Teen Health Issues|Just another WordPress weblog

What Is Pornography ?

• Strategy of Pornography is ‘Fantasy’.
• The logic behind pornography is ‘making the viewers sexually excited‘.
• The Motto of Pornography is ‘selling sex‘.

What Do You Find In Pornography ?

Pornography is all about illusion which young, innocent minds like yours are unable to understand.

Why You Use Pornography ?

Hope you are not addicted ! Taking time to think ? Are you a Sex-addict ? Is it only fun that is making you look at such meaningless and unethical materials or you cannot live without it ?

Where Can You Find Pornography ?

Teens do not find pornography. In fact, pornography finds teenagers, even in cases where they do not look for it. The reason is Internet, which is an unavoidable part of each teen’s life. Porn sites are very easily available even searching for simple topics. And specifically, the chat rooms are the worst place to get exposed to the pornography.

Is Pornography Harmful To Teens ?

Most of you will not agree with me but would definitely take a thought in your mind. Isn’t it ? But its the bitter truth that really cannot be avoided. Its the hormones, that make you all teenagers so confused and curious for every new thing. This is the age of puberty, a very impressionable age at which most teens get interested in talking about sex and looking at pictures and things representing sex and sex symbols. Most teens get exposed to pornography due to their eagerness at such age.

All teens who watch pornographic are not always addicted but most of them of course develop into sex addicts. Their innocence and childhood gets lost within the dirty game of the sex industry. The teen boys within the age group of 12-17 are the targets for the porn industry. They tend to become their lifelong customers even after they grow old.

The porn industry preys on such minds and earns out of them. Every second, thousands of dollars are spent on pornography. But exposure to a dirty aspect of sex at such an early age can be harmful. Teens have been seen to get fascinated over the exposure to pornography and start experimenting with sex. Obviously, ‘playing with sex‘ at an early age can have serious consequences. Because ’sex’ for them is just a ‘fun element‘. The real meaning and aestheticism is lost.

• The effects have been seen to be progressive ending up with addictions. Teen boys have been found engaged in oral sex commonly.
• The higher exposure can increase the risk of sexual assaults, child molestation and rape in teens.
• The most deadly consequence is the increasing number of sexually transmitted diseases amongst the teenagers. In the US, at least 1 out of every 4 girls who are sexually active has been found infected with some kind of sexually transmitted disease.
• Most of us may not agree, but it is a fact that pornography can cause stress on teen minds. Many teenagers have been found suffering from self-esteem issues. It can hamper their growth and mental development.
• Pornographic viewing conveys ” Women is valued only for her body. The feeling of lust is the only reason for which a woman is admired, loved and cared. This can be reason of depression and onset of several eating disorders in many teen girls.
• Pornography teaches avoiding the need of living the whole life with one dedicated person and cheating in relationships.
• Unplanned pregnancies is another alarming concern worldwide. Which is of course a consequence of pornography.
• The education and career also goes for a toss.

The most scary dream a teen guy can have is to see his girl friend pregnant. And the deadliest experience is to see it real. It is extremely painful and of course, a threatening situation for every teenager to discover his beloved expecting. Many of them think of supporting their partners while most of them just pass by. They get scared of responsibilities and do not want to share the guilt. But for guys who are sensible and are truly in love with their girl, come ahead to help her. Such teen dads have many doubts and questions in their mind regarding the pregnancy and care. But they feel ashamed to talk about it or share with somebody. Their prime aim is to understand what their baby girl is going through. So I have collected few points exclusively for the responsible teen dads.

Time Frame -

Do you know about the menstrual cycle of your partner. before indulging into any sexual activities, if you get to know about her menstrual periods, you may take a step in avoiding pregnancy. Usually a girl becomes pregnant only after 2 weeks of her last menstrual cycle. From here the pregnancy will last for almost a 40 weeks. These 40 weeks are divided into three periods:-

1. The first trimester (starting from the 1st week to the end of the 12 week)
2. The second trimester (starting from the beginning of the 13th week to the end of the 26th week)
3. Third trimester (starting from the beginning of the 27th week till the end of the pregnancy).

Doctor Appointments -

Appointments with doctor are a must. You and your girl may be ashamed and restricted by your mind to see a doctor. But do not let that happen. Whatever has happened is already over, think about going forward with your decision and living your life accordingly. You must see a doctor once in every month. This must be done as a habit from the very beginning since pregnancy is confirmed. You will be required to see the doctor more often as the due date nears. A weekly visit may be needed towards the end of the third trimester.
In case, your partner is at any risk during her pregnancy due to her age, size, medical history or health complication. support her. Consult health provider very often and follow their guidelines strictly.
An ultrasound test may be done to detect the size, growth, health and conditions of the baby.
You need to follow the doctor’s guidelines to keep your girl and your baby away from any problems.

Symptoms -

How to doubt if your girl is pregnant. Check with her if she is having any delay in her menstrual periods. Because the first confirmatory test is the absence of periods during pregnancy. Check with her if she is complaining of nausea and vomiting. It can start at any time during pregnancy, which is often termed as Morning sickness. Symptoms like fatigue, cravings for food, tenderness in breasts, aches and pains and headaches can be felt during pregnancy.

Considerations -

You must consider telling your parents about the pregnancy. Its not only about your parents but also the parents of your partner. Of course they have a right to know whatever is going on in their child’s life. I know this is very difficult, but have to be done. In extreme cases, parents at both sides may ask you both to move out. Think about alternate arrangements to live. Because sex might be a matter of fun for you at your age, but the consequences is no more a fun element. You need to have some guidance from elder ones.

Choices -

Make choices and take decision for your baby’s mother, baby and you. Basic three options available to you are:-

• raise the baby on your own,
• put the baby up for adoption,
• have an abortion

Any of the above decision you take would change your entire life. After all its your baby, your blood, your portion. Be very supportive in whatever decision, your girl takes. In case, you both clash in decision, do not argue or fight. try to convince her by putting forward your thoughts, the demerits and clues to support your decision.

Support -

Your support will be the gift of a lifetime which your girl friend would need during her entire pregnancy.

Above all this, teen boys and girls this is a lesson for you. Do not indulge in sexual activities unless you are completely aware of what it is ? ‘Safe Sex’ is the best option to prevent pregnancy.

Parents are the most important sex educators of their children.

Talking about sexuality with your children can challenging. Sometimes parents are afraid about talking too much too soon. No parent needs to be an expert on sexuality to have meaningful conversations with their children, and every parent can and should share his/her values about sexuality, relationships and respect for others.

Is it necessary to talk about it?

Kids need to know how their bodies function, how to prevent pregnancy and disease transmission. Sex education is also a process of building trust with your child.

Your child needs to know that:

It’s not that they don’t know. Sometimes they

Many teens on their own don’t tell the truth to their parents when it comes to sex, for four main reasons:

• They don’t want to anger their parents.
• They don’t want to disappoint their parents.
• They feel scared that they have done something wrong, and are ashamed of talking about it.
• They think their parents don’t care to know because they don’t talk about it to them.

Therefore, it is necessary that parents take the initiative and start talking about it. Parents are actually the most influential factor in teens’ knowledge and decisions about sex. Many a times teens themselves want to know from their parents about sex.
How to go about it?

When talking about sex:

Still not sure about talking to teens about sex!

Then you need to know that:

• Over one million teens become pregnant each year.
• Young girls have more problems during pregnancy.
• Babies of young, teen mothers are more likely to be born with serious health problems.
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at epidemic levels. You may have heard of herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and AIDS.
• Some STD’s are incurable. They may cause pain, sterility, or sometimes even death.

Why is knowledge about condoms necessary for teens?

That’s because if they want to have sex with someone, condoms are important! Sex can be great, but there are risks involved like catching infection or a woman getting pregnant. If you don’t want to end up with a STD (sexually transmitted disease) or with a unwanted baby, using a condom is a good idea. No unmarried teenage girl I suppose, will like the idea of telling her parents that she is pregnant or has herpes?
Whose responsibility is it anyway?

Women think it’s the man’s job to make sure he uses a condom while boys think contraception is a woman’s duty. They’re both wrong – it takes two to have sex, so both partners should take the responsibility and make a joint effort.

Why don’t teenagers protect themselves if they are having sex?

It’s not that they don’t know. Sometimes they

• are embarrassed about buying or getting condoms
• feel date pressure
• use alcohol and drugs
• have a lack of knowledge
• believe that using birth control pills is enough protection
• don’t think ahead of time

Should I feel embarrassed about using a condom?

No! Rather it makes you look more mature, and responsible enough to take care of yourself and your sexual partner.

So where can I get them?

Buying condoms can seem frightening or embarrassing, especially for a young person, but it really isn’t. You can get them in most pharmacies or drugstores and a number of supermarkets sell them. If you’re still too embarrassed to go and buy them, you can sometimes get them from vending machines or over the internet.
But there are so many different kinds and brands! Which one is best for me?

There are a lot of different varieties of condoms e.g. Lubricated, Spermicidal, Ribbed, Coloured, Flavoured etc which come in various sizes and materials. As long as you are using a good quality condom, it really doesn’t matter which type or which brand of condom you go in for.

What is a female condom?

There is also now available a female condom, which is a type of pouch that fits inside the vagina.

Doesn’t condom spoil the whole mood ?

One of the main reasons that teens say they don’t like using condoms is that they think condoms interrupt a passionate moment.

But it doesn’t really have to ’spoil the moment’, because helping your partner wear a condom itself could be a very exciting and arousing act.

What if the condom breaks?

If a condom breaks while you’re having sex, then stop right away and put a new condom on. If you think some semen has escaped from the condom, talk to your doctor about getting emergency contraception and a HIV/STD test.

Never re-use a used condom.

Do parents have any role in educating teens about condoms?

By recommending condom usage to teenagers, most parents think that they are actually conveying dangerous ideas to their children

• that “safe sex” is achievable;
• that everybody is doing it, so you can also go for it
• that it’s a good thing to do; and
• that their peers know they know these things, breeding promiscuity.

But that’s not true?

On the contrary, teens can understand, accept and implement the abstinence message when their parents openly talk to them about safe sex mechanisms like using condoms.

If you are a responsible parent and feel that your son or daughter is thinking about engaging in sexual intercourse, you must talk to them about condom usage, other wise you are exposing them to several sexually transmitted diseases. Kids are going to enter this area anyway, so isn’t it our duty as parents to make sure they are properly informed and protected?