Doctors Unlikely to Discuss Sex with Teen Patients

Sex among young people may be a taboo topic whether it's a discussion among family members or at the doctors'. However, a recent study shows that unfortunately, less than two-thirds of doctors and teenage patients actually have any discussions about sexuality-including intercourse or dating. And the conversations that do take place only last for around a minute.

"It's hard for physicians to treat adolescents and help them make healthy choices about sex if they don't have these conversations," said lead author Stewart Alexander, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Duke. "For teens who are trying to understand sex and sexuality, not talking about sex could have huge implications."

Discussions about smoking, sex, drinking or other risky behaviors could benefit many according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. They believe that opportunities to discuss such issues could help to reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, as well as pregnancy prevention.

Researchers analyzed audio recordings of annual doctor's visits for 523 adolescents, comprised of teensagers aged 12 to 17. All participants visited pediatricians and family medicine physicians at all clinics in North Carolina.  

Findings showed that doctors brought up sex in approximately 65 percent of the visits, with conversations that lasted an average of only 36 seconds. They also found that 35 percent of the visits included no mention of sex, with teens rarely, if ever, initiating the discussion regarding the topic.

"We saw that physicians spent an average of 22.4 minutes in the exam room with their patients. Even when discussions about sex occurred, less than 3 percent of the visit was devoted to topics related to sex," Alexander said. "This limited exchange is likely inadequate to meet the sexual health prevention needs of teens."

Study findings also showed that teens responded to yes or no questions with limited discussion. However, only 4 percent of teens had prolonged conversations with doctors regarding the issue. Lastly, they found that female patients were twice as likely to bring up the topic in the doctor's office than male counterparts.

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal JAMA Pediatrics.