How to talk to your children about STDs
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that you can get from vaginal, anal or oral intercourse. STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, and herpes simplex, can cause people to experience unpleasant symptoms such as pain during urination, cold sores or genital warts. Certain diseases, such as syphilis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDs, result in death. Education of young adults can help stop the spread of STDs. Parents can be involved in this process by talking to their children about STDs in a forthright manner.
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Instructions
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STD Discussions
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Give your children at least a basic knowledge about sex, relationships and love before you go into the subject of infections that they could potentially get from having sexual intercourse with a female or male partner. Start communicating to your children about sex as early as elementary school because they will likely be exposed to sex through TV shows, songs, books, friends and other sources by the time they are in the fourth or fifth grade.
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Talk about the topic of STDs generally and gradually move onto specific infections and contraception. Discuss infections that are the most relevant to your children, such as HIV, genital herpes, the human papillomavirus or chlamydia. Talk about how the infections are spread, what symptoms they cause and how or whether they can be treated. Discuss specific infections as they come up in TV shows, music, movies or real-life situations to make them more relevant to your children. Allow your children to ask questions and talk about their viewpoints and concerns about STDs and sexual issues.
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Use materials, such as books, pamphlets or videos, to help explain STDs to your children. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood provide information on sexual issues, including safe sex practices. Choose materials that are appropriate for your children's age group, as a younger child may not understand some of the medical terms associated with STDs or may not be old enough to see some of the images that are presented in pamphlets.
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Talk to your children in an honest, open and nonjudgmental manner about STDs if they contract a sexually transmitted infection. Talk to them about testing and treatments for their condition as well as the use of protection in the future so that you do not alienate them. Having a rational conversation can ensure that they will come to you in the future about sex-related issues.
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Tips & Warnings
Even though you likely want keep your children from having sex until they are adults, you may want to make sure that they have access to condoms when they get to the age where they could start having sex. Discuss the potential risks that go along with sexual intercourse, even with the use of protection.
Before talking to your children about STDs, become informed about the general topic of STDs and specific infections by researching websites, articles, films, TV shows or books and talking to the family doctor or nurse so you do not pass on inaccurate information to your child. You could buy them a book and read through it and discuss it with them.
Although you will probably tell your child to wait to have sex until he is mentally and emotionally prepared, just talking to your child about abstinence can leave him with gaps in his sexual education. He may learn inaccurate information about STDs and sex from his friends or the media at an early age if you do not talk about safe sex.
References
- Illinois Department of Public Health: Beyond the Birds and the Bees
- American Social Health Organization: Talking to your Kids
- Patient Education Institute: X-Plain Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Stop, Think, Be Safe: Tips for Talking to your Child About STDs
- Kids Health: STDs
- New York State Department of Health: Talking with Young People About HIV and AIDs
Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- California Family Health Council Inc.; What are STDs
- Montefiore Medical Center: How to Talk to your Kids About Sex
- Campaign for Our Children Inc.: Teen Guide
- Planned Parenthood: Myths and Facts About Sex
- Kids Health: Sexual Health
- Photo Credit contraceptive with hand image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
