Your parents think it's time you have that dreaded sex talk--as if you didn't have enough to think about! Or maybe you're the one who wants to have the dreaded sex talk. Either way, you may feel nervous or anxious with the idea of sitting down and talking about sex with your parents, but the good news is that your parents probably feel the same way. Parents can be a great information center and since they have your safety and happiness in mind they really make a great resource.

Honest and open conversation with your parents can build trust and show them that you're mature and capable of making responsible decisions. The support of your parents will also be helpful when it comes to visiting a doctor or getting your hands on birth control. There are many great benefits to talking with your parents, so if you want them involved you can approach them instead of waiting for them to come to you. Before you psych yourself out with a parent's style sex talk, think about how they'll react and then if you think they might freak out, it might be a good idea to wait until you're all ready.

If you want to test the waters or if you're not quite sure where to start, mentioning something you saw in a magazine or movie will help spark conversation without putting the spotlight on you. Or you could even bring up a hypothetical situation, involving one of your friends and ask their opinion on the subject. If you want to take a more direct approach with your parents, make it clear that you want to have a private and important discussion by saying something like, "This is a little uncomfortable for me, but can we talk alone later tonight." Initiating the conversation is the hardest part, but you should rest assured that most parents want to help lead their children to responsible, educated and healthy sex lives.