Counseling adolescents about sexuality

The nurturing of the adolescent patient's emerging sexuality can form the foundation for a lifelong ability to form intimate and trusting relationships. Teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, the consequences of teen sexuality in crisis, impact the adolescent and our society. Psychosocial developmentally-appropriate counseling in the primary care physician's office must be part of each visit. A nonjudgmental, empathic approach is instrumental in the prevention of adolescent morbidity and mortality.