Guest Blog Post
myHealth for Teens and Young Adults wants to help foster a culture that allows young people to discuss their sexuality candidly. While it can be awkward or cumbersome to talk about sex, contraception, and dating, it is incredibly essential that teens have these conversations with their parents and other trusted adults.
The prospect of discussing sexual health and contraceptives with your parents can seem mortifying, but it is imperative in order to ensure that you are making responsible choices. Talking to your parents about sex can help you access critical resources for your sexual health, such as contraceptives, the HPV vaccine, and STD testing. Moreover, your parents may be a guiding force when it comes to sexual health, dating, and relationships. There are many tactics you can use to begin a discussion with your parents about these topics. For instance, you can brainstorm questions that you have to prepare for the conversation and let them know that you want to talk about something personal. Furthermore, it is entirely acceptable to immediately disclose that you don’t feel altogether comfortable discussing these topics but understand how it will benefit you. The Planned Parenthood organization also suggests using a reference to an article or show to bring up the subject. This strategy may help you transition into your specific questions more naturally.
Many of you may remain unconvinced, inwardly cringing at the thought of broaching such a topic with your mom and dad. While you may think that they will react negatively or with shock, it is more likely that your parents are willing to endure a little initial embarrassment to gain some insight into your life. After all, your parents care about you immensely, and they want you to feel comfortable coming to them for support. As odd as it may feel to consider, your parents were once in your shoes and had experience navigating sexual health and relationships in their youth as well. Openly having a conversation with them about topics related to sex and dating will not only strengthen your relationship, but it will also allow you both to gauge each other’s thoughts on the topics. Doing this will ensure that you are on the same page. Above all, having a conversation with your parents will equip you with the ability to make safe choices about your health by showing you that you have someone to turn to for guidance.
