Teen Mental, Physical and Sexual Health

Physical Health in Teens

Being a teenager is hard. From dealing with peer pressure to studying hard to earn good grades, your adolescent years are not easy, both emotionally and physically. You undergo great physical change in your teen years. One day, your favorite pair of designer jeans fit perfectly and the next, they are two inches too short!

Don't freak out at all the changes that you're going through. Embrace it as a part of life. Your teen years won't last forever.

Though you can't control your body's growth, you can be in control of your health. By keeping healthy habits, eating a balanced and healthy diet, and exercising regularly, you can look and feel great. Plus, being physically healthy may even help you succeed in school! Long-term health benefits of healthy habits include preventing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even some cancers!

Our Physical Health in Teens articles cover a range of subjects that you may want to know about teen health, including body image issues, anorexia and bulimia, your first pelvic exam, and much more!

Featured Article:
Teen Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia

Our western society is obsessed with weight loss and keeping slim and fit. Television shows and magazines are covered with beautiful models and actors with the "perfect" body type - small and thin. When this is paired with peer pressure, it is easy for some teenagers to fall prey to body image issues and eating disorders. Sometimes, teens who suffer from eating disorders also have other emotional illnesses, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and substance abuse problems. Read more to find out if you or someone you know could be at risk for one of these eating disorders.

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Sexual Health in Teens

Your body changes dramatically during your teen years - thanks (or rather, no thanks!) to puberty. If you're a guy, your voice will change, you will start growing facial hair, your manhood will get longer and wider, and you may even become more muscular. Girls may become curvier and develop breasts. If you haven't already, you will soon experience your first menstrual period (which can start anytime between age 8 and 14. Some girls may get their periods sooner than others.)

Along with these physical changes, you will also change sexually. During the teenage years, many teens start sexually experimenting. Teen sexuality comes with many health concerns, including pregnancy, birth control use, and emergency contraception. Despite what you may have heard about STDs or STIs, they can happen to anyone who is sexually active. The only 100 percent way that you will not contract these diseases is through abstinence and by avoiding any type of sex - including oral sex!

Women's Healthcare Topics is here to teach and inform you about Sexual Health in Teens. Remember that education is power! Our articles feature helpful information on teen sex, sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, and emergency contraception. We are always updating and adding new content, so come back often to read about the latest in teen sexual health!

Featured Article:
Most Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Many teens may think they know all there is to know about sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases (STD's), but this is far from the truth. STD's are more common and easy to contract than most teens may be aware of. You do not have to have intercourse to fall victim to a sexually transmitted disease. Any form of sexual contact can put you at risk. Learn what signs could signal a potential STD, as well as what types of STD's are more common among teens. Staying in-the-know is the best way to stay out of trouble with your sexual health.

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Mental Health in Teens

As a teen, you are under tremendous pressure to be popular, earn good grades, and make important life decisions. You are also constantly fighting to discover who you are and to find your identity in the world. All of this stress can have negative consequences to teen health. This can lead to teenage depression, body image issues, and unhealthy eating habits.

If you're dealing with any of these issues, go get help. Don't deal with them alone. Reach out to your friends and family. Your loved ones can offer you emotional support, and your parents may be able to get you in touch with therapists and counselors. Your school may also have a counselor you can talk to when the going gets rough.

Our Teen Mental Health articles will give you an overview of teen mental health subjects that you should be aware of.

Featured Article:
Teen Depression and Suicide Rates
Being a teenager can place a lot of stress and confusion, sometimes causing you to have thoughts about depression and even suicide. If you start to experience a change in your mood, causing you to feel down and blue more often, or even crying for no reason, you could have a mild case of depression. It is no surprise that teen depression can lead to thoughts of suicide, so stay informed and be aware of any warning signs that could signal you or your friends could be suffering from depression. Read on to find out just how common depression in teens is and what you can do to help yourself or your loved ones.

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