This article emphasize that sex education is a parent’s responsibility. The role of parents has never been more important in the successful development of responsible sexual behavior in adolescents. Most experts now agree that for all age groups, there is overwhelming belief that the family—however one defines it—is still the most important institution in society.

Where once parents and religion provided markers and guidance, peers and the media now provide a confusing and contradictory source of information. Parents have not only the right to be primary sexuality educators of their children, they also have the responsibility .

Research has shown that ninety eight percent of parents reported that they need help in talking to children about sex. We are not proposing that sexuality education in the home replace any of the current programs available elsewhere such as in the schools or in the community, but rather reinforce them.

Article: Sex education: Talking to your teen about sex [CNN]

The Obama Administration has made the request that all patent information be stored electronically in the next five years.

President Obama, in a speech from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va, said:

“This will cut waste, eliminate red tape and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests. … But it just won’t save billions of dollars and thousands of jobs; it will save lives by reducing the deadly but preventable medical errors that pervade our health-care system.”

We should have our current system converted to electronic medical records by the end of winter ‘09. This will enable us to provide even better service for our patients as tracking down information will be significantly reduced.

Even though emergency contraception (Also known as “Plan B” & “morning after pill” ) has been available in clinics and doctors offices for many years, a lot of young people are not fully informed as to what the drug does. This has resulted in a large number of unintended pregnancies in this country.

From the article:

Only 38 per cent of the group knew that emergency contraception is available over-the-counter at pharmacies and a similar number were also unaware of other places of access,” Dr Calabretto said.

The important message is that students and young people need more knowledge about the “morning after pill” and also to be aware that it can be obtained without seeing a doctor from the pharmacy.

The Article: Science Alert – Students miss ‘morning after’

When the condom itself does not cover all the area exposed during sexual activity then the protection is less as shown in recent research by investigators.

From the article:

Condoms are only partly protective, the researcher noted, because HSV-2 can spread by skin-to-skin contact, which could occur in areas not covered by the condom. Also, she pointed out, even when people with genital herpes don’t have a visible outbreak of infection, they may be able to infect others with the virus.

To be effective condoms most be used consistently and sexual activity should be avoided if other areas are visibly infected.

The Article: Reuters - Condoms offer partial protection against herpes

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, or other intimate contact. There are over 30 of them. STDs are serious, sometimes painful, and can cause a lot of damage.

Some infect your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections. Some diseases including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis can generally be cured quite easily if they are detected and treated early. On the other hand, viral infections–such as HPV (human papilloma virus), genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV–cannot be cured and can be transmitted to sexual partners even years after initial infection.

Every year, 3 million teenagers acquire an STD. Adolescents, thus, account for a quarter of the 12 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur annually in the United States. It is estimated that 25% of sexually experienced adolescents become infected each year.

I would like to point out that, as in the case of unintended pregnancies, abstinence from intercourse is the only 100% effective and safe method of preventing STDs. It is also important to know that STDs are not spread by low-risk sexual activities such as hugging, kissing, petting (fully clothed), and self stimulation. I would like to emphasize that many people with STDs don’t even know they have them, and any teen who is sexually active may carry one or more sexually transmitted disease.

Most experts agree that aside from abstinence, frank discussion of high-risk behaviors and safer sex activities are the only known methods of solving the problem of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, especially HIV infection.

According to research, most of us today, including parents, teenagers, medical professionals, and  religious organizations, want to learn and share more about sexuality and spirituality. Unfortunately, there are barriers to communicating this information which include:

• Lack of information.
• Discomfort or embarrassment in discussing these issues.
• Assuming that children already know more than they actually do or more than you do.
• Excuses such as not having the time or energy.
• Assuming that by talking about sexual matters it might make them do it.
• Value conflicts–confusion about beliefs, feeling, and attitudes.
• Many of us were taught that sex is too “dirty” for words.
• Many of us are afraid that we don’t have all the answers.
• It’s hard for some of us to admit our children are sexual.
• It’s even harder for some of us to admit that we are sexual.

Most research shows that sexuality education programs are similar to other educational programs in their effects. Many programs increase knowledge and a few help clarifies values, but most will not have much influence on the direction of sexual values or on sexual behavior.

However, we do know that sexuality education, which is geared toward parents in the home (similar to what is presented in this article) can  increase motivation to avoid pregnancy and encourage the use of contraceptives, thus reducing teen-age pregnancy.

In other words, by putting aside our prudishness we, as parents, can start our own sexuality programs in our homes in an atmosphere of openness, which will have the greatest impact in decreasing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease.

What can parents do to help teenagers use contraception? We know that our children learn about contraception from many sources and rely heavily on information from their parents, teachers, school nurses, and sex education classes.

However, research by Kaiser Family Foundation has shown that more than 55% of teens say their parents are the source they consider to be the most “reliable and complete” when it comes to information about sex and birth control. Subsequently, we can see and understand the important role parents must play in providing this information.

In order to be effective and help teenagers use contraceptives, parents must:

• Increase knowledge about contraceptive methods for themselves and their children.
• Encourage children not to drink or use drugs because we know that teens’ ability to make responsible decisions, such as whether to have sex and to use contraception, are often compromised in those situations.
• Increase access to affordable contraceptive methods either at clinics or private doctors’ offices.
• Ensure that adolescents have privacy and confidentiality in dealing with the medical profession.

As stated earlier, most experts agree that aside from abstinence, frank discussion of high-risk behaviors and safer sex activities are the only known methods of solving the problem of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, especially HIV infection. According to research, most of us today, including parents, teenagers, medical professionals, and  religious organizations, want to learn and share more about sexuality and spirituality.

Here are some tips for young people to protect themselves from STDs/HIV.

“The data presented in a recent report indicate that many young persons in the United States engage in sexual risk behavior and experience negative reproduce outcomes,” the CDC wrote in its weekly report on death and disease. The rate of AIDS diagnoses for boys aged 15 to 19 years has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, and rates of syphilis are also up.

1. Abstaining from sex is the only sure way to avoid HIV infection, including other sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and pregnancy.  Remember that if you are not sure of about your partner, yourself, or your relationship, your safest choice is not to have sex.
2. Discover other ways to show affection without having sex. These include communicating feeling through talking and actions—going to movies, shopping at malls, buying flowers, enjoying time together-studying, etc.
3. Exploring sexual activities other than intercourse as a way to show affection. These include kissing, hugging, touching, massage, fantasizing, etc.
4. Don’t let drinking or other drug use change your mind about risking HIV infection. Make decisions while you are sober and stick to them.
5. Make decisions with your partner before you are sexually involved, since both partners are responsible for preventing infection. If you decide to have sex, always use a latex condom.
6. Don’t shoot drug; sharing needles (including ear piercing, tattooing) is a dangerous easy way to pass HIV. If you are currently shooting drugs and need help, call and check the phone book under “Drug Abuse” or call National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-4347
7. Find out more information about STDS/HIV/AIDS by talking with your parents, physician, school nurse, health teacher or by contacting: US Public Health Services Hotline (1-800-458-5231).  There is plenty of information about STDs on this website. If you have been exposed and you are worried, don’t wait , visit your doctor or clinic for HIV testing which is confidential or anonymous.  Early detection and treatment can save your life.

What does a typical teenager want from his/her parents today?

1. ‚ To treat me with respect and listen to what I have to say. (similar to how they treat their friends).
2. ‚ To know that I have feelings and to respect them.
3. ‚ To trust me.
4. ‚ To value and respect my opinion and decisions.
5. ‚ To do fun things with me.
6. ‚ To be happy, and I want to be part of a happy family.
7. ‚ To let me choose my own friends and do things with them.
8. ‚ Be open and to understand me.
9. ‚ To love me.
10. ‚ Not to be hypocrites by telling me to do the opposite of what they do.
11. ‚ To treat me like I am older.

In summary, it is clear that children focus primarily on internal needs such as love, security, variety  and  significance, and not just on obtaining external things.