Have you talked with your parents about sex? October is Let’s Talk Month, and we can’t imagine a better time to have an open and honest conversation about sex with your parents. If you can talk to them about sex, you can talk to them about anything.

MTV has a new show about talking to parents about sex called Sex…With Mom and Dad. Check out the trailer below, and leave us a comment with your thoughts about the show.

It’s important to let your parents know if you want to talk about sex. You can even approach them before they approach you. Check out these teen-written stories for tips on talking to your parents about sex.

http://www.sexetc.org/story/deciding_sex/2187
http://www.sexetc.org/story/emotional_health/2081
http://www.sexetc.org/story/love_relationships/1936

Are you a single teen who sees couples at school and wonders if being a couple is better than being single? It’s National Unmarried and Single Americans Week, and we want to set the record straight on being single!

Myth: You’re the only person not in a relationship.

That’s just not true. People live a huge part of their lives as singles. So why worry about it? You have the rest of your life to think about finding a partner.

Myth: You’re single because there’s something wrong with you.

Finding someone you’re compatible with takes time and, for some people, lots of dates. Just because you’re not in a relationship doesn’t mean you’re messed up. It just means you haven’t clicked with someone yet.

Myth: You’re unhappy, miserable and lonely without a partner.

There are millions of happy, single Americans living life to the fullest every day. If you’re feeling especially sad and lonely, a relationship won’t make those feelings go away. Talk to a mental health professional if these feelings persist.

Myth: You’re incomplete, and a partner makes you whole.

If you believe this, then you’re definitely not ready for a relationship. How can you start a healthy relationship if you think you’re somehow broken? Get into a relationship because you like the other person, not because you can’t be alone.

Myth: You’ll be home alone on Friday nights. You have no life if you’re single.

Woe is me! A quiet night at home isn’t a bad thing. Why sit by the phone waiting for it to ring, when you can pursue a hobby or make plans with your friends.

Don’t forget: Whether you’re single or in a relationship, not having oral, anal or vaginal sex is the only way to totally protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy and STDs.

Global climate change is real, and yes, the polar bears are drowning. There are tons of things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment, like recycling, driving a hybrid car, using solar power and wearing a condom. Wearing a condom? Yep, wearing a condom can help save the planet.

Think about it: Humans are largely responsible for melting ice caps, oceans of garbage and disappearing animals and forests. If we want to reduce our impact on the environment and make good use of limited resources, like water, then we’ve got to reduce population growth by preventing unplanned pregnancies.

Using a condom or other method of birth control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy isn’t just about saving your own skin; it’s about protecting the environment. So do your part to save the planet and use a condom or other method of birth control if you decide to have sex.

Purity rings took center stage at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Host Russell Brand mocked the Jonas Brothers—self-proclaimed virgins that have pledged not to have sex until marriage—for wearing purity rings. Jordin Sparks, who wears a purity ring, had this to say in response: “It’s not bad to wear a promise ring because not everybody—guy or girl—wants to be a slut.”

You aren’t a slut if you don’t wear a purity ring. And wearing a purity ring doesn’t make you better than people that don’t wear them.

Whether you wear a purity ring or not, deciding to refrain from sex is great. It’s the only way to completely avoid pregnancy and STDs. But if you really want to stick to your decision not to have sex AND still be fully prepared when you do have sex, a comprehensive sex education is the way to go.

There’s been a lot of talk about Bristol Palin, the pregnant, 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Parents play an important role in teaching their children about sex. What did Bristol Palin learn about sex from her mother?

First, you have to know a little bit about where Sarah Palin stands on the issues. She is anti-choice, even in cases of rape or incest. She’s also anti-comprehensive sex ed and wants abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in schools, which means information about condoms and birth control wouldn’t be taught.

Did Sarah talk to Bristol about using condoms to protect herself from pregnancy and STDs? Or did she only push for abstinence and leave her daughter without important info about condoms that could have prevented a pregnancy?

There’s no way of knowing what Sarah and Bristol talked about, or if they talked about sex at all! Teens need and deserve honest and accurate information about sex—not only from comprehensive sex ed classes and resources like Sexetc.org, but from parents as well. Parents really do matter when it comes to learning about sex, so make sure you talk to them!