World Contraception Day: www.your-life.com

We know, we know: having the "sex talk" with mom and dad seems about as thrilling as standing on a rusty nail. But fear not -- with the right mindset and questions, your parents can become incredibly useful tools to you and your partner as you graduate onto this next stage of your life. Don't shy away from turning to them for support -- that's what they're there for. And if you still have trouble thinking of them as resources, think about it this way: they've been through it before.

Here are some simple and easy tips to guide you through the process:

• Approach one of your parents, instead of both of them at the same time. It's best to start with the parent you are most comfortable with.
• It's ok to be nervous, AND to say it. That way your parent knows how much nerve it took to approach him or her, and also makes it clear that this is a serious issue for you.
• The right time is key: Don't catch your mom when she is just about to run off. It's important that there are no time restraints of some sort.
• The place: Don't do "the talk" in front of a huge audience. Rather, look for a private and more intimate venue. Home is good, but so could be your favourite café at a non-crowded time.
• Know your case - and how much or little you want to tell your parent. There is no problem with using your friend as an example to test the waters, e.g. "Julia and her boyfriend are thinking about having sex, what do you think about that?"
• Don't bring up hot-topic issues, you know will cause an argument. Start with something which is less likely to cause fighting and more suited to slowly get to the answers you are seeking for.

Let's put this out there: if you can't even talk about sex and contraception with your partner, you probably shouldn't be sleeping with him in the first place. Right? Good. Now that we've established that, dismiss all notions that talking about contraception has to be a painful conversation.

Here are some simple and easy tips to guide you through the process:

• Try picking an activity you would normally do – ice skating, going shopping, a concert – to ease any tension that might arise.
• Then approach the subject gently, maybe with a story you heard from friends to start a discussion: how does your partner feel about the issue? What would he or she want you to do in that situation?
• If you feel really awkward about it, you can also write a sweet letter addressing the topic. It gives your partner some time to think about the topic, so that you are on the same page when you start talking.
• It always works when you tell your partner that you really care for him or her and that your are really interested in his or her opinion about the topic.
• Finally, don't forget to have a sense of humor. Remember that having sex can be great fun -- especially when both of you are safe and adult about it.