Counseling the sexually active teenager: reflections from pediatric practice

Counseling the sexually active teenager is both an important and a difficult undertaking. Due to the increasing rates in adolescent sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases, it is necessary for all health care professionals to elicit a sexual history from each patient. Being comfortable with one's own sexuality and conveying complete confidentiality are the sine qua non of this type of interview and counseling. Topics that may be covered are contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual intercourse and its place in the adolescent's life, other kinds of sexual expression, and satisfaction with one's sexuality. It is not necessary to have liberal views of sexuality to obtain an adequate history or to provide competent counseling.