Patient education: Teen sexuality (The Basics)

Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.

What's the difference between sex and gender? — People sometimes use these words to mean the same thing. But they actually have different meanings:

●Your sex refers to which genitals and reproductive organs you have when you are born. This is also called your "birth-assigned sex" or your "recorded sex at birth."

●Your gender refers to how you feel and identify. This might be the same as your birth-assigned sex, or it might be different.

What is sexuality? — Your sexuality involves your body, how you think about yourself, and how you feel about other people. It depends on:

●Your sex organs – In people whose birth-assigned sex is male, the sex organs include the penis and testicles (figure 1). In people whose birth-assigned sex is female, the sex organs include the breasts, uterus, vagina, and ovaries (figure 2 and figure 3).

●Your gender identity – This means how you feel inside, and whether you identify as a girl or a boy, some combination of both, or neither. Sometimes, a person's gender identity is different than their birth-assigned sex. You might hear different words used to describe gender identity, such as:

•"Cisgender" – This describes a person whose gender identity is the same as their birth-assigned sex.

•"Transgender" – This describes a person whose gender identity is different from their birth-assigned sex.

•"Nonbinary" – This describes a person who does not identify with only 1 gender. Some people prefer to use other terms for themselves, like "genderqueer" or "gender nonconforming."

There are many other terms that people use to describe their gender identity, too.

●Your sexual orientation – This refers to your physical or sexual attraction to other people. "Straight" means being attracted to people of the opposite gender. "Gay" or "lesbian" means being attracted to people of the same gender. "Bisexual" means being attracted to both genders. It's important to know that sexual orientation isn't something you choose or control.

Words like straight, gay, lesbian, and bisexual all assume that there are only 2 genders: male and female. Since some people do not identify with either of these, they might not feel that any of these terms describes them. This is normal. Some people use the term "pansexual," which means being attracted to people of any gender identity. "Asexual" means not feeling sexual attraction to other people at all.

If you are having a hard time understanding your gender identity or sexuality, or if you feel like you don't have support, your doctor or nurse can help. They can give you information or connect you with other people going through similar things.

What is sexual development? — Sexual development is another term for the changes in your body that happen as you grow up. This is also called "puberty." These changes can start in the pre-teen or teen years. Some changes happen to the body. For example:

●In people whose birth-assigned sex is female, the breasts grow bigger.

●In people whose birth-assigned sex is male, hair grows on the face.

●In all people, hair grows under the arms and in the genital area.

Other changes involve the way you think and feel, and the way you feel about other people. As you get older, you will probably start to feel emotionally and sexually attracted to other people.

What is sex? — There are many different ways to have sex. When people talk about sex, they are often talking about vaginal intercourse. Vaginal intercourse is when a person puts their penis into their partner's vagina. But there are other types of sex acts, too. These include:

●Touching another person's body or genitals

●Using the mouth or tongue on another person's genitals – This is called oral sex.

●Putting the penis or another object into another person's anus – This is called anal sex.

●Touching your own genitals with your hand or another object – This is called masturbation.

What is consent? — Before having any type of sex with another person, it's important to make sure that they agree to what you are doing. This is called "giving consent." Some things to know about consent:

●You have to ask someone for consent before doing anything to or with them. This means any type of sex act, not just intercourse.

●A person who is drunk, passed out, or asleep cannot give consent.

●A person can change their mind and decide that they do not want to do something, even if they gave consent before.

●When a person forces sex on someone who does not consent, or who gives consent but then changes their mind, it is called sexual assault or rape. This is a serious crime that can lead to being arrested or put in jail.

●If someone does something without your consent, it is not your fault. If this happens, you can tell a trusted family member or friend, or your doctor or nurse. You might need medical care. In the US, you can also call the sexual assault hotline for advice (800-656-4673).

When is sex NOT OK? — Sex of any kind without consent is not OK.

It is also not OK for an adult to have sex with anyone who is a teen or younger. If another person makes you do any type of sex act, does a sex act to you that you do not want, or says something that makes you uncomfortable, tell a parent, doctor, or other adult you trust. They can help, or get you the help you need.

Some states have laws about teens and sex. In some states, it is against the law for teens under a certain age to have sex, even if they both want to.

What is a sexually transmitted infection? — A sexually transmitted infection ("STI") is an infection that you can catch during sex. They are also sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases ("STDs").

Some STIs include:

●HIV – HIV is a lifelong condition that affects the body's immune system (infection-fighting system). The last stage of HIV is called AIDS.

●Human papillomavirus ("HPV") – HPV doesn't usually cause symptoms at first, but it can lead to other problems. These include cancer of the cervix, mouth, and throat, and genital warts.

●Chlamydia and gonorrhea – These don't always cause symptoms at first. But they can lead to long-term problems in females, such as severe pain and trouble getting pregnant.

●Herpes – This can cause blisters and open sores in the genital area.

●Syphilis – This might not cause symptoms at first. But it can lead to long-term problems in many of the body's organs. It can also be dangerous for a baby that is born to a person with syphilis.

●Trichomonas, or "trich" – This can cause genital itching and discharge.

●Hepatitis B or C – This can lead to long-term liver problems.

In many cases, you can get an STI and not know it. That's because STIs usually do not have any noticeable signs or symptoms. Even when they cause no symptoms, STIs can lead to serious problems. For example, STIs can lead to problems getting pregnant or increase the risk of certain kinds of cancer. That's why it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about treatment if you do get an STI. This can lower your risk of future problems.

How can I protect myself from getting an STI? — The only way to be sure that you won't get an STI is by not having sex. If you do have sex, you can lower your chance of getting an STI by using condoms. There are 2 types of condoms. One type goes over the penis. The other type goes inside the vagina. Condoms can protect you during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Another option for oral sex is a "dental dam." This is a small piece of latex that prevents contact with body fluids.

People who use condoms can still get STIs, though. That's because condoms do not cover all of the skin that comes in contact with another person. Some infections can spread just from skin to skin contact. Plus, condoms can break or slip off. To help prevent this:

●Be sure that the penis is completely hard before putting a condom on.

●Make sure that there is no air in the tip of the condom.

●Hold the tip closed as you roll the condom down over the penis. After ejaculation (orgasm), the penis should be pulled out of the vagina or anus while it is still a little hard. When pulling out, hold the condom around the base of the penis to keep it from slipping off.

There are vaccines for 2 STIs: HPV and hepatitis B. Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections.

How can I prevent pregnancy? — The only way to be sure that you won't get pregnant, or get your partner pregnant, is by not having vaginal intercourse. If you do have vaginal intercourse, you can lower the chance of pregnancy by using birth control. There are different types of birth control that work in different ways. For some types, you need to see a doctor or nurse. You can get other types at a pharmacy, or at a health clinic like Planned Parenthood. Many forms of birth control are good for preventing pregnancy, but do not protect against STIs. So, it is a good idea to use birth control and a condom every time you have vaginal intercourse.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — All teens should have regular check-ups, but check-ups are especially important before you start having sex. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about STIs and pregnancy, and how to prevent them. They can also answer any questions you have. Regular check-ups are also important after you start having sex, especially if you ever do it without a condom or dental dam. Having unprotected sex even once can put you at risk for STIs and pregnancy.

خرید پکیج

Patient education: Teen sexuality (The Basics)