More Good Reasons for Your Teen to Say “No” to Sex

What can you tell your teen about saying no to sex? You might give him the following reasons to abstain:

• First, abstain from sex if you don’t know anything about birth control or if you’re too embarrassed to seek or use birth control. Until you can learn about and have the emotional maturity to seek a reliable method of birth control, you’re not mature enough to have responsible sex.

• Second, abstain from sex if pregnancy would be a personal disaster for you. No birth control method except abstinence is 100% effective.

• Third, be cautious if your want your first time to be extra special. You’ll probably always remember your first time whether it’s terrible or wonderful, so why not wait and make sure it will be a happy memory, with just the right person, the right timing and the right circumstances? Don’t create never to be forgotten memories you’d really rather forget.

• Fourth, say no to sex if your relationship’s in jeopardy. Sex can’t save a troubled relationship, even if most of your trouble is about conflicting sexual values.

An expert in the field of adolescent behavior, Ms. McCoy has authored eleven books on the subject including the best selling “The Teenage Body Book”. Additionally she has written hundreds of articles for major national magazines. Coordinator of the Clinical Ph.D. Program at California School of Professional Psychology and Staff Counselor at the Center for Individual and Family Counseling in North Hollywood, California.