Sex education is offered in many schools, but don't count on classroom instruction alone. Sex education needs to happen at home too. Here's help talking to your teen about sex.

Sex education basics may be covered in health class. But teens might not hear — or understand — everything they need to know to make tough choices about sex. That's where you come in.

It can be awkward, but sex education is a parent's job. By connecting with your teen early and often, you can set the stage for a lifetime of healthy sexuality.importance of healthy relationships. Model healthy relationships through the way you connect with your teen and others. The lessons your teen learns today about respect, boundaries, and understanding what is right and wrong will carry over into future relationships.

Responding to behavior

If your teen is sexually active, it may be more important than ever to keep the conversation going. Even if you don't think your teen is ready, be open yet honest in your approach. Remind your teen that you expect sex and its responsibilities to be taken seriously.

Stress the importance of safe sex.

Contraception. Make sure your teen understands how to get and use contraception such as condoms and birth control.

Promote exclusivity. An exclusive sexual relationship supports trust and respect while lowering the risk of STIs.

Set reasonable boundaries. Enforce curfews and rules about visits with friends. This is especially important if you notice sexual attraction between your teen and certain friends.

Your teen's health care provider can help too. A routine checkup can give your teen the chance to talk about sexual health to only the provider in private. The provider can help your teen learn about contraception and safe sex. The provider can also help you build your skills to teach your teen about safe sex.

The provider may also stress the importance of routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. This vaccine protects people of all genders against genital warts and cancers of the cervix, anus, mouth and throat, and penis. People can usually get the vaccine between ages 9 and 26. But it is sometimes available for people older than age 26.

Looking ahead

Your guidance is key to helping your teen become a sexually responsible adult. Be honest and speak from the heart. If your teen doesn't seem interested in what you have to say about sex, say it anyway. Your teen is probably listening.

Writer:By Mayo Clinic Staff