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Parents should discuss the risk of STD with their children, expert says

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Due to the fact that STD rates are rising among young people, experts say it is now more important than ever for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of unprotected sex and the benefits of STD testing.

Despite the importance of these types of discussions, many parents are unprepared or unwilling to talk to their children about these issues. The discussion can be uncomfortable, and many individuals would just prefer to avoid it.

However, Renee Jenkins, the former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said that this is the wrong approach to take. Since teens are going to have sex eventually, it is far better to prepare them for the risks associated with this as early as possible.

"I think sometimes parents are petrified that their children are going to ask them a question and they won’t know the answer, so they don’t want to talk about it," she said. "So get educated."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost half of all new positive STD tests occur in individuals between the ages of 15 and 24.