Sexual health and your teen Your teen's developing sexuality can mean a difficult time for you all, and your support and advice is needed to help relationships develop in a safe and mature way.

Generally, girls reach puberty approximately six months to a year earlier than boys.

Each gender has to cope with different experiences. Girls have to come to terms with menstruation and growing breasts, while boys have to cope with wet dreams and emerging beards.

Your teen will need information from you as well as the opportunity to talk about any anxieties they might have. Avoid talking about the changes they're going through in a humorous way; it may not be appreciated by your sensitive teen.

Sexual relationships

While the media may give the impression that teenagers have busy sex lives, the truth's quite different. The majority of young people have sex in a lasting relationship.

Recent figures show that only 25 per cent of young women and 30 per cent of young men under the age of 16 have had sex.

If more adolescents knew this, they'd probably feel less pressured into starting sexual relationships during the early teenage years.

Risky behaviour

There are obvious risks involved in sexual behaviour such as pregnancy or the possibility of your child catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

While fear of HIV/AIDS is less acute than it was during the 1980s, it’s still a risk for anyone who is sexually active. And the incidence of STIs, such as chlamydia and herpes among young people has increased dramatically over the past decade.

• Make sure you know what sex education your teen is getting at school and how to fill in the gaps yourself by providing information and advice on the subjects not covered in these lessons
• Offer to go with your teen to the doctor or sexual health clinic to discuss any issues about contraception if you think this is appropriate
• Make sure they know about STIs and how to stay safe
• Support them as they deal with the emotions of relationships
• Try to accept your teenager may not have the same values as you when it comes to sex, but that such differences are an inevitable part of your child growing up into a healthy adult

This article was last reviewed by Heather Welford in September 2008.

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