Sex and Your Teenager: A Parent's Guide

About the Author

Foreword by Anne Weyman, OBE (Chief Executive, Family Planning Association) Introduction

Puberty

Bodily changes in girls

Bodily changes in boys

The age of puberty

The emotional consequences of puberty

Periods

Wet dreams

Is puberty starting earlier than in previous generations?

Learning about sex

Schools

Parents

Society

Friends

The media

Communication

Sexual development in early adolescence

The need for privacy

Relationships with adults

Boys and girls are different

Masturbation

The fears and anxieties of adults

The fears and anxieties of teenagers

First relationships

Love and romance

Readiness for sex

Contraception

Personal safety

Essential messages for parents to emphasise

The impact of teenage sexuality on the family

The parent's own sexuality

Boundaries and limits

Sex in the home

Unsuitable relationships

Lone parents

Step-families

Risky behaviour

The nature of adolescence

Sexual risks

Teenage pregnancy

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

HIV/AIDS

Assault, rape and exposure to violence

The parent's response

Sexual orientation

The process of choosing sexual orientation

Finding out that your teenager is gay or lesbian

Sex and the law

The age of consent

Confidentiality

Sexual abuse

The parent's role

The generation gap

Managing conflict between parents

Communication

Index