Sex and Health Awareness for

Teenagers

ODETTE REJUSO-GONZALES, RN
Defining sexual health is a difficult task, as
each culture, sub-culture, and individual
has different standards of sexual health.
• Sexual health includes far more than
avoiding disease or unplanned pregnancies.
• Sexual health is the ability to embrace and
enjoy our sexuality throughout our lives.
• It is an important part of our physical and
emotional health.

What is Sexual Health Awareness?

• Understanding that sexuality is a natural part
of life and involves more than sexual behavior.
• Recognizing and respecting the sexual rights
we all share.
• Making an effort to prevent unintended
pregnancies and STDs and seek care and
treatment when needed.
• Being able to experience sexual pleasure,
satisfaction, and intimacy within a HEALTHY
relationship.

Cont...(what is sexual awareness)

Puberty More than a funny word..

OK, so it's a funny word . . . but what is puberty, anyway?

• Puberty is the name for when your body begins to develop and
change.
• During puberty, your body will grow faster than any other time in
your life, except from when you were an infant.
• You are all unique so some of you will have reached puberty and
others would not have. The important point to note is that each
puberty experience is unique.
• So what happens during the puberty phase of development?

Puberty
Hair, Hair, Everywhere!

• Well, maybe not everywhere. But one of the first signs

of puberty is hair growing where it didn't grow before.
• Boys and girls both begin to grow hair under their arms
and in their pubic areas.
• It starts out looking light and sparse. Then as you go
through puberty, it becomes longer, thicker, heavier,
and darker.
• Boys also start to grow hair on their faces.
• Some girls can have facial hair too…remember puberty
is an unique experience!

Puberty (hair)
About the Face

•Another thing that comes with puberty is acne, or pimples.

• Acne is triggered by puberty hormones.
• Pimples usually start around the beginning of puberty and
can stick around during adolescence (the teen years).
• You may notice pimples on your face, your upper back, or
your upper chest.
• It helps to keep your skin clean.
• The good news about acne is that it usually gets better or
disappears by the end of adolescense

Puberty..(face)
 • A lot of teens notice that they have a new smell under their
arms and elsewhere on their bodies when they enter puberty.
• That smell is body odor, and everyone gets it.
• As you enter puberty, the puberty hormones affect glands in
your skin, and the glands make chemicals that smell bad.
These chemicals put the scent in adolescent! So what can you
do to get rid of the smell?
• Keeping clean is a good way to lessen the smell.
• Take a bath at least twice a day. • Using deodorant every day
can help keep body odor in check, too.
• Hot tip: Why not try applying lime under your arms when you
wake up and leave for 10-15 mins and then take your bath.

Puberty cont.. Body Odor

Why is body image important?
• Body image is a person's opinions, thoughts, and feelings about his or
her own body and physical appearance.
• A healthy body image means feeling pretty satisfied with the way you
look, appreciating your body for its capabilities and accepting its
imperfections.
• Body image is part of your total self-image.
Puberty vs Body Image
• Body image is just one part of your self-image.
• A change in your body can be tough to deal with emotionally! Why?
• You may not feel comfortable with your changing body.
• Leading you to feel more self-conscious.
• Some teens go into puberty not feeling too satisfied with their body or
appearance to begin with.
• Thus puberty may add to such insecurities.

Puberty vs. Body Image 

SEX
All living things are created to reproduce.
• In the human reproductive process, two kinds
of sex cells are involved.
• The male sperm, and the female egg or
ovum, meet in the female's reproductive
system.
• The female needs a male to fertilize her egg,
even though it is she who carries the offspring
through pregnancy and childbirth.

So….let’s talk about SEX

So what is the purpose of SEX?
• Sex is what makes males and females
different from each other.
• We were created as male and females to
bring life.
• Your existence is the result of sex.

Sex cont…
• Sex as proof of adulthood.
• ‘The more partners I have the more masculine I become’.
• Want to try out sex before marriage.
• ‘It’s not good to be a virgin’.
• ‘Everyone else is having sex’.
• Sex will make a man love you more.
• Just once won’t get you pregnant.
• Love can only be expressed through sex.
• When you have sex with a man he will eventually marry
you.
• Poor sex education at home.

Why do teenagers engage in sex?

• Sex - or sexual intercourse - can result in
pregnancy or sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia, HIV
or Herpes.

• Fact: There are many STIs that you can

get through penetrative or oral sex.

Sexually Transmitted Infections 

Myth: Only "trashy" people get STDs.
Fact: STDs don't discriminate.
Myth: If your partner has an STD, you'll see it.
Fact: There's often no sign that a person has an STD.
Myth: You can avoid STDs by having oral or anal sex.
Fact: Where there's sex (oral, anal, vaginal, or even
just sexual contact), there can be STDs.
Myth: Once you've had an STD, there's no chance of
getting it again.
Fact: You can get some STDs more than just once.

Myths about STI’s 

Being attracted to someone
• Being attracted to someone can be exciting but
you may feel quite anxious, wondering if they feel
the same for you.
• If you ask them out and they refuse you may feel
rejected.
• You may be concerned that if people find out who
you're interested in them, they may tease you
about it.
• Some people are so worried about this that they
find it difficult to start having a relationship.

Relationships:
Lots of different types of relationship, from casual sex to
marriage.
• Some people try relationships out with different people,
and it can take a while for them to find out what they
want and what works.
• Some people have lots of relationships.
• Some people have a few, or one long one.
• Some people don't want a close relationship at certain
times in their life.
• All relationships are different! But…..
• When you are in a relationship you must know your self
worth

What counts as a relationship?

FACT: Its completely fine not to be in a relationship until your ready!

Healthy Relationships Being in a relationship should be a great

experience for you and your partner.
There may be some ups and downs, but there are a few important
things that should be there:
1)Respect – It’s really important that you understand and value the
person that you’re with and respect them for who they are.
2)Honesty – You also need to be able to show them who you are –
let him or her know how you’re feeling and what you think about
things. Good relationships involve speaking openly to each other.
3)Trust– Relationships shouldn’t make you worried or anxious about
what the other person is doing, you should be able to trust them,
and feel secure that they want to be with you.

Being in a relationship 
Unhealthy relationships
• If the person you are in a relationship with is
making you feel bad in some way, this is not a
great relationship!
• If your partner ever says things to insult you,
tries to control you, forces you into anything
sexual that you're not comfortable with, tries to
isolate you from the other important people in
your life or disrespects you, then you shouldn’t be
with them. This can apply to both men and
women!

Being in a relationship...
• Talking about your feelings can help.
• It can stop you feeling alone
• The person you talk to should be someone you feel easy and
relaxed with and can trust. It might be a parent or guardian, a
house tutor especially if you have a good relationship with them.
• Or it might be that a sister or brother or other relative would be
better. Some of your friends' parents might be approachable or
you might have a friend who would listen.
• Talking to people who are a bit less close to you might be good
too. For example, a teacher, or House tutor or Counsellor.
• Talking about things can be hard.
• It’s important to avoid suffering in silence.

It’s good to talk!

THANK YOU
-Nurse Odette