reputation… mostly all they want to do is impress the boys,” says 12-year-old Claire.
What’s more, studies have found that athletic girls have higher self-esteem, better grades and less stress.
So, experts say, encourage your daughters to get involved in sports and then cheer them on. “Make it as important that your daughters have sporting events as you would for your son that you treat them as equally as you possibly can, that you support and encourage and that the other children, whether they are male or female, support and encourage each other in their sports activities,” says Mee.
Tips for Parents
Sex is something parents should constantly discuss with their teens, but you should really give your teens “the talk” before summer and Christmas vacation. According to one study, teens are much more likely to lose their virginity during the months of June and December than any other time of the year. Almost 19,000 adolescents in grades seven through twelve participated in the survey, which identified the month they had sexual intercourse for the first time. The survey also asked if the act was with a romantic partner or was more “casual.”
The findings, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, show June as the most popular month, followed closely by December. Summer and Christmas vacations are believed to be the cause with school out and teens with time on their hands. More events are also planned in June, including high school proms, graduations and summertime parties. The “holiday season effect” makes December the second highest month for teen sex. Experts explained that during the holidays, young females in relationships are more likely to have sex. The holidays usually bring people together and make them closer. The same is true with teenagers.
All studies indicate messages from parents regarding sex are extremely important to teens (Washington State Department of Health). In fact, teens state parents as their number one resource for information on the topic. This talk may be uncomfortable for many parents, so the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has provided the following tips for parents:
- Practice. It may take practice to feel comfortable talking about sex with your kids. Rehearsing with a friend or partner can help. Be honest. Admit to your child if talking about sex is not easy for you. You might say, “I wish I’d talked with you about sex when you were younger, but I found it difficult and kept putting it off. My parents never talked to me about it, and I wish they had.”
- Pay attention. Often parents do not talk to their teens about sex because they did not notice they wanted or needed information. Not all teens ask direct questions. Teenagers are often unwilling to admit they do not know everything. Notice what is going on with your child and use that as a basis for starting a conversation about sexual topics.
- Look for chances to discuss the sexual roles and attitudes of men and women with your child. Use television show, ads and articles as a start.
- Listen. When you give your full attention, you show that you respect your child’s thoughts and feelings. Listening also gives you a chance to correct wrong information they may have gotten from friends. As you listen, be sensitive to unasked questions. “My friend Mary is going out on a real date,” could lead to a discussion of how to handle feelings about touching and kissing.
Parents can also share their feelings on the topic through words and actions. The best way is to talk to teens. Even though it may seem like they are not listening – they are. To have a healthy and effective discussion on sex, the Advocates for Youth Campaign encourages parents to:
- Educate yourself and talk with your children about issues of sexuality. Do not forget about discussing the importance of relationships, love, and commitment.
- Discuss explicitly with preadolescents and teens the value of delaying sexual initiation and the importance of love and intimacy as well as of safer sex and protecting their health.
- Encourage strong decision-making skills by providing youth with age-appropriate opportunities to make decisions and to experience the consequences of those decisions. Allow young people to make mistakes and encourage them to learn from them.
- Encourage teens to create a resource list of organizations to which they can turn for assistance with sexual health, and other, issues. Work together to find books and Web sites that offer accurate information.
- Actively support comprehensive sexuality education in the schools. Find out what is being taught about sexuality, who is teaching it, and what your teens think about it.
- Actively voice your concerns if the sexuality education being taught in local public schools is biased, discriminatory, or inaccurate, has religious content, or promotes a particular creed or denomination.
- Demonstrate unconditional love and respect for your children.
References
- Advocates for Youth Campaign
- Journal of Marriage and Family
- National Parent Teacher Association
- Washington State Department of Health
Tags: At Risk Teens, Connect with Kids, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sue Scheff, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Sex Education, Teenage Pregnancy
Sue Scheff: HIV Testing for Teens
by Sue Scheff on Jan 15, 2009
Years ago, one of our biggest fears with pre-marital sex, was getting pregnant! Today we still have that fear, but what is more concerning is the STD’s! They can be death sentences in some cases. Parents need to take the time to educate our teens today of the consequences of unprotected sex. None of us like the idea of our teens having sex so young, but we need to face the reality if they do, they need to be protected.
Source: Connect with Kids
“Our evidence is that when people find out they’re infected with HIV, they cut down their risky behavior by more than two-thirds.”
– Bernard Branson, M.D., Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Does your 13-year-old need an HIV test?
“No, because she’s not sexually active,” says father Mark Alterio, “So I wouldn’t have her screened.”
“I’m a proponent of being more informed,” says mother Ingrid Emmons, “and I feel like if you’re more informed then we can get you the help that you need. So I’d rather know than not know.”
The American College of Physicians is now backing the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations to have everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 tested for HIV.
But why start so young?
“Our information, first of all, from recent surveys suggests that about 47-percent of teenagers, high school students, are sexually active,” says Dr. Bernard Branson, with the CDC’s division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 250-thousand Americans have HIV and don’t know it.
Experts say expanded testing could stop thousands from spreading the virus.
“Our evidence is that when people find out they’re infected with HIV,” says Dr. Branson, “they cut down their risky behavior by more than two-thirds.”
Experts estimate testing will reduce the number of new HIV cases from around 40-thousand to 17-thousand a year.
Screening could especially benefit teenagers.
“Our recommendation is to make this something that’s routine,” says Dr. Branson, “so that it doesn’t cause an adolescent in particular to have to admit something they might prefer not to, in order to get HIV-tested.”
In other words, if it’s not routine, some kids won’t ask to get tested – because it means admitting they were sexually active.
Some parents agree.
“Kids are always hiding something,” says mother Melanie Zentner, “especially in the teenaged years, even if you’re close. So I’d like to know, so you can take care of it right away. That would be my opinion.”
HIV tests cost between eight and 20 dollars each. If there is a positive result, more testing is done to confirm the results.
Tips for Parents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2006, 15 percent of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were 13 to 24. Twenty-six percent were aged 25-34. The typical delay between the exposure to HIV infection and the onset of AIDS means that most of these young adults were infected as teens. There is a growing concern among U.S. health organizations about complacency – referred to as “safe-sex fatigue” – among young people toward HIV infection and AIDS. However, statistics show there is no reason for teens to be complacent about AIDS.
The Kaiser Family FoundationSexual Health of Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States 2008 report finds the following statistics about HIV, AIDS and teens:
- The CDC estimates that almost 46,000 young people, ages 13 to 24, were living with HIV in the U.S in 2006. Women comprised 28% of these HIV/AIDS cases among 13- to 24-year-olds.
- African-American young adults are disproportionately affected by HIV infection, accounting for 60% of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 13- to 24-year-olds in 2006.
- More HIV infections occurred among adolescents and young adults 13–29 years old (34%) of new HIV infections than any other age group. Most young people with HIV/AIDS were infected by sexual transmission.
- In 2006, 16% of young adults ages 18 to 24 reported that they had been tested for HIV in the past 12 months.
The Kaiser study also shows that over the past decade teens have become smarter about sex:
- Nearly half (48%) of all high school students in 2007 reported ever having had sexual intercourse, a decline from 54% in 1991. Males (50%) are slightly more likely than females (46%) to report having had sex. The median age at first intercourse is 16.9 years for boys and 17.4 years for girls.
- In 2007, among the 35% of currently sexually active high school students, 62% reported using a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse, up from 57% in 1997.1 African-American students (67%) were more likely to report using condoms compared to White (60%) and Hispanic (61%) students. Males (69%) were more like to report condom use than females (55%).
- Using a dual method of a condom and hormonal contraceptive is becoming more prevalent for teenage females. The percentage of currently sexually active never-married females 15–19 years of age reporting use of dual methods rose from 8% in 1995 to 20% in 2002.
Sexually active teens need information, skills and support to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS. The American Association for World Health (AAWH) says parents communicating in a positive way about sexuality and risky behaviors can have a “profound influence” in helping young people make healthy decisions. Talking to your teen about AIDS can often be difficult and uncomfortable because it requires talking about issues like sex and drugs. The AAWH suggests the following tips when talking to your teen about HIV and AIDS:
- AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a serious and fatal disease of the human immune system and is caused by a virus called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A person will not develop AIDS unless he or she has first been infected with HIV.
- HIV can be spread through oral, anal or vaginal sexual activity. The sexual transmission can be from male to female, from male to male, from female to male or from female to female. HIV may be in an infected person’s blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk. It can enter the body through cuts or sores on tissue in the vagina, penis, rectum and sometimes the mouth. The cuts may be so small that you don’t know they’re there.
- You can become infected with HIV from even one instance of unprotected sex. While complete abstinence is the surest way to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, protecting yourself with a latex condom or barrier at every sexual encounter is very important.
- Most birth control methods like the pill or diaphragms don’t protect you from HIV.
- Whether you inject drugs or steroids or use needles for tattoos or body piercing, sharing needles places you at risk for becoming infected with HIV.
- Using drugs of any kind, including alcohol or inhalants, can cloud your judgment. You could become less careful about having sex or injecting drugs – behaviors that place you at risk for HIV.
References
- American Association for World Health
- American College of Physicians
- Centers for Disease Control
- The Kaiser Family Foundation
Tags: Connect with Kids, Parenting Teens, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Sex Education, STD's, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Teen Issues, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Sex, Teen Sex Education
Sue Scheff – Teenage Pregnancy
by Sue Scheff on Dec 22, 2008
Every year, approx. 750,000 teenage girls become pregnant in the United States. That is roughly 1/3 of the age group’s population, a startling fact! Worse, more than 2/3 of teens who become mothers will not graduate from high school.
If you are a parent who has recently discovered that your teenage daughter is pregnant or may be pregnant, we understand your fear and pain. This is a difficult and serious time in both yours and your daughters’ life.
Our organization, Parent’s Universal Resource Experts (P.U.R.E.™) works closely with parents and teenagers in many troubling situations, such as unplanned pregnancy. We understand how you feel!
No matter what happens, you and your daughter must work together to make the best choice for her and her unborn child. Your support and guidance is imperative as a mother. You CAN make it through as a family!
We have created this website as a reference for parents dealing with teenage pregnancy in hope that we can help you through the situation and make the best decisions.
Please visit our website, Help Your Teens, for more information as well as support.
Tags: At Risk Teens, Parenting, Parenting Teens, Peer Pressure, Planned Parenthood, Sue Scheff, Teen Parents, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Sex, Teen Sex Education
