TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice. Send us your feedback. đź‘ŤÂ đź‘Ž |
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Hear from Planned Parenthood providers about caring for patients
in New York and Texas + Updates on health care in Iowa
+Â What are the primary causes of miscarriages? |
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The consequences of an emergency care ban: Pregnant people will suffer, and may even die. |
Emergency pregnancy care is at risk right now. EMTALA — the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act — requires hospital emergency rooms to provide stabilizing care to patients, which includes abortion if the doctor determines that an abortion is the stabilizing care. But states with strict abortion bans, like Idaho, are trying to ignore federal law and are putting pregnant people at risk. Here's what it means and why it matters »
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What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on: |
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How to talk with your teen about STIs |
It may feel like an uncomfortable subject, but STIs — or sexually transmitted infections — need to be talked about, especially with your teen. Young people, ages 15-24, make up almost half of new infections. These infections shouldn't be stigmatized; STIs are so common that about 1 in 5 U.S. adults has one.
In our culture, STIs are unfortunately shrouded in shame and stigma. This isn't true for most other infections like colds or stomach bugs, so what makes STIs feel particularly scary or shameful? The difference is that STIs are usually spread through sexual contact, and our culture teaches us sex is shameful, so STIs must be shameful too. This stigma leads to secrecy and avoidance of getting tested or seeking care for STIs. Talking with your teen about sexually transmitted infections without judgment can help keep them healthy and safe. Here's how you can approach it:
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1. Start a conversation with your teen about STIs in a neutral, matter of fact kind of way. You might say something like, “There are things you do to help stop cold germs from spreading, right? You wash your hands or cover your mouth when you cough. But we still sometimes get colds — and that's OK.” STIs can work that way too. “There are things you should do to help prevent the spread of STIs — using condoms, getting tested regularly, and talking with your partner about their STI status and history. But even still, STIs are really common; you might get one at some point — and that's OK.”
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2. Even if they aren't sexually active, help your teen learn how they might talk about STIs with a partner. Our STI Communication Videos are a great place to start. You can watch them together or let your teen watch by themselves. Then afterward, ask what they found helpful about the videos, what still feels scary or hard, and what questions they might still have.
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3. Encourage your teen to get tested regularly once they become sexually active. Remember that they need to get tested — regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, because anyone who has any kind of sex can get an STI. You can offer to take them to a health center or to their doctor to get tested. It's important to make sure they know that if they ever test positive for an STI, you'll support them and help them get whatever care they need.
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*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.
Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics.
Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot, or one of our trained health educators.
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