Many teens have found that it can be a big help to talk to their parents about sex and health. Because they care about you and want you to be happy, they want the opportunity to talk with you and try to help you in any way they can.
It’s true that some parents don’t have the information about sex you need or are not comfortable talking about sex with you. This doesn’t mean they don’t want to try to help you. They may even want to learn! There are some links below you can give to your parents.
You may or may not know how your parents feel about talking about sex. You might think they will be upset with you. Unless you know absolutely for sure that they would be very upset or even punish you in some way, it is worth a try to begin talking to them.
If you live with two parents or both your parents are living but no longer together, think about which one (or both) you want to try to talk with about sex.
It may not be easy to start the conversation but there are ways to make it easier.
- Pick a time when your parents can give you their full attention.
- Bring up the topic in a way that makes it clear you value what they have to say.
- Ask questions: “What do you think I should know about sex?”
- Keep lines of communication open.