Be Empowered: Know The Facts First

December 7, 2015 • By Dr. Nancy C. Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health — Women's Health and Director, Office on Women's Health

Talking about sex isn't always easy, especially with your kids. It's awkward, but having the talk can help them be smart about sex and relationships. The key to these conversations is accurate information.

Know The Facts First, a public health awareness campaign, is aimed at just that: providing teen girls 13 to 19 with accurate information about sexual health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and STI prevention so that they can make informed decisions. Our campaign is also relevant to teen boys who face the same kinds of questions, worries, and pressures about sex as teen girls.

We want all teens to Know The Facts First.No fiction, just the facts.

About 1 in 4 teens has an STI. That fact, and the reality that so much sexual health information is clouded in myth and confusion, led us at the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) to develop Know The Facts First with the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and the National Coalition of STD Directors. Starting today atKnowTheFactsFirst.gov, teens — and even parents and other adults — have a place to get reliable, straightforward information. In addition to abstinence, they can find out about the different STIs, how to prevent them, and where to get tested. They can learn to separate truth from myth. With this information, teens will have the facts they need to ask the right questions, engage in healthy conversations, access the best resources, and feel empowered to protect themselves from STIs.

I wish Know The Facts First had been available when my daughter was a teen, but I'm thrilled this easy-to-understand information is now available for teens today. We're excited to kick off Know The Facts First and share this vital information with you. Get the latest info on Twitter by following #KTFF, and follow us at @girlshealth and @womenshealth.