Amanda Ashby
Shaun Roundy
Persuasive Writing
20 April 1998

Children are becoming more sexually active today than in the past two decades, because of this more young people are contracting STDs including HIV, which causes AIDS. Research shows that "teenagers have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of any age group, with one in four young people contract [ing] an STD by the age of 21" (Does Sex Education Work?). The same holds true for HIV (human immune deficiency virus). Parents can help to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV with the proper education, and an open, loving relationship with their children.

As many parents realize, talking to children about sex is very difficult. Many parents feel inadequate and uncomfortable talking to their children about sexual relations. Parents can gain knowledge about sex education by reading various books, magazine articles, and pamphlets designed to inform parents on discussing sexuality with children. There are even telephone numbers that parents can call to help give them more information about how to discuss sexuality with their kids. Parents may not know all the answers, but should be willing to admit that they do not know the answer and make the best effort to find out the information in question.

Luckily, parents are not the sole providers of sex education. Schools can lend a hand by helping parents teach children about sex. "Approximately one third of the high schools in the United States offer some sort of sex education course, but many teach little more than human anatomy" (Encyclopedia Americana 640). Male and female anatomy is most likely difficult for parents to discuss with their children, especially if the parent feels that his or her knowledge is insufficient. Schools have visual aids and diagrams that show the reproductive organs. Most importantly, teachers have experience teaching sex education.

Kay Thomas-Perkins, an educator in Nebo School District, teaches sex education and reproduction to high school students at Spanish Fork High School. Mrs. Perkins believes she is one of the few teachers in the district willing to discuss sex education with her students. She teaches both male and female reproductive anatomy to her classes. Unfortunately, Mrs. Perkins can not discuss the use of condoms or birth control in preventing unplanned pregnancy. This is unfortunate because in reality many kids are making the choice to have sex. However, she can mention condoms to help stop the spread of HIV. They need to be taught how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. Mrs. Perkins is open and honest and many students feel that they could ask her questions concerning sexuality. Mrs. Perkins can answer most questions that her students ask her, but in many cases, she is advised not to bring up or dwell upon issues such as birth control or abortion in the classroom. Birth control and abortion are considered moral issues and can not be discussed in schools. Many teachers across the nation face the same restrictions as Mrs. Perkins. These restrictions do not allow teachers to give their students enough information to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancy.

Schools rarely teach moral issues, but churches and other religious affiliations do. Churches often teach morals that guide children away from sexual relationships until marriage. Many religions discourage sex before marriage. If a religious background exists within the family, it can help build morals and values that discourage premarital sex. Teach your children to value themselves and their virginity.

Parents, with the help of schools and churches, can help children to avoid sexual relationships before marriage and help to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV. When teens were asked where the learned about sex 75% of males and 60% of females claimed to have learned about sex away from home. Both sexes said 2% learned about sex from church (Hammond). Statistics like this show that parents may not be doing enough at home. There are many ways for parents to help. Parents should develop open honest relationships with their children in which difficult and embarrassing subjects like sexuality can be discussed. Parents should set a good example to their children concerning sexuality. Parents who have first hand knowledge of sexual relationships and who have a healthy sex life and attitude toward sex can have a positive influence on their children. Parents without a healthy sex life or a positive attitude toward sexuality can be detrimental.

Parents can help children gain talents and hobbies like dancing, singing, or playing baseball; all these help children gain self-esteem. "Helping a child develop positive self-esteem is critical to preventing and controlling the spread of HIV"(Kagan563) as well as unwanted pregnancy. In many instances young people turn to girlfriends or boyfriends to feel loved or accepted, because they do not feel loved. At this time, many kids get involved in sexual relationships for the wrong reasons. Sociologist Dr. Ron Hammond says that girls and boys play with sex and love. A girl will use sex in exchange for love, while a boy will use love in exchange for sex. Straight Talk for Youth, a program trying to prevent the spread of AIDS, talked with one Ugandan youth. It reports:

It is not surprising that many kids feel pressured to have sex because of the unclear messages that are sent concerning sex. A child who feels loved and has a positive feeling of self worth may not feel as pressured as other children in the same situation. Children should be allowed to exercise agency. Let children set their own goals and their own limits. If what has been taught is believed by the child, hopefully, they will make choices that are in their best interest. In the cases where they decide to get involved in sexual relationships, parents should know that they did their best.

Parents should not forget that sex is perfectly healthy when done under the correct circumstances. Many parents make sex look bad and wrong to discourage their kids from having intimate relations. In reality, a healthy sex life is very important to a healthy relationship for married couples. Parents need to realize this when discussing sex with their children in order to give them the right impression.

Many parents probably question when is the best time to start discussing sex with children. There is no correct answer to that question. Pay attention to your children’s needs. If they ask sex related questions at an early age, answer them honestly and correctly. Ron Hammond related a story concerning his son. When his son was eight years old, he asked him if he had sex. Ron answered yes, and his son was satisfied. Ron’s son did not need the whole spill on the birds and the bees, just an honest answer. In Ron’s case, he answered his son honestly. Consequently, his son believes that sex is okay for the time. Before young people hit puberty, they should be informed about the changes that will be taking place inside their body including hormonal changes. When young people begin dating or start having girlfriends and boyfriends, a child may be ten or eleven, it is probably time to start discussing sex. They should be aware of sex so they are not vulnerable to others. Always be honest with your children, they need correct information. They may become confused about sexuality if given incorrect information.

"Sexual activity, while both pleasurable and vital to our species, can transmit some fifty illnesses" (Macionis 349). These are called sexually transmitted diseases, (STDs). AIDS is one of the many STDs. Sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted and prevented the same way as AIDS, which will be explained later in this paper. Many people ask, "Can STDs be cured?" The answer to that depends on the type of disease and if it is treated soon enough. "If treatment begins early, most sexually transmitted diseases can be cured, with little or no serious or permanent effects to health. Two exceptions are the herpes viruses and AIDS" (Noah HIV 2).

A virus called JSV-2 causes genital herpes. Since a virus causes genital herpes, there is no cure for it and it does not respond to antibiotics. Genital herpes can be managed with the help of medical assistance and prescription drugs. Herpes are painful; they cause periodic painful blisters on the genitals. When herpes break out, headache and fever often accompany them.

Other sexually transmitted diseases include chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Cosmopolitan, a popular woman’s magazine, sums up chlamydia as follows: "Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. It is often symptomless in women. Many women go untreated which can lead to inflammatory disease and infection in the uterus and fallopian tubes that can cause infertility" (28).

Gonorrhea and syphilis are two of the oldest sexually transmitted diseases, known as venereal diseases (VD). They are caused by microscopic organisms. If untreated, syphilis will go through five stages; some of the signs and symptoms of syphilis disappear on their own, without treatment – this does not mean the disease has gone away. The final stage of syphilis may attack any organ in the body causing paralysis, blindness, insanity, and even death (Noah STD).

Gonorrhea can lead to permanent sterility in both men and women. Like many most STDs, the signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include pain during urination, a need to urinate more frequently, and white or yellow discharge from the urethra. Antibiotics can treat gonorrhea; when done early, the chances that the STD can become fatal are greatly reduced.

Parents should teach children who are sexually active the dangers of STDs. Some more things that parents and children should remember are that after you have had a STD you are not immune to it again, meaning the can come back. Latex condoms should be used consistently and correctly during each act of intercourse. Latex condoms are the only kind of condom proven effective to prevent STDs and AIDS because the pores are too small for viruses and bacteria to go through.

AIDS was first reported in 1981, most commonly found among homosexual men. Today, AIDS is found among all types of people including homosexuals, heterosexuals, and bisexuals. HIV has already infected over 30 million people all over the world (InSite).

AIDS, which stands for, acquired immune deficiency syndrome is a condition caused by a virus called HIV. HIV can only survive inside the body. Once inside, HIV attacks the body’s immune system, the system in the body that fights off infections or cancers. When a person is HIV positive their immune system in unable to fight off deadly infections and cancers. "These infections are called opportunist infections because they take advantage of the body’s weakened defenses" (InSite). These opportunist infections include viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria; they are usually what people die of when they have HIV or AIDS.

HIV can be transmitted through certain body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, blood, and breast milk. HIV often "hides" for months even years inside the body (InSite). That is why HIV can not be detected for six months; however, even before it is detected it can be spread to others and it has begun to destroy the immune system of the body.

Some behaviors put people at a higher risk of becoming infected with HIV. High-risk behavior may include having unprotected anal or vaginal sex with someone who is infected. There is a risk with oral sex, though it is less risky. Sharing a needle with someone who is infected and being born to an infected mother, or drinking the breast milk of an infected mother. John J. Macionis, in his textbook, shows a graph of the types of transmission for reported U.S. AIDS’s cases in 1994 (352).

52% homosexual sex

7% heterosexual sex

17% multiple exposure and other

3% blood transfusion and other medical treatment

21% intravenous drug use (352).

Source: U.S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent the spread of AIDS and protect yourself against this deadly disease. InSite lists these ways:

• Abstaining from sexual intercourse, (this is the only 100% safe and effective way to avoid HIV infection.)
• Practicing mutual monogamy (having sex with only one partner who has had sex with only you) with an uninfected partner.

• You can significantly reduce the risk of spreading HIV though sexual intercourse by:
• Using latex condoms correctly from start to finish with each act of vaginal or anal intercourse and with each act of oral sex on a man.
• Using a condom cut open, dental dam, or household nonmicrowavable plastic wrap while performing each act of oral sex on a woman.
• Engaging in safer sex practices that involve no penetration such as dry- kissing, massaging, hugging, touching, body rubbing, and masturbation.

Currently, there is no known cure for AIDS. However, drugs have been discovered that can slow the effects of HIV on the immune system. Keep in mind that some safe sex practices may lead to sexual intercourse. Though most parents may know this information, keep it in mind when discussing sexual behaviors with children. Educate yourself and your children with this information. It may mean life or death.

As well as STDs and AIDS, many parents fear teenage pregnancy. This may be the biggest worry of many parents with daughters. "At least one-third of all of the women in the United States become pregnant as teenagers, and many decide to raise their children" (Macionis 313). According to Dr. Hammond, about 30% of all babies born are born to unwed mothers all over the world. Parents already know that raising children is difficult and costly. When most parents start having children, they have a low income and have to be careful where the money goes. Therefore, most of the money goes to the baby for diapers, formula, clothes, and baby furniture. Teenagers hardly have enough money to support themselves, let alone a baby too. Many girls drop out of high school because they are pregnant. Therefore, they do not get enough education for a well paying job. Many women and their children will live in poverty. Teenage pregnancy could be avoided and prevented in all the same ways as STDs and AIDS.

Parents have great responsibility in raising children. Sex education should be another facet of raising children. With correct knowledge and the help of others, parents can do a lot for their children and the rest of the world. Teach your children about sex, let them know that it can be fun and pleasurable, but that there are many risks involved – sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and HIV, and unwanted pregnancy – all which can be prevented and avoided.