Is it common for a teenager to talk about their first sexual experience with their parents/guardians? Assumedly in a good relationship with parents/guardians? Thank you!

Thanks for your question. Lots of people wonder whether they should talk to their parent/guardian about sex. If you have a good relationship with your parent/guardian, and feel safe talking to them that’s great! Parents/guardians can have good advice that can help you have a healthier sex life.

Sometimes teens may feel awkward talking about sex with their parents/guardians and that’s normal. Here are some tips to consider when starting a conversation:

  • Consider talking about more general things first. For instance, maybe mention that some of your friends are thinking about sex, or started having sex.
  • Think about specific questions before hand.
  • Some people feel more comfortable using a TV show or something they found online to start the conversation. You can show it to your parent/guardian and use that to help start the conversation.
  • Some people ask their health care providers to help them start the conversation about sexual health with their parent/guardian.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your parents/guardians about sex, consider talking to other trusted adults in your life. This can include an adult relative (such as an uncle or aunt), a coach, or your health care provider.


Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.