In late June, the media became abuzz with news of girlfriends in Gloucester, Mass. who pledged to get pregnant by the end of high school and raise their kids together. A variety of responses along the moral and cultural spectrum emerged. Then we learned a week or so later that the whole thing was a hoax.

What happened for you in between points A and Z of this story? Did you, by chance, talk to your teenager about sex? Again? For the first time? If your response is a sheepish “no,” can I encourage you to make your own pact?

Our board-certified physicians each see hundreds of teen women every year. They know firsthand what happens when parents don’t talk to their kids about the responsibilities and consequences that come from being sexually active. At best, kids are confused. At worst they risk a barrage of sexually-transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, physical and emotional discomfort and numerous other assaults on their already fragile self esteem.

Make a pact to talk to your kid(s) about sex.

Studies show that kids who feel they can talk with their parents about sex—because their moms and dads speak openly and listen carefully to them—are less likely to engage in high-risk behavior as teens. And according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, open communication and accurate information from parents increase the chance that teens will postpone sex and use appropriate methods of birth control once they begin.

You probably know all this—you know you should talk to your kids about sex. The fact is no parent relishes talking to his or her kids about sex. No parent ever imagines that sweet, innocent bundle of joy one day becoming a wily bundle of hormones with urges not unlike your own when you were that age (or “kids you knew”)!

I’m not going to tell you that “it’s not as difficult as you may think,” because it is difficult—unless you work in health care for a living, in which case you tend to talk to anyone who will listen about such subjects.

I’m not going to use scare tactics—teen pregnancy, increased incidence of sexually-transmitted disease and other issues have been well documented.

I’m not even going to give you specific pointers. Just Google “talk to kids about sex” and you’ll find about 5 million sources (no joke) containing approaches. Surely one will resonate.

I’m simply going to encourage you to promise yourself, your spouse, your kids: Do the research, take a deep breath, have the talk. If one of my colleagues at The Woman's Clinic can help, don’t hesitate to call.

The situation in the northeast turned out to be a hoax, however we know the issues are real. Let’s not risk the hoax—or the reality—where we live.

Very truly yours,
The Woman's Clinic