Dear Dish-It, Facts About Sexually Active Teens

Dear Dish-it looks at teen pregnancy and other facts about sexually active teens.

Teen Sex

Dear Dish-It, is here to say "Listen Up guys!" This one's about s-e-x!

Dear Dish-It,

I want to have sex so bad, that I am pulling my hair out. This boy named ladarius asked me to. What do I do?
SWEETASHLEY004

Dear Dish-It,

When can I have sex? I want it bad.
quese91

Dear Dish-It,

Me and my boyfriend have been going out for 3 years. He is ready to have sex and I am only 13. What should I do? Please holla back.
Bowwow-wifey

Dear SWEETASHLEY004,quese91,Bowwow wifey,

Hey girls... and all ya others who are writing in and askin' 'bout sex: you're too young for sex. Y'all need to wait. And what do ya mean you want it bad? You don't even know what you want. And Bowwow wifey, if your boy can't wait then tell him later skater! If your thing with him is real, he'll backoff.

Since so many of you are writin' to me 'bout sex, check out these facts.

4 of 5 teens who don't use birth control get pregnant.

1 in 4 teens having sex get Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including the AIDS Virus.

Nearly one million teen girls get pregnant each year.

The U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion in the industrialized world.

Everyone is not having sex. Fewer than one-half of high school students are sexually experienced.

Less than a third of teen mothers finish high school.

In 1997, about 45 percent of mothers ages 15 to 19 were white, 27 percent were black, 25 percent were Hispanic, and 3 percent were from other racial or ethnic groups.

It is estimated that 20,000 young people are infected with HIV every year. That means two young Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 are contracting HIV every hour.

Two-thirds of the 12 million Americans with STDs, are people under the age of 25.

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Sex is not all that, believe it or not. Once you give it up to a boy, they think they run things, which they don't. Trust me, I thought I was all that cuz I had sex, but then I find out people were startin' to call me all these names and I didn't know why. Just cuz you have sex doesn't make you different or a better person. Just think twice before makin' a huge mistake at such a young age.

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: cutie134ever
Age: 13

The best thing for any girl to do is wait until you've been going out with the guy for at least a year. By then you'll see whether or not he is actually interested in you or just your reproductive organs. Wait until you find that one person who you love and you'll know the time is right.

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: canadian_banana
Age: 16

Hey pplz, Here's some advice - whatever you do, don't ever let people bring you down with their words. Many of my friends make fun of me and I've learned to just ignore the comments.

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: Megster5263
Age: 14

So, ya gotta burnin' question? Need some love directions? Thinkin' 'bout stuff like depression, sex,how ya feel 'bout YOURSELF (that's called "self-esteem"), boyfriends, girlfriends, losin' old friends, bullyin' or peer pressure, but too scared to ask the parents? Don't be scared to Dish-It here. But 'member, if ya hang out in Chat with other Kidzworld members who know ya by your 'username', ya might wanna use a secret nickname when ya write in. That way no one'll ever know it's you. And, just in case ya don't know, Dish-It gets a lotta letters everyday, and she can't answer 'em all. So keep checkin' the column cuz she's prob'ly answerin' somethin' very similar to your question while you're out doin' somethin' else. K? And Thanks! Ya keep her outta trouble. Oh! And if ya've got words of wisdom you wanna share,We'll dish 'em up, too.