RT Book, Section
A1 Crawford-Faucher, Amy
A2 South-Paul, Jeannette E.
A2 Matheny, Samuel C.
A2 Lewis, Evelyn L.
SR Print(0)
ID 1106847225
T1 Adolescent Sexuality
T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Family Medicine, 4e
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071827454
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1106847225
RD 2024/04/24
AB Adolescence,  generally  between  12  and  19  years,  is  a  time  of  complex  physical,  cognitive,  psychosocial,  and  sexual  changes,  and  physical  development  occurs  in  advance  of  cognitive  maturity.  Not  until  maturity  is  reached  in  all  of  these  realms  does  the  adolescent  acquire  mature  decision-making  skills  and  the  ability  to  make  healthy  decisions  regarding  sexual  activity.  Sexuality  involves  more  than  just  anatomic  gender  or  physical  sexual  behavior,  but  incorporates  how  individuals  view  themselves  as  male  or  female,  how  they  relate  to  others,  and  the  ability  to  enter  into  and  maintain  an  intimate  relationship  on  a  giving  and  trusting  basis.  Adolescent  sexual  development  forms  the  basis  for  further  adult  sexuality  and  future  intimate  relationships.  Adolescents  who  are  sexually  active  before  having  achieved  the  capacity  for  intimacy  are  at  risk  for  unwanted  or  unhealthy  consequences  of  sexual  activity.