YCteen publishes true stories by teens, giving readers insight into the issues that matter most in young people's lives.
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Sex & Relationships (78 found)
Note: These stories are from YCteen and its sister publication, Represent, which is written by and for youth in foster care.
After a series of unhealthy relationships, the author meets a girl who challenges his negative views of women and teaches him what partnership means. (full text)
Rosie’s first boyfriend smokes weed and ditches her to be with his friends. She finally breaks up with him, but the experience taught her a lot. (full text)
The author, who has never had a boyfriend, develops a flirtation with a classmate, but struggles to open up to him about her expectations and boundaries. (full text)
Craving love and freedom, the 16-year-old author moves in with her abusive boyfriend. She ends up in the hospital, with her parents begging her to come home. (full text)
Julijana doesn’t see too many examples of happy marriages in her family and has doubts about a couple’s chances of achieving lasting happiness. (full text)
The author is haunted by the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. The only person who seems to understand is her boyfriend. (full text)
Kelly breaks down a study showing that, when girls outnumber guys in HS, girls compete for guys and are more willing to have sex rather than hold out for a relationship. Her advice to girls: don't play into the trend. (full text)
In this Sex Ed column, Ravyn considers a study showing that many New York City teens have had same-sex partners. (full text)
DeAnna comes out to her mother as bisexual and gets a surprising response. Eventually, she identifies as a "full-time lesbian." (full text)
A psychotherapist describes what a balanced and healthy relationship looks like. (full text)
The knowledge of sex that Nadishia gathered in her early teens has helped her make the right choices for herself. (full text)
Most girls are in a hurry to grow up, but Nicole wants to take it slow. (full text)
Devastated when her father leaves the family, the writer fills her emptiness by having promiscuous sex. Eventually, she gains control of her sexuality. (full text)
The writer has unprotected sex with his girlfriend. She becomes pregnant, has the baby, and cuts off all contact with the writer, who is devastated by guilt and anger. (full text)
In these interviews with their parents, YCteen writers get a variety of advice, including pleas to look for partners who are kind, to wait until they're 40 to marry, and to think of heartache as a learning experience.
The author examines the definition of date rape and explains why so many people–both girls and guys—hesitate to use the term.
In this sidebar, couples are encouraged to discuss and agree to a list of "relationship rights."
The writer falls for a "bad boy" in hopes that she can change him. As the relationship intensifies, he becomes increasingly possessive and their constant fighting turns physical. It's not until after she breaks up with him that she realizes she was in a truly abusive relationship.
Ebony is ecstatic when she falls in love with a Nigerian boy, but as the relationship gets serious she realizes that he's breaking his family's and his culture's rules by dating an American.
Results of a survey in which teens responded to questions about their thoughts and beliefs on love, sex, and relationships.
When Renea discovers that her boyfriend's father cheats on his wife, she gets scared that her boyfriend will be unfaithful, too. She wonders whether children are destined to repeat the same relationship mistakes of their parents.
Right before she moves to New York from her native Panama, 13-year-old Madeline falls in love with Barry. They try to keep the relationship going, but the distance and Madeline's trouble expressing herself prove to be too much. It's not until she returns to Panama for a visit that she discovers the secret to lasting long-distance romance.
Boys don't know as much as they think about girls, says Brittany. She thinks relationships would work better if boys were honest about their feelings, listened better, and worried less about being macho.
Percy clarifies some of the points he thinks women misunderstand about male behavior.
Arguing that teen boys are all but incapable of fidelity, Philippe suggests that teen girls should let go of romantic ideals and play the field as well.
The writer's "no sex before marriage" policy is tested when her boyfriend pressures her. When the relationship ends, she feels betrayed and used.
The writer shares her concerns about sex with her boyfriend, and he agrees to wait until she’s ready. When they do decide to have sex, it feels special.
The writer interviews other teens about how they talk to their parents about sex—and discovers that most aren’t talking about it at all.
When Tasha is 12, she discovers a book on female sexuality and, her curiosity piqued, begins masturbating. Since she enjoys it and sees it as a healthy part of sexuality, Tasha wonders why so many taboos surround masturbation, and interviews her peers to find out why.
The writer, 15, is pressured into having sex and feels disillusioned by the experience. Later she realizes sex can be physically and emotionally satisfying with the right person.
The writer feels pressured to have sex by her boyfriend, and almost gives in before she realizes she's not ready.
Jennifer falls in love too easily and winds up getting hurt by guys she doesn't really know. She eventually realizes the need to go slow in relationships.
Nethaniel has felt the temptation to have sex, but fear of the consequences, as well as his religious beliefs, help him decide to wait until marriage.
Caught up in the heat of the moment, the writer has unprotected sex. The next day she’s terrified that she might be pregnant.
Destiny is 13 when she realizes she’s attracted to women, but isn’t sure she’s gay until she meets Keesha.
When Christian falls in loves, he learns that a serious relationship is much more satisfying than playing around.
The writer is turned off by the immaturity of guys her own age and starts going out with older boys. But when she dates someone six years older, he turns out to be suspicious and controlling, the relationship ends, and the writer blames the age gap.
The writer has a penchant for going out with older guys. Right now she's involved with Bobby, who, at 25, is eight years her senior. She freely admits that she likes being controlled and told what to do.
The writer starts having sex before he’s ready, and ends up having performance problems in bed.
Now that she’s raising a daughter by herself, Fetima knows why adults are always telling teens not to get pregnant.
The writer gets pregnant in her sophomore year of high school and decides to have an abortion.
The writer, 14, acknowledges that people will read her story and think she's too young to be sexually active. But she feels having sex with her boyfriend is the right thing to do and brought them closer, and she has no regrets.
Savita’s values and her friends’ experiences have taught her to be cautious about sex.
Lenny falls for a girl and continues to pursue her until they have sex. He doesn't use a condom, however, and when the girl is hospitalized for pelvic inflammatory disease and Lenny tests positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia, unprotected sex quickly loses its appeal.
Jasmin interviews guys and girls on what they want their first sexual experience to be like, and, in the case of the non-virgins she talks to, whether the reality lived up to their expectations.
After contracting chlamydia for the second time, the writer resolves to start protecting herself.
Shaniece explores the issue of teen girls having sex with older guys, and concludes that these relationships can be risky for girls.
Fetima interviews a therapist about the causes of promiscuity, its consequences, and how teens can achieve healthy sexual relationships.
After years of experiencing sex as a tedious duty, the writer realizes she has the right to say no.
After they have been dating for about a year, the author's boyfriend Roger starts pressuring her to have sex. Even though she's terrified about losing her virginity and maybe getting pregnant, she decides to "go along with the program." But is she really ready?
Latrice used to think that if you didn’t have a boyfriend there was something wrong with you. Now she’s older and wiser.
There are many ways teens can express themselves sexually without intercourse.
Julio is shocked when he becomes a father at 16, but he quickly devotes himself to his young son.
Irma finds that many teens are perfectly happy not dating and don’t feel they’re missing anything.
The writer learns the hard way that sex doesn’t automatically lead to love and commitment.
"Still a baby" herself, DeAnna can't decide what to do about her unplanned pregnancy. After days of indecision, DeAnna's mother steps in and makes the choice for her.
The author falls in love at age 14. When the boy breaks up with her, she sleeps with other guys to regain the feeling of being loved. (full text)
The writer, just 14 and in an abusive home, feels strong maternal instincts, believing a baby will bring her happiness.
After getting a girl pregnant at 15, the writer agonizes about becoming an unprepared father. Now he understands why it's important to take precautions before having sex.
Having been sexually abused as a child, the writer is nervous about having sex for the first time. When she loses her virginity at 16, she feels repulsed rather than close to her lover.
The writer becomes pregnant after a one-night stand, and faces motherhood without support.
With her current boyfriend, the writer experiences frightening flashbacks of being abused by her father.
The author is devastated when he tests positive for HIV. But, he realizes that being bitter will not help him and he comes to terms with how his life has changed.
Erica feels used by her boyfriend, and decides she deserves something better.
A therapist discusses how emotional baggage from the past can affect relationships.
The writer describes his shock and fear at testing positive for HIV, but gradually comes to terms with how the disease has changed his life.
Oumar and Nina, who are both in foster care, grow very close because their biological parents are dead and they don’t have close relatives. They become as tight as family as they care for each other’s needs.
Tamara argues that emotional warmth and support are more important than physical intimacy.
The writer, 16, has wanted to lose her virginity ever since one of her good friends began to have sex. But she’s also worried about rushing into it.
Tara deflates the hype around sex by pointing out the physical and emotional problems that can result. She urges fellow virgins to stay true to their values.
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