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what sexual issues are young people facing today?

If the child or teen you care about is troubled about his or her sexuality, sexual hygiene, a pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV/AIDS, this is the place to talk to someone who can help.

Share questions about sexual issues in the Nineline Forum.

sexuality raises a lot of issues for teenagers. Am I sexy? Am I gay or straight? Am I ready to have sex? How do I cope with a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

Covenant House believes that human sexuality is an enriching and important part of our human experience. In keeping with our Judeo-Christian values, we believe that the exercise of our sexuality should be within the context of a life-long relationship and commitment in marriage.

sexual abstinence - not having vaginal, anal or oral sex is one of the most effective ways young people can protect themselves against pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS.

Abstinence requires a lot of self-control and self-motivation as well as support from friends and family. Some young people postpone having sex until they reach a certain age or commit to a relationship. Some of them are motivated by religious reasons, others by concern about getting pregnant, contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Others are motivated by the desire to accomplish goals like finishing high school or college, getting a good job or finding a life partner before they begin a sexual relationship. Abstinence doesn’t mean one can’t be close, affectionate or intimate with their partner. It’s never too late. Even if one’s had sex before, they can still decide to abstain from sex in the future.

avoiding certain behaviors can reduce the risk of getting an STD including HIV/AIDS if they are is determined to be sexually active. It is important that the child or teen know that they increase their chances of catching sexually transmitted diseases by having unprotected sex. Having many sex partners also increases one’s risk of infection. And if one’s sex partner has other sex partners one can contract an STD from them. There are no vaccines against STDs – many of which are incurable – but symptoms can be treated to make one more comfortable and stop the spread of the disease. If you think the child or teen you are concerned about has an STD, they should see a doctor as soon as possible and notify their partner(s) to prevent the spread of the disease.

pregnancy is another consequence of having sex. Pregnancy does not just change one physically but emotionally as well – and it affects one’s family, partner and the child brought into the world. Not having sex is the only 100% sure way of not getting pregnant. And, when their baby is born, they will have to deal with the emotional and financial demands of being a parent. Setting a good example for the unborn child by waiting to have sex until one is ready to be a good parent is important.

AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). It kills your immune system making you more likely to get other infections and diseases like Tuberculosis (TB) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma (a deadly cancer). There is no cure for AIDS but one can learn how to protect oneself from getting it and how to stay healthy and stop the spread of the disease to other people if they already have it.

NEED TO TALK? Call the NINELINE - Hotline at 1-800-999-9999 (TTY: 1-800-999-9915), or e-mail us. It's free, it's confidential, it's 24/7, and it's for you! Hablamos Español.