6 reasons why you should talk to your children about sex

As parents, we cannot shy away from this important topic.

While in Western society sex is no longer a taboo subject, in many homes, talking about it is still a complicated talking about it is still a complicated topic.. Sex appears on television, in movies, in magazines and even on billboards, but behind closed doors, it is still an uncomfortable and embarrassing topic, and many parents are reluctant to have these kinds of conversations with their children.

The world is changing a lot in the last decades due to new technologies and the exposure and media repercussion that sex has, makes necessary a correct sexual education from the different educational agents, especially from the family. The classic way of practicing sex has been giving way to more diversified ways of relating sexually.

Study confirms the importance of talking about sex in the family

If you are a parent you will be interested to know that a recent study has shown that talking to your children about sex is beneficial for them.. This is especially important for teenagers, because treating sex as something forbidden can negatively condition them for the rest of their lives. Proper sex education can prevent sexually transmitted diseases, sexual disorders, improve future relationships, etc., that is, it can improve both the emotional and physical health of your children and positively affect their future well-being.

A study conducted by Laura Widman of North Carolina State University and published in JAMA Pediatrics states that talking about sex with parents, especially mothers, has a positive effect on adolescents' safer sexual behavior.especially among girls. To conduct the study, 52 studies from the last 30 years involving more than 25,000 adolescents were reviewed.

Communication about sex between parents and children favors safer sex

The results of the study by Widman and coworkers confirm the positive effect of parent-child talks regarding sex. The association between communication with parents and the use of contraceptive methods in adolescents would be significantly more frequent in females than in males. Therefore, conversations centered on these topics are a protective factor for youth and is the best way to prevent sexual behaviors that can affect the mental and physical health and well-being of adolescents..

Poor sexual practices and behaviors associated with risky attitudes is a major problem due to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies. Therefore, communication between parents and adolescents is one of the factors that could lead to safer sex among young people, including the use of contraceptives. Unfortunately, this does not always happen due to embarrassment or lack of knowledge.

Talking about sex with your children is protecting them.

Laura Witman, the study's director, explains: "Talking about sex with your children is a way to protect them. Starting these kinds of conversations, even though they may seem a little awkward, will help your child and make them feel that they can trust you. Witman adds: "In the study, we found that children of parents who talked to them about topics such as condoms or sexually transmitted diseases were more likely to take precautions during sex.

The study's author also explains that the reason why talks about sex in the family are more productive between mother-daughter is because women have an easier time communicating than boys and men. On the other hand, "it could also be that society is more protective of girls in this regard, so parents try to protect them".

Regarding the role of parents in conversations about sex: "There is really little research along these lines that is specifically focused on parents. Still, this study sends a message to parents: what parents say to their children matters," says Witman.

Reasons to talk about sex with your kids

Many parents still find it difficult to give their children good sex education when they have not received it themselves. Addressing this issue can be difficult and it is necessary to and it is necessary to find the way and the way to be able to do it in a natural way.. But it is necessary to address this issue in the family so that children can experience sexuality in all its fullness.

Since talking about sex with your children will benefit them, here are some of the reasons why you should do it:

• When children have questions, parents, because of their experience and because of their love for them, are the best source of answers.
• It can be traumatic for a child to live through adolescence unprepared sexually.
• Children need to learn about sex. Better to be educated by parents than to be miseducated by the media.
• When children do not have enough information, they are easily influenced.
• Talking about sex builds trust between parents and children.
• Children need to fully enjoy their sexuality without fear or insecurity.