Promiscuous teenagers

The idea of their teenager having an active sex life is worrying for many parents; the notion that their teenager is behaving in a seriously promiscuous fashion would horrify them. Promiscuity is not gender biased, boys as well as girls are capable of reckless multiple sexual encounters at all ages. When teenagers stay out late, parent's first thoughts are alcohol and drugs. They interrogate the teenager on their return and the teen is sober and lucid, possibly even repentant and the parent breathes a sigh of relief that their teenager is not up to mischief.

Sexual activity is not always easy to identify, unless a parent is specifically looking for it, and frankly, most parents do not think of this straight away. When a teenager first starts dating, the liberal parent may assume that sex is on the agenda and send their teenager to a sexual health clinic or get an oral contraceptive prescribed through their health insurance. Whilst this may prevent pregnancy it does not always prevent promiscuity, or sexually transmitted diseases.

Sex is a difficult topic for parents and teenagers to discuss, especially if the parents have not broached the topic at any stage in their teens transition from childhood to adolescence. The discussion regarding promiscuity is even harder; as it implies a lack of trust by the parent and that the teenager is an irresponsible, cheap, slutty sort of person! The discussion parents need o have with a teenager before they worry their teen may become sexually active, is a discussion about respect. This is a strong word for teenagers and therefore a good starting point for parents.

When they do go to high school, all teens will know very quickly, who the "stud" is and who is the "slut" at school; they will hear these teens being talked about in very negative terms. Parents can ask their teenagers how they would feel if that was them being talked about. They need to talk about respecting their bodies, not risking the harm that can come from dangerous sexual encounters, and the long term risks of infertility and cancer from multiple partners. Teenagers need support in understanding the difference between lust and love, and that partners who pressure them to have sex, do not love them, true partners should respect the word no.

Teenagers who become promiscuous do so for a variety of reasons; abuse in the home, belief that it will make them popular, a way to escape feelings and emotional confusion and even a search for love and affection. Parents may notice their teen becomes more secretive, stays out late, starts to dress differently and is very evasive when asked questions about their dating. Pre-emption is better than cure, talking to teens before they are misinformed and misled by their peers is better than dealing with the consequences. If you find out your teen is promiscuous, save the yelling for later, get them to a clinic, get them checked out, and then start the counseling they will need to get to the bottom of this dangerous behavior.