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Polls and research have shown that there has been a gradual decrease in pre-marital sexual activity and teen pregnancy in America. However, we still lead the industrialized nations of the world for the most teen pregnancies out of wedlock and an increasing number of STD cases.
The United States has 8 to 10 times higher pregnancy rates than other industrialized countries, except for England and Canada, which is about 1/2 the number of non-marital (under age 18) pregnancies. There is also an alarming number of reported STD cases involving youth from ages 12-17, which constitute about 25% of STD infected individuals.
Although there has been an increase in STD occurrences, such as AIDS, syphilis and gonorrhea, there is also a lot of spread of these diseases going on needlessly because of misinformation and myths. Oral sex has become a going trend among teens because they don't recognize it as real sex and think it is safer than intercourse. "Parents were alarmed by a new national study showing that more than half of teens ages 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex."
What many teens do not realize is that about any bodily fluid can transmit disease or infection, including the mouth.
It is estimated that one million youth may be carrying a STD, including HIV, and don't know it until perhaps years later.
Many teens believe if they use a condom, they are protected from STD and pregnancies. Actually, the failure rate of a condom increases with use. The first year of condom use, there is a 15% chance of failure; the second year, it's 30%; the third year, it's 45%, etc., etc. There are also parts of the body which are exposed to, and come in contact with, other parts of the body during sex that are not protected when using a condom. It is a fact that some people have contacted the AIDS virus even with regular condom use.
Also, studies show that the oral contraception is not as effective in preventing pregnancies in younger women because of their unusually higher fertility rate. This can lower its effectiveness to about 80% or less instead of the commonly 99% effectiveness as advertised. Oral contraception does not protect you against STDs.
Regardless of how careful you are, the more frequently a teen engages in sex the greater his or her chances are of contracting a STD or becoming pregnant. In the book The Real Truth about Teens & Sex, by Sabrina Weill, former Editor-in-Chief of "Seventeen Magazine," "While some opt for oral sex to avoid virginity loss or pregnancy, many teens view it as less intimate than intercourse and consider it a 'base' (usually third), Weill writes. The percentage of teens who have engaged in oral sex rises to nearly 7 in 10 by age 18-19, according to the National Center for Health Statistics study." Weill goes on to say that after further surveys and research, she found that there is at least a 50-50 chance teens are having either intercourse or oral sex or both.
Tips
According to a 2004 National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy study, some of Weill's tips include the following:
- 1. Don't wait for teens to initiate the conversation.
- 2. Talk to teens one-on-one about sex and dating. Ask what "sex" means to them.
- 3. Turn the tables. Telling a teen, "He's not worth it if he won't wait," isn't enough. Turn the tables and talk about what she is worth.
- 4. Emphasize that sex shouldn't "just happen."
- 5. Use statistics to get into the topic. Parents can mention that 7 out of 10 teens believe most students their age have had sex, but only half of teens actually have.
- 6. Talk about love rather than sex.
- 7. Be aware of big events, i.e. proms, graduation, New Year's Eve, etc.
- 8. Don't extract a confession, which could make the teen feel like he or she is being judged or attacked.