With teenage pregnancy at an all time high, we as a society need to look back, and ask ourselves if the programs in place are working. It is my opinion, we have failed our children at the basic core. With that said, I'm a strong supporter of teaching young women, and men the importance of using protection. I am also a staunch supporter of teaching our kids, an informative scientific approach at sex education in the classroom. Therefore, my opinion also is that the sooner we start teaching our children responsible, and safe sex practices the better. With the advancements of hormonal injections now a common place in our food diet, young women are experiencing the period a much earlier age than they use too. Back in 1980, at the young age of 10 I got my first period. I was by far the youngest in my class. It wasn't until three years later, that girls in my class were starting their periods. Some girls even went into their freshmen year of high school, without starting their periods. Nowadays, that is unheard of. The average for girls starting their menstrual period is 12, or the sixth grade. From that moment on, girls need to be educated about their bodies, and any possible outcomes if they experience sexual intimacy. As a mother of a 14 year old boy, it is mind boggling for me to think that some child at the age of 12 is having sexual intercourse. But the frightening reality is they are. We cannot continue to dismiss the facts of life, by ignoring the numbers, and centuries of sexual practices.

• To avoid getting pregnant;
  

Young women should know how to protect themselves. They need to be advised on what can occur, and what are the alternatives after pregnancy. They also need to be educated on ways to terminating pregnancy, adoption, and what are some possible final outcomes that will affect their lives if they do get pregnant. Unfortunately we lay the burden of teaching informative sex education to the parents. For centuries now, parents have failed to uphold their right to teaching their offspring the importance of understanding sexual intercourse. For centuries, tax payers have been forced to provide any and all financial responsibility when these parents fail to do their job. As a tax payer, I'm tired of wasting my hard earn dollars on a time tested failed program. As a mother, I feel it is my responsibility to take matters into my own hands, teach young boys and girls the real truth of having sexual intercourse. Yes, I think we all can agree the world over, that the best way to avoid getting pregnant is by not having sexual intercourse at all.  However, it is quite obvious that that type of wishful thinking has failed!!

• The Basics;
  

Sexual intercourse that causes pregnancy; is where a a boy/man, takes his penis, and enters into the woman's vagina, & releases semen inside her. This semen then swims it way up, planting themselves inside eggs that the woman's body produces monthly. When these eggs come in contact with the boys semen, they fertilize each other and a baby is made. All women produce eggs, and all men secrete semen when their at a young age in life. So never let anyone tell you differently. If you mess with the snake, you will/can get pregnant.

Many guys will tell you that they can pull out before they will cum inside you, but they are flat dead wrong! So protect yourself at all times. Cumming inside you is when the man releases a filmy, chalk color discharge of semen inside you. The word to "cum", is street slang for this natural occurrences. But realistically, guys have a way of talking themselves inside you. They have a way of getting what they want, by telling you things they think you want to hear like; "I love you....", or "I need this....", "If you love me, you have to show me...", "I'll leave you if you don't....", and many other tall tales just to get you to go to bed with them. Sometimes these overwhelming statements can break you down, and ultimately you give it up to them. I know I've been there. I understand firsthand, that amazing peer pressure that boys can use to their advantage, when they are "horny", "turned on", or sexually frustrated. However, it is extremely important for you to remember that it only takes 1 sperm, from their semen to impregnate you. 1!

Boys/Guys from the age of 14-21, have a higher concentration of sperm in their semen. It is so concentrated that even the clear, pre-ejaculation fluid they secrete can get a young woman pregnant. This fluid is what you usually feel around the hole located at the top of the guy's penis head. It is clear, and slimy feeling. But very potent at the ages of 14-21. So you can even get pregnant if this fluid is laying close to your vaginal (pee-pee) opening.

If you are unsure where your vagina is located, I highly recommend that you do a private, and personal exploration of your female area. The hole furthermost back is your anus. This where your poop comes out. Find this area and slowly move your finger up towards your belly button. The next hole you'll feel is your vagina. It is here that men insert their penises inside you, for that warm sensation, and wetness that comes from having sex with you. So, like I wrote earlier if the guy talks you into just allowing to lay the head of his penis, ON this opening- YOU CAN GET PREGNANT!!! Don't not risk the responsibility of being a mother so foolishly. Make him cover up his penis with a condom.

It is my advice to carry a pack of condoms with you. Do not put your life in someone else's hand. The one person you can always count on the most is yourself. So just be prepared at all times, for something crazy to happen. You never know when you will be pressured, or asked to have sexual intercourse with a boyfriend, or a guy friend. Something important for you to know is that, guys usually don't like to wear protection. Well that's too bad. For some reason it is easy for girls to give up their virginity, but when it comes to protecting yourself from AIDS; it becomes a life threatening matter. It DOES NOT matter what a guy tells you, whether it's his first time or not, never have unprotected sex. Not only could you get pregnant, but you can DIE! Getting pregnant is one thing, but would you run in front a racing car if he told you too? So protect yourself at all times. Make him wear a condom.

Remember, you have the power to have consenting sex with whomever you want. Realistically, only YOU can stop you if this is something you desire, want to give away, or try. Being raped is a whole different matter. However, what I've chosen to concentrate this hub on, is the kind of sex when both parties agree to make love. When I was a young girl, the worse thing that could happen to us if we had sex with a boy was having a baby. The world had not heard of AIDS or HIV! Yes we could get warts on our pee-pee's, yeast infections, the clap (painful sex, vaginal discharge that is horribly smelly, itchy and a burning pee-pee), herpes (core sores), and stuff like that. NO ONE died from having sex. Nowadays, that is REALITY!!! Protect yourself at all times!The Trojan Condom company is the longest running condom making company. I would trust them with my own life. I trust them with my son's life. However, there are several different condom companies out there to buy and use. Condoms come in different flavors, colors and sizes. I'll leave the colors and flavors up to you to decide. But when choosing a condom, the standard large size fits most boys' penis size.

One of the things guys dislike most about condoms, is that some are dry feeling. That is why buying condoms with a lubricant is a better choice to try. This lubricant counteracts any apposing viewpoints they might try to argue with. So just be prepared to eliminate the hassle of fighting with them, and eventually having unprotected sex. Not only do condoms safe guard against pregnancy, but they are the number 1 way to safe guard against AIDS and unwanted STD's. STD's are sexually transmitted diseases. Meaning that they are diseases that are transferred from person to the next. I also need to point out the fact that the actual number 1 way of avoiding AIDS, getting pregnant, and all other STD's is by NOT having sex at all. But then again, I think as I stated earlier most young boys and girls, chose to ignore that rule of thumb.

Putting a condom on is very simple. If you need practice, take a cucumber or a banana up to your room, open up a condom and practice sliding it down the fruit or veggie. So that way if the guy you decide to sleep with., doesn't know how to put a condom on himself, you are prepared. It is the same as looking both ways, before you cross the road. Start by looking both ways, and practice putting on a condom yourself. This rule of thumb goes both ways of course! Boys should practice putting on a condom on themselves, and girls on something shaped similar to that of a man's penis.

Last rule of thumb, talk to your parents before you decide to have sex. Don't go through this alone. More importantly, tell them what you yourself is physically and emotionally feeling inside. If you are scared to talk to them, write it in a letter and leave it on your bed before you go to school. That way you have an opportunity to explain yourself, and they have an opportunity to read it and think about it. Regardless of what you think, parents in the end will be there for you to talk too. However, if you are like myself, with parents who didn't give a poop, talk to a teacher or grandparent. You'd be surprised at how many people are on your side.