Sex Misconceptions

When the floor is open to questions about pregnancy and contraception teens often reveal how little they know just by the questions they ask.

Basic questions like “What’s a condom?” and even “What’s contraception?” are common.

Without the facts, teens often fill the void with fiction. Some of the more popular myths about sex and contraception? “

Most of the carbonated drinks with Yellow 5 in them, people think that’s gonna act as a spermicide and stop people from getting pregnant.” said 15 year old Keegan.

Teens also tell each other that certain candies can act as a contraceptive, or douching with Coke after sex .

Psychologists added it’s not just the uninformed kids who are fooled. Some kids may hear legitimate, correct advice on contraception, but discount it, convinced it’s part of parental conspiracy.

“They feel like (parents) have this agenda to keep them from being sexually active so they’ll tell them everything and anything to scare them so they won’t have sex.” said Dr. Edmund Kim, an obstetrician. When it comes to sex, don’t lecture, don’t scare, just discuss.

What Parents Should Know

Experts from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy warned, “There are no single or simple approaches that will markedly reduce adolescent pregnancy.” Douglas Kirby, P.H.D. Erasing erroneous, and potentially dangerous misconceptions about how to avoid pregnancy should be high on any parents list.

Doing that, plays heavily on the issue of credibility. Parents have to develop a relationship of trust between themselves and their children. If, however, parents often use superlatives and scare tactics to describe every potential hazard their child may face their children may begin to discount the message.

Dr. Edmund Lee, a P.H.D. and practicing obstetrician, says for that reason, when parents talk to their children about all issues, not just contraception, it’s critical they have their facts right. If a child learns their parent has a pattern of over-exaggerating and playing loose with the facts on other issue, they’ll be less likely to listen when parents try to warn them about sex. Dr. Lee advises also to avoid a lecture. Instead make any talk about contraception open, and give and take with your child.