Teens Having Sex: 

Teaching About Risks and Consequences 

Editorial by Nathan Stinson, Jr., PhD, MD, MPH 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Closing the Gap, Adolescence • November/December 2000 

One of the biggest threats to young people today is their When teaching our teens to manage risks and understand 

sexuality. Sexually transmitted diseases, teen preg­ consequences, it is important to conduct those instructions in an 

nancy, HIV and AIDS, and economic disability are environment that empowers. Although our society focuses much 

only some of the risks associated with sexual activity among teen­ attention on sexual activity, minority communities can and should 

agers. For young people to become adults, they need to capable focus their attention on healthful behavior. 

of weighing choices and making good decisions. Teaching boys In many minority communities, girls are taught from an 

to become men and girls to become women means teaching early age to value their virginity. At the same time, our boys are 

them that everything they do has consequences. taught that the loss of their virginity is a sign of manhood. There 

However, too many young people think they are invincible. is something wrong with this picture. If waiting until marriage is 

We know this because we were once young. Teenagers think the best and only way to go for girls, then boys too might benefit 

consequences are for someone else. They often fail to realize that waiting. Encouraging boys to be sexually active while teaching 

some consequences are permanent. Teens need to know and girls to wait, sends conflicting messages that can lead to uninunderstand that failure to negotiate the risks of premature sex tended and permanent consequences. If boys, as well as girls, 

exposes them to consequences that last forever. Just ask them to waited until marriage to become sexually active, we would likely 

consider this: see reductions in teen pregnancy, STD’s, and HIV/AIDS in minority communities. 

• Having sex puts people at risk of contracting herpes simplex Abstinence is not a popular point of view today. In fact, 

virus, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) for which there is many experienced and well-meaning adults question abstinence 

no cure. The rate of herpes infection is highest among teenag­ as a realistic point of view. However, in this environment of 

ers. The herpes virus is extremely contagious, which means it permanent and deadly sexually transmitted diseases, it is time for 

is easy to catch and easy to spread to someone else. Intimate a radical change in our approach to sexuality. Abstinence should 

contact with someone who has herpes can cause pain, discom­ be promoted as an acceptable choice. 

fort, inconvenience, and shame for a lifetime. Informing our sons and daughters of the consequences of 

having sex can help them make the right choices. In addition, we 

• There is also teen pregnancy. Avoiding pregnancy is not only must keep young people busy and help them to develop the 

the girl’s responsibility; it is also the boy’s. All it takes is one strength to conquer peer pressure, resist temptation, and pave 

sexual encounter, and dreams of having a normal teen life— their own paths. We must engage ourselves in our teenagers’ lives 

like taking part in extra curricular activities, going out with and preoccupy them with after school and weekend activities. 

friends, even attending the senior prom—can all be shattered. And, we must know who their friends are, where they hang out, 

Instead, a young person may have to work at some menial task and what they are doing when they are not in our presence. 

to earn money for pampers and formula. Chances of going to Finally, with young people being young people, they need 

college can even be compromised; their future in put in jeop­ to know—and be reminded frequently—that life is more than 

ardy. the moment. Talk to young people. Teach them how to be 

responsible adults. Be to them what you want them to be to 

• Perhaps the biggest risk in having sex is HIV/AIDS—the 

number one killer of young African American men ages 25– 

44. Many of these adults were infected as teenagers. Having 

sex with someone who is infected HIV but who does not look, 

act, or feel sick puts one at great risk of cathing this deadly 

disease that has no cure. 

society.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services