TEEN SEXUALITY&

ABSTINENCE VS SEXUAL ACTIVITY

1.02 UNDERSTANDING TEEN SEXUALITY, TEEN PREGNANCY, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT ABSTINENCE VERSUS

SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

WHAT IS SEXUALITY REFERS TO A PERSON’S VIEW OF HIMSELF

OR HERSELF AS A MALE OR FEMALE. SEXUALITY INCLUDES HOW PEOPLE FEEL

ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING

FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR FEELINGS.

WAYS TEENS SHOW THEIR SEXUALITY

• ATTITUDES• WAYS OF WALKING AND MOVING• SPEECH• DRESS

ASPECTS OF TEEN SEXUALITY• PHYSICAL

• HORMONAL CHANGES • CHANGES IN PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE THAT ACCOMPANY PUBERTY

• INTELLECTUAL• CHANGES IN SENSE OF

RESPONSIBILITY• CHANGES IN PRIORITIES

• EMOTIONAL • MOOD SWINGS• EMOTIONAL UPS AND DOWNS

• SOCIAL • ATTRACTIONS TO NEW FRIENDS • CHANGING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS• GREATER INDEPENDENCE• DESIRE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH

FRIENDS• QUESTIONING PARENTAL AUTHORITY• EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON TEEN

SEXUALITY

RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT ABSTINENCE VERSUS SEXUAL ACTIVITY

• POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY • PREGNANCY• SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

TEEN PREGNANCY CREATES FOUR TYPES OF PROBLEMS

• HEALTH RISKS• IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL CHOICES• FINANCIAL PROBLEMS• EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL STRESS

HEALTH RISK• A TEEN IS NOT YET

PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY MATURE AND MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE EXTRA DEMANDS OF PREGNANCY.

• TEENS ARE AT GREATER RISK THAN ADULTS WOMEN FOR EXPERIENCING SERIOUS MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS. IRON DEFICIENCY: PREVENT MOTHER AND BABY FROM OXYGEN, TOXEMIA: CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE DELIVERY OF THE BABY

IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL CHOICES

• ITS IMPORTANT FOR PREGNANT TEENS TO COMPLETE THEIR SCHOOLING, NEARLY HALF OF TEEN MOTHERS DROP OUT. • WITHOUT A HIGH

SCHOOL DIPLOMA ITS HARD TO FIND A JOB.

• PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS CAN WORK WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS• TEEN MOTHERS NEED

GOOD MEDICAL CARE, YOU NEED MONEY FOR THAT!• BOTH PARENTS ARE

LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FINANCIALLY FOR THEIR CHILD.

• FINANCIAL BURDEN OF CHILD CARE EXPENSES CAN BECOME OVERWHELMING.

EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL STRESS• ADJUSTING TO NEW

RELATIONSHIPS CAN CAUSE GREAT STRESS. • TEEN PARENTS MAY MISS

THEIR OLD FRIENDS HOWEVER REALIZE THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH THEM.

• TEEN PARENTS MAY ALSO HAVE TO GIVE UP AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR CUT BACK!

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES• CHLAMYDIA• GONORRHEA• SYPHILIS• HERPES• GENITAL WARTS• HIV/AIDS • (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS/ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME)