Sex Educators Share Favorite TV Shows for Talking About Sexual Health with Teens

From 'Big Mouth' to 'Parenthood' and beyond.

Medically reviewed by Samantha Mann

There comes a time in every parent’s life when you must put aside any potential discomfort and talk to your child about sex. There’s a reason this conversation has long been referred to, almost jokingly, as “The Talk,” as though the words should be followed with a foreboding “DUN DUN DUN.” It doesn’t have to be that intimidating, we promise.

Of course, it’s super-unlikely that your teenager hasn’t encountered sexual content before—it’s literally everywhere. But if you suspect your teen has specific questions about sex or is thinking of experimenting with sex, it’s important to make sure they have the info they need and the confidence to make the right decisions for themselves.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2021, teens aren’t having as much sex as they used to; 30 percent of teens surveyed recorded ever having sex. However, only 50 percent said they used a condom during sexual intercourse, which is significantly down from the 60 percent recorded in 2011. And with some school districts banning sex education entirely, along with organizations trying to erase mentioning of sexuality or gender identity from the classroom, it's crucial to start the conversation at home.

Related: Is My Kid Having Sex? A Lesson in Sex Ed for Parents of Teens

One way to introduce this topic is by watching a few episodes of a teen-friendly TV show that depicts teen sexuality in a realistic way. While some teen shows tend to veer more soap opera-dramatic than real life-adjacent, others present a well-rounded perspective, awkward moments and all.

"Even if you do not suspect that your teenager is sexually active, it is important to have in-depth conversations about the physical and emotional aspects of sexual relationships, boundaries, and consent,” explains Jillian Amodio, LMSW. “None of this should be discussed in a shameful or scary way; sex is a natural part of the human experience, and discussing it does not make kids have sex, it gives them the necessary information they need to make informed decisions.”

Below, sex educators and experts share a few sex-positive TV shows that can help facilitate a thoughtful and thorough conversation between parents and teens.

Related: These Sex Education Books for Kids Make the 'Birds and Bees' Conversations a Little Less Stressful

Sex Education (Netflix, TV-MA)

This popular Netflix series about a group of high school students navigating their sexuality is a great choice to spark conversation between parents and older teens. Note for parents: It’s more explicit than other TV shows, given the fact that the main character’s mother is a sex therapist and the students start a “sex therapy” group at school.

The show was the top choice of all the experts, who praised its honest depiction of teen sexuality—with all the confusion and intrigue it can entail. “Sex Education is a great show for mature teens,” says Amodio. “Its comedic approach and relatable characters ease the ‘awkward’ that can often come with these types of conversations.”

Women's sexual health expert and podcaster Jacqueline Buckingham cautions that some scenes might be uncomfortable for parents and teens to watch together. "If your teen is mature and both of you can stomach watching or talking about a show like Sex Education, it can be a great way to start a conversation by using the characters and their experiences as a bridge to a dialogue about their own sexual health.”

Dr. Sophia Murphy, women’s director of wellness at TBD, agrees. “This show is nearly perfect in how it depicts the challenges of puberty. There are honest examples of young people struggling with themselves and in relationships,” she says. “It details the confusion around how sex even works paired with the importance of open communication, respect, consent, and hard conversations. It is a beautiful and validating show for all humans. It’s also incredibly inclusive and tackles subjects such as sexual orientation and gender identity with so much care and consideration.”

Related: 8 TV Shows Teens Are Streaming and What Parents Need to Know

Sex and Love Around the World (Apple TV, Prime, TV-14)

In this CNN docuseries, journalist Christiane Amanpour journeys to Tokyo, Berlin, Delhi, and Beirut to discuss love, sex and intimacy with the residents of each city. If you’re looking for a more straight-forward, real-world perspective, this one could be a great option to show your teen that sex is different for everyone, but also similar in so many ways.

"If your teen has the emotional maturity and you have the bandwidth, it’s an ideal show to have a more philosophical conversation," says Buckingham.

Big Mouth (Netflix, TV-MA)

Yes, Big Mouth is a cartoon, but it’s not the Saturday morning kind you remember. Developed by comedian Nick Kroll and starring some of his big-name celebrity friends like Maya Rudolph, Jordan Peele, and John Mulaney—not to mention an upcoming cameo from Megan Thee Stallion—Big Mouth is about a group of young teens going through the wild and wonderful journey we call puberty. It takes a no-holds-barred approach to this notoriously confusing, awkward, and ever-changing part of development in a smart and funny way.

“This series skillfully presents accurate information on a wide range of topics, including sexual anatomy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as sexual and relationship health, all while being both entertaining and informative,” says sexologist Rhiannon John. “The show offers a diverse and inclusive perspective on relationships and sexual orientations, highlighting the critical aspects of consent, open communication, and the establishment of healthy boundaries in realistic scenarios. It addresses the challenges that many adolescents might encounter in their sexual lives with humor and candor.”

Parenthood, “Small Victories” (Season 4, episode 13, Apple TV)

This critically praised episode of the beloved series shows high schoolers Drew and Amy navigating an unplanned pregnancy and abortion. In the episode, Amy finds out she’s pregnant and the two go to Planned Parenthood to learn about their options. Drew is supportive of her decision to have an abortion, even though he himself has mixed feelings. The abortion isn’t handled like a punishment and Amy doesn’t change her mind at the last second to keep the baby. She simply makes the right decision for herself at that point in her life.

“It is an emotional and powerful episode,” explains Amodio, who recommends it as an option for parents and teens who want to discuss teen pregnancy and abortion.

Euphoria (HBO, TV-MA)

HBO’s Euphoria needs no introduction; it’s one of the most talked-about series in recent years. While Euphoria does have its strong points, including the developing love story between Rue and Jules, it can also be used as an example of when things go too far.

“It undeniably presents the intricacies and nuances of teen sexuality and relationships with accuracy,” says John. “However, it's worth noting that some of the themes explored in the series can be emotionally taxing and may potentially trigger traumatic reactions in certain viewers.” Don’t shy away from pointing out these moments—like Nate Jacobs’ dating violence and abuse of both Maddy and Jules—but be careful to do so in a caring manner. It's important to note that Euphoria is a show best watched and discussed with older, more mature teens.

The Bottom Line

Several experts noted that television has a long way to go when it comes to accurate and realistic depictions of sex and sexuality for young people. “Many shows are problematic because they conflate sex with love and reinforce codependency. There are few shows that honor sex and love as different things and empower people to decide,” says Dr. Murphy, also noting that there's still a great deal of slut-shaming in media as well.

The conversation with your teen may feel awkward at first, but it’s an important part of helping them navigate this chapter of their life—not to mention setting them on the right path for the future.

“If we, as parents, are being ‘cringe’ by dreading and tiptoeing around the sex conversation, then we are not helping ourselves or our children in guiding their development,” advises Buckingham. “We have to be the leaders to establish a stigma-free and matter-of-fact dialogue that will serve our children in being functional and healthy human beings. If we make sexual health an important, critical, and intelligent subject to be learned about and discussed openly, we are being responsible and caring parents.”

Related: Schools Are Banning Sex Ed Lessons and It's Harming Our Children

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