About Teen Health Resources

Teenagers can have a tough time growing up and may face health questions and challenges of everything from sexual health to weight gain to depression. While this can be a confusing time of learning and understanding, resources are available to make this process easier.

Adults

• Parents, guardians and school counselors are accessible and can often provide advice or refer you to a medical professional. According to Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, parents and guardians should provide teens with resources and discussions about sexual health.

Clinics

• Community clinics such as Planned Parenthood offer teenagers a confidential environment to seek medical care and have their health questions answered. These clinics can often provide teenagers with access to birth control and condoms as well as educate teens on sexually transmitted diseases. Although abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, studies conducted by Guttmacher Institute show six in 10 teenage women and more than five in 10 teenage men have had sexual intercourse by the age of 18, as of 2006.

School Resources

• All schools should offer a school nurse that is available for students who have health concerns or questions. In additions, schools often provide some sort of sexual health education. While sex education can differ between school districts, most schools have similar goals of teaching students facts about human sexuality. In addition, some schools promote abstinence, while other schools promote both abstinence and the use of protection and contraception.

Websites

• Whether you have health questions about depression, drugs, sex or general health, you can often find the answers on credible websites. Websites run by the government or non-profit organizations are a good starting resources for teens who embarrassed to ask questions to another individual. (See Resources)