Puberty, premarital sex and teenage pregnancy

What is Puberty? Puberty is the time in your life when your body starts changing from that of child to an adult.  While there is no right time for puberty to begin, girls usually start a little earlier than boys – usually between 8 and 13 years of age. Puberty for boys usually starts at about 10 to 14 years of age.

Physical Changes that Take Place in Boys During Puberty

At puberty, the following physical changes occur in boys:

1. A boy’s voice gets deeper
2. His muscles develop
3. His chest gets broader
4. Hair starts to grow under his arms, on his legs and face
5. During this time his penis and testicles will also grow bigger and longer
6. Hair, often called pubic hair, will also start to grow at the base of his penis. He will start to have erections and he may have wet dreams.

Physical Changes that Take Place in Girls During Puberty

At puberty, the following physical changes take place in girls:

1. A girl’s breasts will start to grow.
2. Her hips get wider and rounder
3. Hair will start to grow under her arms. Hair, often called public hair, will also grow between her legs. She will also start to have periods.

Premarital Sex

Meaning of Sex

Sex is sexual urge or instinct as it manifests itself in behavior.

Meaning of Premarital-sex

Premarital sex is the sexual intercourse between parties not married to each other.

Meaning of Adultery

Adultery is sexual intercourse between a married person and one other than the lawful spouse.

Health Consequences of Premarital Sex

The following are the health consequences of premarital sex:

1. Unwanted pregnancies
2. Unwanted child
3. Life-long emotional effects
4. Sexually transmitted diseases
5. Teenage Pregnancy

The Meaning of Teenage Pregnancy

According to UNICEF, teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13 – 19, becoming pregnant. The American Pregnancy Association defines teenage pregnancy as a pregnancy that occurs for a woman under the age of 20. It also refers to girls who have not reached legal adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant.

Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy

The following are the consequences of teenage pregnancy:

1. Babies born to teenage mothers are prone to several health risks. They are more likely to suffer from health and social problems than children born to older mothers.
2. Teenage mothers are likely to suffer from medical complications such as premature labour., which can cause low birth weight of the baby.
3. Teenage pregnancy makes many young girls drop out of school and forfeit their dreams and ambitions.
4. Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to live in poverty because of their mothers’ lack of financial resources.
5. A lot of children born to teen mothers grow up without the love and care of a father. This has both physical and psychological effects on the children as they grow up.
6. Teenage mothers are more likely to get addicted to drinking and drug abuse as a result of post-pregnancy stress.
7. The social life of the teen mother is negatively affected because of her early and unexpected pregnancy. Many teenage mothers spend their lives in emotional trauma.

EVALUATION

1. Define puberty.
2. List 3 physical changes that take place in boys and girls during puberty.
3. List three consequences of premarital sex.
4. What is teenage pregnancy?
5. State five consequences of teenage pregnancy