Pediatricians and other health care providers are an important source of health care information for adolescents and young adults and play a significant role in addressing their reproductive and sexual health care needs.
We’ve assembled a collection of tools and resources to support pediatricians and other health care providers interested in improving sexual health care for adolescents and young adults.
Adolescent Sexual Health Overview
Adolescence is a time of major transition physically, emotionally, and socially. Healthy sexuality is an important part of adolescent development, and primary health care providers play a key role in helping young people develop healthy routines, behaviors, and relationships that they can carry into their adult lives. While most adolescents at this stage of life are thriving, many of them have difficulty navigating this transition, particularly understanding that risky sexual behavior taking can jeopardize their health during these formative years and can contribute to poor health outcomes in adulthood.
The information on this web site is designed for primary care providers to assist and support in the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents and young adults. It provides guidance on recommended services, approaches to addressing important clinical issues, and resources for patients and their families on how to optimize the health of adolescents and young adults and reduce risk-taking behaviors. The patient and family specific information is designed to be shared by the primary care provider with patients and their families.
Equitable Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for all Youth
View strategies and key partnerships to support youth access to sexual and reproductive health care.
AAP Recommendations
Adolescent Sexual Health-Related AAP Policy
The Committee on Pediatric & Adolescent HIV, Section on Adolescent Health and Section on LGBT Health and Wellness develop policy statements, clinical reports and technical guidelines to improve the health of all adolescents.
External Recommendations
Adolescent sexual health- related guidelines that have been endorsed by the AAP.
Professional Tools & Resources
Get Involved
These groups are involved in Adolescent Sexual Health.
Council on Adolescents and Young Adults (CoAYA)
Our mission is to support all AAP members in the care of adolescents and young adults (AYA) by advancing evidence-informed policy, clinical resources, educational and professional development opportunities, and advocacy initiatives, incorporating youth and family perspectives.
Committee on Pediatric and Adolescent HIV (COPAH)
The Committee on Pediatric and Adolescent HIV (COPAH) provides guidelines and recommendations for the care and treatment of infants, children and adolescents with HIV and their families through the development of AAP policy statements.
Section on LGBT Health and Wellness (SOLGBTHW)
The mission of the Section on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Health and Wellness is to support the health and wellness of LGBT children and their families, LGBT parents and their children, Children with variations in gender presentation and their families and LGBT pediatricians and trainees.
Last Updated
03/13/2025
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics