1. Childhood and Adolescence
© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.

3. How does early positive physical affection help?
Helps in establishing physically intimate relationships.

4. What sexual response is there in infancy?
Male and female infants apparently experience orgasm
Breast feeding may stimulate a genital or sexual response in the child and parent.

5. What happens with first menstruation?
Called menarche
May occur without ovulation
May be irregular
Girls are starting to reach puberty at age eight

6. When does first ejaculation occur?
Occurs when prostate and seminal vesicles begin functioning
Called spermarche

7. Do you remember? How does early positive physical affection help?
What can you tell me about first menstruation?
What can you tell me about first ejaculation?

8. What motivates first intercourse?
For women - affection for partner
For men - curiosity and readiness or sex

9. What are the positive aspects of adolescent masturbation?
Relieves sexual tension
Important part of their sexual development.
Learn about your body and what feels good
May aid sexual expression with a partner.

10. How should you respond to early masturbation?
Boys learn from friends
Girls learn by accident
Response to masturbation
Confirm it feels good, & indicate it is something you should do when alone in private

11. Do you remember? What motivates first intercourse?
What are the positive aspects of adolescent masturbation?
How should you respond to a child’s early masturbation?

12. What can you tell me about teen pregnancy?
Teen pregnancy in the US is the highest in the western world
One in five sexually active adolescents become pregnant each year
Only half of teen pregnancies end in live births

13. What is early intercourse associated with?
Poverty
Low educational expectations
History of sexual abuse

14. Do teenagers use birth control?
Only a minority of teenagers use reliable birth control
“I’m not that kind of girl” syndrome

15. What problems do pregnant teenagers have
What problems do pregnant teenagers have? (compared to mothers in their 20’s or older)
More likely to hemorrhage when delivering
More likely to miscarry
More likely to get inadequate prenatal care

16. What problems are children born to teen mothers likely to have?
More likely to:
Be abused
Die as infants
Demonstrate deficits in intellectual ability
Have physical and emotional problems

17. Does early same sex behavior mean they are gay?
Adolescent same sex behavior does not = gay
Many heterosexual persons have has early homosexual experiences
Same sex contact may be experimental
Person with homosexual orientation may not act on those feelings until adulthood.

18. Do you remember?
How many sexually active adolescents become pregnant each year?
How many pregnancies end in live births?
What problems do pregnant teenagers and their children have?
Does early same sex behavior mean the child is gay?