It would be naïve of us to think that our teens are not engaged in sexual intercourse.
The definition of safe sex is: having sexual contact while protecting yourself and your sexual partner against sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancy. Sexual contact that doesn’t involve the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids or blood between partners is considered to be safe sex.
While we wish that our teens would wait until married to have sex, that is not realistic. So in order to keep them safe from STD's and unwanted pregnancies we need to give them the necessary tools to make good decisions regarding sex.
If safe sex is not practiced, teens need to know that they can be at risk to get one of the following STD's: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV or hepatitis B, or may result in an unplanned pregnancy.
Condoms offer the best available protection against STDs by acting as a physical barrier to prevent the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids or blood between partners. Safe sex is also called ‘safer sex’ to highlight the fact that condoms and other barrier methods are not 100% effective in preventing STDs.
However, condoms do offer the best available protection when used correctly.
It is also important to inform our teens that condoms aren't 100% effective; even when used correctly.
Here are some things to keep in mind when talking to your teen about safe sex and condom use.
• Sex using a condom may still spread an infection if the condom does not fully cover the infected area. For example, some infections such as pubic lice, scabies, the genital wart virus and the herpes virus are spread by close skin-to-skin contact. Condoms provide some protection against these STDs, but not full protection.
• A condom may break, particularly if it has not been stored properly or the right lubricant has not been used. This is why you should always use water-based lubricant. Oil-based lubricants are associated with condom breakage and should not be used. Do not expose a condom to prolonged heat. Don’t use a condom that is past its use-by date. Don’t try to re-apply a used condom – they are designed for one use only.
Please have this conversation with your teens. Regardless how hard it may be it could save their life.
If safe sex is not practiced, teens need to know that they can be at risk to get one of the following STD's: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV or hepatitis B, or may result in an unplanned pregnancy.
Condoms offer the best available protection against STDs by acting as a physical barrier to prevent the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids or blood between partners. Safe sex is also called ‘safer sex’ to highlight the fact that condoms and other barrier methods are not 100% effective in preventing STDs.
However, condoms do offer the best available protection when used correctly.
It is also important to inform our teens that condoms aren't 100% effective; even when used correctly.
Here are some things to keep in mind when talking to your teen about safe sex and condom use.
• Sex using a condom may still spread an infection if the condom does not fully cover the infected area. For example, some infections such as pubic lice, scabies, the genital wart virus and the herpes virus are spread by close skin-to-skin contact. Condoms provide some protection against these STDs, but not full protection.
• A condom may break, particularly if it has not been stored properly or the right lubricant has not been used. This is why you should always use water-based lubricant. Oil-based lubricants are associated with condom breakage and should not be used. Do not expose a condom to prolonged heat. Don’t use a condom that is past its use-by date. Don’t try to re-apply a used condom – they are designed for one use only.
Please have this conversation with your teens. Regardless how hard it may be it could save their life.
No comments:
Post a Comment