Promoting effective decision-making in sexually active adolescents.

Promoting effective decision-making in adolescents who are active sexually and those who are not incorporates knowledge of the changes occurring in the intellectual, psychological, and emotional realms. The health professional must provide comprehensive and effective counseling in a variety of creative ways during the adolescent period. The time to begin is with the young adolescent, 10 or 11 years old, and continue over time. The key to success is prevention: prevention of sex without full consent, unwanted pregnancy, ignorance of one's own body, and decisions by default.