While letting your teen know that you're available to talk openly about sexual health is important, it's also great to give them the space and resources to answer their own questions about topics such as STDs, birth control, and contraception.
Here are the five teen sexual health resources aimed specifically at young women so you or your loved ones can get those questions answered privately and honestly!
1. Teen Talk - Planned Parenthood's 'Teen Talk' is dedicated to providing sexual and reproductive health information to teenagers. The site is available in English and Spanish and includes a Q&A with experts, facts about everything from masturbation to Plan B, and locations of the nearest Planned Parenthood clinics.
2. Go Ask Alice! - This question and answer website is run by the health promotion program at Columbia University. It began in order to provide accurate information and advice to students about emotional health, relationships, and sexual health.
3. Scarleteen - With articles, resources, discussion forums and advice sections, this website really does provide "sex education for the real world"
4. Text message services - No, I'm not talking about sexting, I'm talking about services provided in cities around the country that allow teens to text message their questions about sexual health and receive the information they need. The NY Times highlighted this trend, citing Hookup, a text messaging service based in California and run by the California Family Health Council. North Carolina offers The BirdsnBees line, where teens get answers to their questions within 24 hours. Research to see if there is a service in your state!
5. The Midwest Teen Sex Show - A hilarious and informative video podcast on teen sexuality, MTSS's topics include attending the prom, masturbation, and virginity, to name a few.
Nina Jacinto is a freelance blogger living in the Bay Area. Her other writing can be found at her website.