Dear Helen,
Can you please help me talk to my teens about the dangers of anal sex!!? To them it’s normalised behaviour now, and I feel powerless to stop them.- Desperate Mom
Dear Desperate Mom,
I could, but I’m sure you realise that as teens, they a) won’t necessarily listen to you and b) even if they do, you can’t actually stop them, as they don’t understand risk at that age. That happens in the mid-20s, when the brain matures further.
You can only advise and perhaps ask where they found out about it and why they think it’s appropriate for them to be practicing. Are they interested because someone is pressuring them? Have they been watching porn films, in which it’s being practised? Are they wanting to practise it because you are not prepared to let them obtain contraceptive pills, if a girl; think they won’t get a girl pregnant, if a boy? The receptive partner risks tissue tearing, bleeding and long-term, if regularly practised, faecal incontinence if the anal sphincter tone is damaged; plus sexually transmitted infection. If they are the insertive partner, they risk contracting sexually transmitted infections and also urinary tract infections if they don’t use condoms. Condoms are a must, in all circumstances, alongside a copious amount of water based lubricant, time, gentleness and care. Just how you will convey that to your teens is the next issue.
I wish you the best, trying to help them understand the implications of this activity.
I hope this helps. – Helen
