Sexuality Talk During Adolescent Health Maintenance Visits

Abstract

Physicians can help promote healthy sexuality in their adolescent patients by providing education and counseling about sexual development and by discussing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention.^1-3 Each of these interventions requires that physicians talk with adolescents about sex. Accurate information supports healthy sexual development,⁴ and the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that physicians provide confidential time during early and middle adolescents’ health maintenance visits to discuss sexuality and counsel about sexual behavior and risk reduction.^5,6 However, while physicians report comfort with sexual history taking, they report discomfort and lack of confidence in discussing sex and sexuality.^7,8