Abstinence-Only Sex Education

In 1913, sex education became a topic that was found to be an important education tool. Since then, this form of education has been a hot and debatable topic among many Americans. The original reason for sex education classes was to reduce problems such as sexually transmitted illnesses and prostitution. In recent years, abstinence has become the focus of sex education curriculum. Abstinence means refraining from sex completely. Although, it is the only one-hundred percent way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, abstinence-only instruction should not be the only form of sex education taught. Our youth need to know about all aspects of sex. This intails how to protect them if they choose to become sexually

Sex education should be implemented at an early age beginning at the middle school level. A discussion of contraception, the risks of diseases, the risk of becoming an unwed teen parent and the disadvantages of not having an education will help decrease the number of teen pregnancies with future generations. Parents should not feel threatened of having their children learning about sex in class. Parents should feel empowered; it will allow their children opportunities to feel they are able to discuss future topics of sex at home to help promote

Studies show that the national average for an adolescent’s first sexual intercourse encounter is seventeen years old. Despite this number being very close to the average age in other industrialized countries, the United States holds a higher percentage of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction than those countries (Harper et al, 2010, p. 125). It’s becoming evident that while a majority of the nation’s youth is sexually active, they are not doing so with the appropriate knowledge to keep themselves and others healthy.

Sexually active teens that don’t use birth control have a 90% chance of getting pregnant within a year (Guttmacher Institute). Most teens refuse to use birth control for their own personal reasons. Teens use birth control to opt out of having protected sex” (Center for reproductive Rights 80). There is a high percentage rate of teens that actually use condoms during sex. 74% of females used contraception the first time they had sex (Guttmacher Institute). The percentage of teens that used more than one form of contraception is very low. Approximately 25% of sexually active teens use 2 methods of birth control during sex (Guttmacher Institute). The rate of teens that use condoms and still get pregnant is very low. During the first year of “typical use”, 20 of teens under the age of 18 using condoms for contraception get pregnant within one year (Abstinence Programs 75). It proves that abstinence programs reach teens that are not easily influenced by sex.

An estimated 250,000 young Americans are unaware they are infected with HIV (p. 7). The 2013 Alabama Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates among high school students: 50% have had sexual intercourse, 7% had intercourse for the first time before age 13, 49% did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse, 14% did not use any method to prevent pregnancy during last sexual intercourse (p. 7).

Abstinence only education is hindering the lives of teens in today’s world. Schools should stop teaching abstinence only education since, it increases the rate of teens having sexual relations with other people, it does not give students adequate lessons on preventing STDs, and the rate of teen pregnancy is higher for students who receive abstinence only education. As a nation we need to help teens protect themselves with this topic and most importantly approach it with caution. Many schools believe that abstinence only education is the most effective way to instruct students on the topic of sex when it clearly is not.

The most common argument against comprehensive sexual education is that it encourages students to have sex. That’s completely false,

Sex education, most commonly known as family life, is any information about sex and sexual relationships taught to maturing young people as a part of a school’s curriculum. Currently, there is a constant political and ideological debate in the United States over the merits of abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education programs in the teaching of our youth. Abstinence only sex education has been the primary sex education taught in the United States. Although different in their approach, the overall goal is to help them build a foundation to be able to make healthy informed decisions as they mature into adults. The objectives of sex education programs are to help adolescents develop a positive view of sexuality, body image and make responsible decisions in relationships (Knowles, 2012). Ultimately, any sex education should be a partnership between parents, guardians and school personnel. However, in recent years, a large amount of information about sexuality is acquired through friends, music, books and the media instead of from their parents. For some individuals,

Because comprehensive sexuality education classes would encourage adolescences to abstain from sex but also concentrate more on social relationships, sexuality and a broader discussion of safe sex. Whereas, abstinence only programs prohibit or limit contraception information, therefore, aiding in the ineffectiveness of reducing the issues correlating to unsafe sex. Adolescence who receive accurate information about sexuality, including information about how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and STD’s, are more likely to delay having

According to a poll done in 2006 that recorded the “Adult and teen preferences for type of sex education needed,” 14% percent of the adults interviewed thought that teens should get more information about abstinence, 8% that they should get more information about birth control, 73% that they should get more information about both abstinence and birth control or protection, 4% didn’t know, and 1% refused to answer. For teens (12-19), 7% percent thought that they should learn more about abstinence, 9% that they should learn more about birth control, 56% that they should learn more about both abstinence and birth control or protection, 22% didn’t know, and 7% refused to answer (“Adult and teen preferences,” 2010).

Statistics from recent studies suggest that only 13% of U.S. teens have ever had sex by the age of 15. But by the age of 19, seven in ten teens of both sexes have had sex. Between 1995 and 2006-2008, the percentage of teens aged 15-17 who had ever engaged in sexual intercourse declined from 38% to 28%. Among teens aged 18-19, it declined from 68% in 1995 to 60% in 2006-2008. The pregnancy rate among young women has declined steadily from 117 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 1990 to 70 per 1,000 in 2005. However in 2006, the rate increased for the first time in more than a decade, rising to

Studies not only show that abstinence only programs do nothing to delay the age at which teens and young adults begin having sex, but they also fail to provide any information about alternative and necessary healthy sexual behaviors ((Santelli, J., Ott, M. A., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Summers, D., & Schleifer, R, 2006). Humans are sexual beings, and yes one of the ways to avoid STI’s and pregnancy is through abstinence. However, these programs decline to take into account or acknowledge that these teens will inevitably become sexually active at one point or another, and in turn fail to equip them with the proper knowledge on how to be safe when they do make the choice to have sex. Making sex taboo does not create a population of well-informed young people with safe sex practices and it definitely has not aided in resolving the epidemic of teen STI’s. Rather it has exacerbated it by denying youth with the correct information and tools they need to make well informed healthy

People say that sex education teaches the students about how sexual intercourse is done but the truth is sex education lets the students know about the consequences and the truth about sex. One may likely suffer emotional or mental depression which may lead to suicide. Students are also informed that it is only for unity and procreation of married couples who are committed to each other. They are also informed that they will know the true purpose of sex when they grow up as adults. Appropriate sex education in schools has a great impact on preventing sexual problems in adulthood. Also, it teaches students on what is right and what is wrong.

Therefore, the approach on sexuality should different. It is essential to start the sex education program early so that young teens could know what is positive and negative when it comes to sex. Educational graphics and encouragement to remain abstinent are some ways that young teens can learn about sex. The youth of all ages should have the basic knowledge about sex education, what it is, and how to properly be protected during sexual intercourse and thoroughly educated about the risk and preventions of diseases.

Sex education programs were created to reduce the number of teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. For a long time there has been a debate over which sex education method, comprehensive or abstinence only, should be taught to adolescents. Comprehensive sex education is an approach that “advocates giving teens age-appropriate instruction concerning birth control methods, safe sex, and differing sexual orientations” (Kelly, 2011, p. 153). This method may encourage abstinence or waiting until marriage, but they also want to inform adolescents about the potential risks and how to protect themselves from pregnancy or disease. Abstinence only education is “an approach to educating young people that emphasizes the need to abstain from sexual relations until marriage” (Kelly, 2011, p. 154). People who strongly believe in this method may think that informing young people about contraception and sexual behaviors will encourage the behavior rather than deter it.