Sexual Health and Development
As youth enter puberty, defining their own sexual identity is at the forefront of normal developmental challenges. Part of normal development for a healthy adolescent is to explore his or her own sexuality and learn to live responsibly with it. Sexual activity can be as innocent as holding hands or as dangerous as unprotected intercourse with multiple partners. Health advocates are particularly concerned with early initiation of sexual intercourse, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Risky sexual behavior can lead to serious health consequences. Risky sexual behavior includes sexual intercourse initiated at an early age, unprotected sexual intercourse, sex with multiple partners, inconsistent or absent contraceptive practices and combining sexual activity with other risk behaviors such as use of alcohol or other drugs. Health-compromising results of risky sexual activity include unwanted pregnancy, too early childbearing, sexually transmitted infections and negative effects on the adolescent’s social and psychological development.
Research on adolescent sexual behavior has typically concentrated on vaginal intercourse. However, adolescents who are virgins, defined as never having had vaginal intercourse, may still be sexually active and may behave in ways that put them at risk for sexually transmitted infection. Other risk behaviors may include oral and anal intercourse.
BEST PRACTICES
For more information, please contact via email: Anne-Marie Braga or by telephone 303-692-2946. Tips for Sexual Health Inclusivity These tips are recommended follow-up questions to ask a young person that has completed an eSHQ and indicated sexual activity. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QE7mlQ0xLLnrXRRsBIYtoAHpyUOzS4XSu8u89UbqqRw/edit?usp=sharing
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| Helpful Links:Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Results Colorado Best Practices Website Colorado Youth Matter |
