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Teen Parents health consequences. Just because a sex partner is young and “looks healthy,” that’s actually no guarantee that he or she can’t give you a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But by far, the most significant consequence of intercourse is the creation of a new life. Teenagers who become parents—and especially girls who become mothers—find their lives permanently changed. Becoming a parent when you are still a kid yourself is incredibly challenging. It is vital that teenagers who find themselves in this position understand precisely what they are getting into. TEENS AND SEX Advertisements are designed to convince people to buy things. One classic method is to suggest that a certain product will make a person more attrac- tive—thinner, younger, prettier, or more handsome. This approach inspired the now-common saying, “Sex sells.” And it’s not just advertising—sexual imagery is

everywhere, including in music videos, talk shows, and fashion magazines. Meanwhile, the characters in movies and TV shows seem to be constantly pairing up for casual sex. Judging by today’s media, you might think that adults never think about anything else. This can put a lot of pressure on kids. The media hints that girls should be “sexy” at younger and younger ages. TV shows and

Using sexuality to sell products seems to hap- pen everywhere—these mannequins were photographed in a store in Ramallah, Palestine.