K Info Youth Sexual Health Decisions which young people make during the difficult period of adolescence should be based on facts and knowledge of the consequences, not on hearsay, peer group pressure, and misinformation. Yet in response to the many questions, many parents provide the standard answer of 'Just wait until you are married', when many married people will readily admit that's when you are faced with even more problems about sex and relationships. And yet this is a common response from adults when a child first tries to raise this delicate issue. We desperately need to dispel the myths surrounding sex, which have been perpetuated because we do not talk more openly to each other. We need to teach young before they become sexually active, that amongst other things, physical copulation is not the only way of expressing one's sexuality and feeling towards someone you love.
Sex means so much more than just intercourse.
Studies about sexual behaviour of adolescents have revealed that young people with facts about sex before they become sexually active, actually delays sexual activity because they are more aware of the consequences of their behaviour. Not only does it delay sexual activities but also young people are more likely to adopt safer sexual practices. During these years, young people are learning, exploring and making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. In regards to their reproductive health, young adults need information and services that can help them make responsible decisions about their health and their sexual behaviour. Without the information and services they need, young adults are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviours.