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Publications and web sites:

• Abstinence – Safe Sex is No Sex
• Fighting germs
• Getting enough sleep
• Getting your period
• Grooming and hygiene
• Puberty
• Reproductive health

Organizations

Featured articles top

1. Birth Control: Abstinence
2. Bumpy Road Ahead
3. Everything You Wanted to Know About Puberty
4. Getting Your Period at School
5. Growing Up is Hard to Do
6. Hair Removal
7. How much sleep do I need?
8. Hygiene basics
9. Myths About Acne
10. Plastic Surgery
11. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
12. Should I worry about MRSA?
13. Tanning Taboo
14. What's the Right Weight for My Height?
15. When Will I Get My Period?
16. Why should I care about germs?

Publications & web sites top

Abstinence – Safe Sex is No Sex top

1.   Teen Talk, Vol. 1: Many Teens Are Saying "No" (PDF - 201KB) – This publication provides a checklist of questions to ask yourself about whether or not you are ready to have sex. It also provides information on relationships, the benefits of abstinence, and how to deal with the pressures that may surround you.
2. Abstinence (Copyright © The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy) – Do you think everyone is “doing it?” This site has some interesting statistics and facts about abstinence, including responses from teens about sex education and tips about waiting to have sex.
3. What is Abstinence? (Copyright © Answer, Rutgers University) – What does abstinence mean to you? Why do some teens decide to be abstinent? This straightforward web site tells it like it is.

Fighting germs top

1.  Fight Bac! Four Simple Steps to Food Safety – Right now, there may be an invisible enemy ready to strike. He's called BAC (bacteria) and he can make you and those you care about sick. Learn how to defend yourself!
2.  The Buzz on Scuzz – When, where, and how do we prevent the spread of germs? The key is hand washing. Also, learn how to prevent the spread of germs and fungus in the locker room at school (eeewwww!).
3.  What Vaccines Do You Need? – Teens need certain vaccines to stay healthy and disease free. Take this quiz to find out which vaccines YOU may need.
4. Scrubclub.org – Meet the Scrub Club as they battle Bac and his band of evil villains, including Influenza Enzo and Sal Monella. Learn how to wash your hands correctly, play games, watch Scrub Club episodes, and even download your official Scrub Club membership card!

Getting enough sleep top

1.   Awake at the Wheel(PDF - 196KB) – Sleep is more important than you may know. Learn the top 5 reasons teens need to get enough sleep, and find out what you can do to avoid drowsy driving.
2.  Pillow Pitch – What’s the big deal about sleep? Even though it seems boring, there’s a lot going on while we sleep. BAM! fills us in on just what happens while we are sawing logs.
3. Teens & Sleep: Tips for Teens (Copyright © The National Sleep Foundation) – Falling asleep in class? The National Sleep Foundation comes to the rescue with some great tips for getting some extra shuteye.

Getting your period top

1. Alternative Menstrual Products: A Guide for Teens (Copyright © CYWH) – This web site has information about products to use during your period that you may have never heard of. Some of the products it discusses are reusable cotton pads and the menstrual cup.
2. A Guide to Puberty and Menstrual Cycles (Copyright © by the Center for Young Women's Health, Children's Hospital) – This fact sheet describes the menstrual cycle (monthly period) and puberty, which is the stage when a child's body matures and changes to become capable of reproduction.
3. A Guide to Using Your First Tampon (Copyright © CYWH) – Using a tampon for the first time might sound difficult.  The Center for Young Women’s Health solves the mystery by providing step by step instructions and diagrams.
4. Female Reproductive System (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) – Ever wonder where your period comes from? Or how to pronounce those scientific names for the female genitalia (jen-ih-tey-lee-uh)? Don’t miss this interesting web page about the female reproductive system, complete with an interactive animation of your period.
5. Irregular Periods (Copyright © KidsHealth) – An irregular period is sometimes normal.  Read this article to learn more about what can make your period irregular and when it might be a sign of a problem.
6. Just for Teens: Menstruation (Copyright © ACOG) – Why do women menstruate?  When will my period start?  This brochure answers your questions about getting your period.
7. Your Period (Copyright © University of Connecticut Health Center) – Get a crash course in period 101 on this web site. Learn about cramps, pads vs. tampons, PMS, and more!

Grooming and hygiene top

1.  The Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise Kids Program – Check out this cool program on sun protection from the EPA. Think you know everything there is to know about the UV index and the ozone layer? Take the EPA's challenge and find out!
2. Skin and Grooming (Copyright © Sutter Health Network): Learn how to keep your body clean and healthy.  This web site answers all your questions about tanning, hair removal, acne, strange smells, and more!
3. How to Have a Good Hair Day: Taking Care of Your Hair (Copyright © iemily.com) – Think you are a hair care buff?  Not so fast!  Some things we do to our hair to make it beautiful can actually harm our lovely locks.
4. Your Skin Explained – Take a look at this web site to learn about your skin! This web site provides quick facts on the inner and outer layers of skin, as well as the life of the skin cell.

Puberty top

1.  Body Smartz! – Confused about puberty? Your questions can likely be answered on the Center for Disease Control’s BAM! Body and Mind web site. Don’t forget to check out what acne looks like under a microscope and test your “smartz” about puberty with a fun quiz.
2.    Health Guide for America’s Teens (PDF - 823KB) – This guide for teens provides fact sheets on different topics related to teen health. Learn how to take care of your physical health, as well as mental and emotional health.
3. Puberty: A Beginner’s Guide (Copyright © ASHA) – The American Social Health Association’s beginner’s guide to puberty has some handy tips on how to survive this period of your life.
4. Puberty: Information for Boys and Girls (Copyright © AAP) – For those of you who love science and want to know every single detail about what happens to your body, don’t miss this guide by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For the rest of us who want something a bit lighter (and more colorful!), check out our easy-to-read information.
5. Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy – This list of questions and answers from the Academy of Family Physicians will tell you how to keep your body healthy and safe during your teenage years.

Reproductive health top

1.    Teen Talk, Vol. 2: Commonly Asked Questions about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (PDF - 204KB) – Want to learn more about STDs? This publication provides information on the causes and signs of having an STD, as well as advice for prevention and facts to dispel myths.
2. Breast and Pelvic Exams (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) – Your first pelvic exam might sound scary and uncomfortable, but this publication explains what will happen when you go to the doctor and how to feel more relaxed during the exam.
3.  Health Care for College Students (Copyright © AAP) (PDF - 244KB) – Starting college is exciting, but it also means you are more in charge of your health and well-being. Prepare yourself for this new responsibility by reading these tips your pediatrician wants you to know.
4. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Copyright © CYWH) – You may have heard about the HPV vaccine, but do you know what HPV is? It stands for the Human Papillomavirus, and this web site tells you all about it.
5. Information About Your First Pelvic Exam (Copyright © CYWH) – This list of questions and answers will help you get ready for your first pelvic exam. You will learn how to prepare, what will happen during the exam, and what types of questions your doctor or nurse will ask you.
6. Your First Gyn Visit (Copyright © ACOG) – This brochure explains what happens at a typical visit to the gynecologist. It includes information about what you will be asked to do, what exams will be performed, what tools will be used, and more.

Organizations top

1. Celebrate Girls
2. Center for Young Women’s Health
3. Girls Incorporated
4. KidsHealth

 

= This article, publication, web site, or organization is from the U.S. government.

= You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view some of these files after you've downloaded them. If you have problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.

= This article is from New Moon, a magazine written for girls by girls. Check out the complete list of the New Moon articles on GirlsHealth.gov.

Content last updated June 18, 2008

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