Adolescent Sexuality - Essay Example

Adolescent Sexuality Adolescent sexuality can be regarded as a period of human sexuality with developments in body, sexual behavior and feelings. Usually when children enter into teenage, their body goes into transformation because of hormones that are produced in their body. These hormones cause unsteady feelings like irritability, restlessness and tension. Due to these changes and feelings, adolescents frequently make wrong choices regarding their sexual life.A number of the high risk sexual behaviors in which teens become involved are cited below:a) Sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs: Research suggests that drug is one of the main reasons for unprotected sex practice.

Most teens tend to practice sex under the influence of drugs and in alcoholic conditions without safety precautions which leaves them venerable to STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and teenage pregnancies. b) Early start of sexual intercourse: Other risks associated with teen sex include early start of sex practice. Teens usually get attracted towards opposite sex at an early stage and start to have sex with their partners. In 2006 7, 50,000 teens below the age of 20 became pregnant in United States (Guttmacher Institute, 2010).c) Multiple sex partners: Majority of the teens who are engaged in having sex with more than one partners are often likely to develop attitudes like fighting, taking drugs and smoking.

These activities are mainly observed among girls. It also increases the chances of pregnancies and STDs.d) Unprotected sex: Most of the adolescents are often engaged in unprotected sexual practices. The two most common consequences of unprotected sexual practice are; transmission of various sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.i) STDs: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are a major issue in teen sex. These diseases are usually transmitted by unsafe sex practices which are prominent among teens.

19 million STD infections occur worldwide each year among in which half of them are teens between the ages of 15-24 (SADD, 2007).Another reason for high rate of STDs among teens is because of the wrong perception that oral sex or anal sex does not have the risk of transmission of STDs. A number of of the sexually transmitted diseases are AIDS, Genital Warts, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Chlamydia, Pubic Lice or Crabs, Vaginitis and Hepatitis (Menstruation, 1999).Consequences of these diseases are infertility, blindness, cancer, heart diseases and even death.

These diseases can be prevented by the use of safety measures like condoms and dental dam during sex. ii) Teen Pregnancy: Another consequence of unprotected sex is teen pregnancy. Most teens often indulge in unsafe and unplanned sex practice due to their immaturity. In US 34% of teens become pregnant before they reach the age of 20 which is around 8, 20,000 a year (SADD, 2007).The result of unprotected sexual behavior leads to pregnancy at an early age might be harmful for a girl. Although today there are abortion facilities available in case of unwanted pregnancies, still it leads to mental and physical breakdown for the girl.

All these risks and consequences of adolescent sex can be prevented by providing proper sex-education to teens in schools. Information on importance of safety pills and measures during sex should be communicated to them and proper care and attention should be provided by the parents to their children. ReferencesGuttmacher Institute, (2010). U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity. Key Findings. Retrieved Online on October 29, 2010 from http://www.

guttmacher.org/pubs/USTPtrends.pdf Menstruation, (1999). STD List and Symptoms. Fertility. Retrieved Online on October 29, 2010 from http://www.menstruation.com.au/fertility/stdlist.html SADD, (2007). Statistics. Resources. Retrieved Online on October 29, 2010 from http://www.sadd.org/stats.htmBibliographyUniversity of Maryland, (2010). Adolescent pregnancy – Overview. Medical Reference. Retrieved Online on October 29, 2010 from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001516.htm