Talking to Your Children About Sex

Last week I wrote a column about Nurx, an app or website that helps women order birth control or ‘morning after’ pills by mail. Women can order these drugs by using the app, answering a series of health questions, providing basic demographic information, and having their information reviewed by a physician.  They then choose their pills of choice, either birth control (pills or a vaginal ring) or emergency contraception (Plan B or Ella) after unprotected sex.  The doctor reviews their information, writes a prescription and the drug is delivered to the patient’s home or local pharmacy.  The service is available to women over the age of 12.

Young girls can use the app without parental knowledge, in situations when they feel they cannot talk with their parents about sex, either because of strict religious views or strong parental discomfort with the subject.  Here are some books that could help parents and children talk about sexual feelings and actions.   These books are recommended by The School Library Journal, a national monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, and public librarians who work with young people.   The books include Sex is a Funny word, which is filled with cartoons and is for younger kids, and Doing it Right: Making Smart, Safe and Satisfying Choices about Sex, which is for high school girls and boys.  These books, and others on the recommended list, reassure readers that developmental differences are quite normal.  They account for differences in gender, family makeup, and sexuality. Often the best way to a difficult topic is through fiction, and this is certainly the case with teen romance and sex.  The School Library Journal suggests:

·       The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green

·       Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

·       Finding Audrey, by Sophie Kinsella

·       *Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

·       Love and First Sight, by Josh Sundquist

·       Goodbye, Stranger, by Rebecca Stead

·       Marcello In the Read World, by Francisco X. Stork

·       The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

·       Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli

·       *Lily and Dunkin, by Donna Gephart

·       Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

·       *Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel, by Sara Farizan

Although issues of romance and love -- and teen angst! -- are universal and often transcend sexuality, books with an * will be of particular interest to LGBTQ readers.

Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH