Adolescent Sexuality

Adolescence is a time of tremendous opportunity and change. Becoming a sexually healthy adult is one of the most important developmental tasks of adolescence. Healthy sexuality is to be respected, and requires a sense of responsibility to be emotionally and physically prepared and protected.

 
The Teen Pregnancy Prevention program at the Oregon Department of Human Services offers important resources to support adolescents through this process. Nationally, and in Oregon, teen pregnancies are declining. In part this is due to increasing access to health services. The decrease is also attributed to both abstinence education programs and the increased use of contraceptives by sexually active teens. Condom use in particular is increasing for the prevention of HIV/STD.

For Information on comprehensive and abstinence-only sex education see "Are we serving young people well?" by Mary Gossart

Young women and men are especially vulnerable to reproductive health problems, including early or unplanned pregnancy and infection by sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. It is critical that they have access to health care and receive annual preventive health exams and guidance from health professionals.

Health professionals should also be aware of different sexual orientation and be prepared to work with gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and/or trans-gendered and questioning youth as well as heterosexual.


It is the goal of public health to support young people in positive ways, through this important phase of their lives. Information about young people's emerging sexuality can be located in the Adolescent Growth & Development section of this website. Specific sexual health recommendations have been identified to guide health care delivery.