Teen Sexual Health

Sex education greatly boosts the likelihood that teens will delay having sexual intercourse, according to a Centre for Disease Control and Prevention study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Male teens who had sex education in school were 71 per cent less likely, and similarly educated female teens were 59 per cent less likely to have sexual intercourse before 15. Males who attended school, meanwhile, were 2.77 times more likely to rely upon birth control the first time they had sex if they had been in sex education classes.

• PlanetAhead.ca: An interactive website by teens for teens sponsored by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. This colourful animated website answers commonly asked questions in a sophisticated comic book format.
• Chebucto-Teen Health Website.ns.ca:  A Canadian (Nova Scotia-based) website that offers sexual advice for teens. The creative graphic layout is browser-friendly and easy to navigate.
• SexEtc.org: An American website run by teens for teens that provides honest, medically accurate information about human sexuality (based at Rutgers University).
• Aboriginal Youth Network: This site provides a network that runs across Canada (and beyond) connecting aboriginal youth. By clicking on this site, you are now a part of the network. The site is produced by aboriginal teens for teens to get the word out about health, education and employment opportunities. The website also promotes the culture and traditions of the First Nations communities.
• TalkingWithKids.org: An American website that offers practical, concrete tips for talking easily and openly to children about sex, relationships, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol and drugs.
• Avert.org: An international AIDS charity that sponsors a website with teen sexual health section. This website is also excellent for adult readers.
• TeachingSexualHealth.ca: An Alberta-based website that views sexual health as the shared responsibility of parents, schools, and community, and helps you choose the information that best fits you and your family values.
• YouthCo.org: Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society is a non-profit organization working to involve youth ages 15-29 from all communities in addressing HIV/AIDS and related issues.
• WiredforHealth-uk: A UK health promotion unit’s website that promotes positive sexual health for teens.
• GoAskAlice: This website is produced by Columbia University’s Health and Education Program. The site allows youth to directly ask questions about physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual health.
• It’s Your (Sex) Life: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation sponsors this site. The site addresses questions about contraception, STDs, and how teens can negotiate their sexual lives.
• iwannaknow: An excellent website that provides answers to questions abount teen sexual health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The website is directed by the American Social Health Association.
• quierosaber: A spanish translation of 'iwannaknow.org.'
• Spiderbytes: A Canadian website that brings a new spin on sexual health for teens to the internet.
• Teenwire: Planned Parenthood Federation of America's Teen Wire website provides comprehensive sex education information specifically for teens.
• TeenAIDS: TeenAIDS is a charitable organization committed to saving teenage lives around the world by providing outreach and resources on HIV/AIDS. They have volunteers in over 80 countries and provide an extensive website for young people on HIV and AIDS. They also broadcast live webcasts on HIV Awareness events throughout the world.
• Guttmacher Institute: The Guttmacher Institute advances sexual and reproductive health worldwide through an interrelated program of social science research, public education and policy analysis. The Adolescent Sexual Reproductive section provides excellent research-based information for mature teens.
• Young Women's Health Centre: The Centre for Young Women's Health is a collaboration between the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and the Division of Gynecology at the Children's Hospital in Boston, USA. The website presents carefully researched health information and education programs and conferences by and for teens.