Why you should talk to your kids about anal sex

Learn about: Why you should talk to your kids about anal sex from Diane Tanaka, MD,...
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Why you should talk to your kids about anal sex

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So some teens today are engaging in anal sex, because they inaccurately perceive that it's a lower risk activity with regards to pregnancy. Actually that is accurate, because you can't get pregnant through anal sex. That's not going to happen. However, in terms of risk in contracting infections it's one of the highest risk activities you can engage in. In fact if not the highest risk activity that a teenager could engage in is anal sex. And the biggest risk is contracting HIV. Because there is more trauma involved with the anal sex and so makes it easier for HIV to cross over the mucosal barrier because there could be anywhere between micro - tears to actual abrasions and lacerations of the anal mucosal which makes it very easy for HIV to enter into the blood stream and thereby infect the young person. That young person could also contract Herpes and HPV, Human PapillomaVirus, as well as Gonorrhea through anal sex. And so many parents may think Well, if my son is not engaging in sexual activity with another male I don't have to worry about talking about anal sex. And that's not true because many young girls, younger teens, we are talking about 13 year olds, 12 year olds, 14 year olds are actually engaging in anal sex because either they believe or their partner points out to them that they can't get pregnant and it will preserve their virginity because the hymen remains intact through anal sex. That therefore let's go and engage in anal sex. Yet given the risk of contracting infections I think it's actually the highest risk for even a young girl could participate in.

Learn about: Why you should talk to your kids about anal sex from Diane Tanaka, MD,...

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Diane Tanaka, MD

Adolescent Medicine Physician

Dr. Tanaka is an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and the medical director of the Homeless Adolescent and Young Adult Wellness Center and the MyVOICE Adolescent Transition Program, both at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Tanaka went to University of California, Davis for medical school and did her residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Tanaka's primary speciality is Adolescent Medicine, and her clinical interests include: menstrual disorders, substance use and abuse, and the treatment of sexually transmitted infections. She currently serves at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and was awarded the Barbara Korsch Medical Education Award at CHLA in 2008 and listed in Castle Connely’s directory of top physicians in 2009.

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