iarjcrIARJCRIARJCR2789-606410.47310/iarjcr.2025.v05i01.011Teen Talks: Awareness of Adolescent Reproductive Health and Sex Education Among School Students in Himachal PradeshBackground: Adolescence is a critical stage of development characterized by profound physical, emotional, and social changes. Comprehensive reproductive health education during this period is crucial for empowering adolescents to make informed decisions and adopt safe practices. In This study aimed to assess the awareness of puberty changes, contraception, and safe sexual practices among school students in Himachal Pradesh to inform the strengthening of school-based sex education initiatives. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey was conducted from January to March 2025 among 420 students aged 13–19 years enrolled in government and private schools across rural and semi-urban Himachal Pradesh. A structured bilingual questionnaire, hosted on Google Forms, assessed socio-demographic profiles, knowledge of puberty, contraception, and safe practices. Participants were recruited through school management systems and educational social media groups. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 26.0, and knowledge levels were classified into "Very Good," "Good," "Fair," and "Poor" categories based on the percentage of correct responses. Results: Among the 420 participants, the majority (39.3%) were aged 13–15 years, with a slightly higher proportion of females (56.0%) and a predominance of government school students (60.7%) from rural areas (61.9%). Awareness regarding puberty changes was relatively high, with 81.0% identifying hormonal development as a key change and 77.6% acknowledging mood swings during adolescence. Knowledge about contraception and STI prevention was moderate; 79.0% recognized condom use as protective, while only 61.2% correctly understood the safety of hormonal contraceptives. Support for sex education was strong (84.5%), but gaps remained regarding HPV vaccination (58.6%) and myths about sexual health. Overall, 46.9% of students demonstrated "Good" awareness, 27.6% "Very Good" awareness, 19.3% "Fair," and 6.2% "Poor" awareness. Conclusion: The findings reveal encouraging levels of basic reproductive health awareness among adolescents in Himachal Pradesh, yet significant gaps persist—particularly regarding contraception, HPV prevention, and overcoming cultural stigmas. Targeted, scientifically accurate, and culturally sensitive sex education programs are essential for promoting safer adolescent behaviors.