Those teen years sure can be awkward, and among the most embarrasing moments those spent with adults who want to discuss the birds and the bees. But in the 21st century, there's a good chance the average teenager is learning a lot about sex on the Internet.
It's become such standard practice that both Columbia College and the University of Chicago organized symposiums on what's called "virtual sex ed."
U of C gynecologist Dr. Melissa Gilliam said there is a dizzying array of sites, and many of them allow kids to ask questions and get answers anonymously.
On sites like www.itsyoursexlife.com and www.scarleteen.com, questions range from "is it really illegal for me to buy condoms" to questions about how people catch sexually transmitted diseases, and the effectiveness of differenet forms of birth control.
The information is more straightforward, maybe less racy, on GirlsHealth.gov, a site run by the Department of Health and Human Services, and on PlannedParenthood.org.
And parents shouldn't feel left out. Sites geared for adults provide tips on how to have "the talk" with their kids. The suggestions include what is age appropriate: talking about relationships with a child in elementary school and dating and self-control with high school-aged kids.
Of course, YouTube.com is in the act, too. Videos there range from actual sex teachers to students themselves doing the teaching.
An MTV reality show called "16 and Pregnant" follows teens who are dealing with becoming parents and the challenges they face trying to raise a newborn.
Despite the plethora of information, the numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what teens know about sex is alarming.
The CDC recently reported that one in three teenagers said they've never received information about birth control, and that in 2006 one million young people aged 10 to 24 had chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
In some areas of Chicago, Dr. Gilliam said chlamydia alone infects nearly one in eight young women.
That statistic is alarming, but one Chicago-area company said it's got a business that could help. Their at-home test kits screen for two of the most common STD's -- chlamydia and gonorrhea.
The kits are available from GetSTDtested.com and are mailed in an anonymous brown paper box. You take the test at home, mail the sample to the lab and days later the result pops up in your e-mail inbox. If the test is positive, patients are directed to free advice.
"A doctor is available, as well as counselors from the American Social Health Association," said the company's CEO, Tracy Powell.
But some warn that a phone or Internet consultation may not lead to the treatment and lifestyle changes some teens need to make.
Dr. Gilliam said that while information is good, it alone cannot be as effective as face-to-face consultation.
Nevertheless, virtual sex ed is here to stay, and Gilliam suggests that parents choose the sites carefully. She said the safest ones will end in .gov or .edu.
CDC.gov: Addressing Social Determinants of Health (.pdf)
