Report Says Children Should Get Sex Ed From Their Pediatrician

BOSTON (CBS) -- Fourteen-year old Ryan Herrera's annual checkup with his pediatrician includes a conversation about sex.

"Do you feel comfortable that you have a place to go if you have questions about things like that?" pediatrician Robert Riewerts asks Ryan.

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says pediatricians should play an active role in educating young patients about sex.

The AAP says sex education is effective in preventing and reducing the risk of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"We want to make sure that, whatever issues they're dealing with, they have an open forum to talk about those issues," says Dr. Riewerts.

The report shows that one in three teens does not get any information on sexuality from their pediatrician.

The AAP says support from pediatricians and school programs can help parents and teens communicate better.

Ryan's mom, Reyna Galaviz, acknowledges she doesn't know if he's getting the information he should .

"I'm pretty sure he does but not as much as needs to be known," says Reyna.

Ryan says he's comfortable asking his parents for guidance, and so are his friends.

"Parents would know more because they've been through it and they can tell them what they really need to do," says Ryan.

Conversations like that could help keep teens healthy.

The AAP says that, while teen births and pregnancies have been decreasing since 1991, the U.S. continues to lead industrialized countries with the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy.