TRAIL, B.C. - Not many teenagers are likely to find condoms in their Christmas stockings, but sexual health educators say it may not be a bad idea.
The Christmas period is a peak time for unintended pregnancies, said Louise Christian, project coordinator of the Planned Parenthood regional office here. She's hoping parents use the holidays as a chance to talk to their teenagers about healthy sexual choices.
"It's a time of celebration, partying, love, sharing and gift giving," she said.
"The choice of words that was shared by (the Planned Parenthood) head office was - 'Keep it wrapped for Christmas and New Year's,' in other words: Use condoms."
Marilyn Nelson, a volunteer who works at a bi-monthly sexual health clinic in the city, said young people are bombarded with images of open sex.
"And sometimes they see people not making wise choices, or making spontaneous choices without any planning. It's hard not to absorb that and eventually come to think that's the way everybody lives," she said.
http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1221christmas-sex21-ON.html