The talk - study indicates communication with parents helps teenagers develop heathy attitudes toward sex

Does the mere mention of sexed make your face turn redder than a cardinal? Could be your parents are partly to blame for your skittish reaction to mature topics. Recently, a psychologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interviewed nearly 1,000 teens and their mothers about their attitudes toward teen sex.

Turns out if Mom is mute when it comes to chats about menstruation and reproduction, chances are you'll be uncomfortable opening up too. Parents who tiptoe around talks involving sex often worry they'll "say the wrong thing." Some are even convinced that talking about "it" increases the likelihood their teens will engage in...ahem...s-e-x. Not true, Typically, a healthy attitude toward sex reflects healthy sexual behavior. Parents need to start early and gab regularly. The "talk" shouldn't be a one-time torture session--parents and kids should discuss topics like teen pregnancy, birth control and HIV as much as possible. So...if the 'rents are flying over convos about puberty and "the birds and the bees," let them know it's not OK to worm out of it. Tell them you wanna talk and, hopefully, they'll follow your lead and sing like a canary. No bird puns necessary.