By Danya
I can think of few things less appealing than the idea of talking to my parents about sex. Why would I ever want to do that? The truth is parents can be a great resource.
One of the big contributors to unintended pregnancies and STDs is lack of knowledge and education. Many teens don’t feel comfortable asking questions and end up making risky sexual decisions with unwanted consequences- like having sex without a condom and another form of birth control.
When I was in high school I really wanted to go on birth control but was afraid to talk to my mom about it. I was scared she would be awkward, uncomfortable or even worse… judgmental.
I finally mustered up the courage to talk to her about it and to my surprise she was unbelievably supportive. She didn’t question my intentions or attempt to pry about my motives for going on the pill. Instead she told me what she knew about oral contraceptives, reminded me that condoms are the only way to prevent against STDs, and offered to make an appointment for me with my doctor. This conversation really opened up communication between us and was a turning point in our relationship.
Most people don’t want to tell their parents every last detail about their life- and you don’t need to. But parents can be really helpful to talk with about a lot of things - they have their own experiences and knowledge they may be willing to share. A few years after this first fateful conversation with my mom, I decided I wanted to get an IUD. This time I wasn’t afraid to bring it up with her because I’d already broken the ice with our earlier conversation about the pill. She ended up telling me about her own experiences with IUD’s and helped me find out more about my possible options.
Educating yourself on sex is the best way to stay safe, and your parents can be a great resource. Why not use them? Click here for more tips on communicating with your parents.