October 29, 2019

Planned Parenthood Publishes Book to Answer Teens' Questions about Sex

Planned Parenthood released a book designed to inform young people about sex titled “In case you’re curious: Questions about sex from young people with answers from the experts.” The book was written by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) as a continuation of its In Case You're Curious (ICYC) project. Using its ICYC branding, PPRM provided a phone number that young people could text to ask questions about sex, and Planned Parenthood would respond with answers. Planned Parenthood claimed that it responded to 14,176 texts by 2017.

The book features nine chapters, each with different groups of similar questions. Many of these important questions are presented as part of illustrations that seem to be designed for children. An illustrated elephant couple, for example, asks “When should I start having sex?” An owl asks, “Is emergency contraception an abortion?” This is paired with fairly mature material and explicit illustrations of the human body.

Parents should be aware that materials like this are becoming increasingly accessible to children. They should take action to inform their children about human sexuality in a responsible way before others (like Planned Parenthood) take that opportunity away. If Planned Parenthood answers questions like “When should I start having sex?” or “Is twelve too young to know I’m Bi?” before a parent does, those parents will have missed out on an incredibly important teaching moment for their children.

Click here to read more.