Safe Sex Courses Should Be Taught

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

Teens end up getting sexually transmitted diseases because they are unaware of the consequences of unprotected sex. No abstinence-only program affected the incidence of unprotected vaginal sex (The Australian). Annually 3 million teenagers contract STDs from their partner (Robert Rector). Teens who have early sex not only suffer from STDs, they also have emotional and physical damage. Research shows that young people who become sexually

Multiple factors influence the rate of teen pregnancy. Some of the most important factors influencing pregnancy rates are socioeconomic status, education, and family income. With low socioeconomic status and income, parents may not always be present in their children’s lives in order to educate them on sex. School districts, then, take on the responsibility to educate teenagers on sexual intercourse and safe practices, but some fail. Stanger-Hall, K. F., & Hall, D. W. provided statistics showing that while many schools push abstinence-only programs, they show little to no positive impact on preventing teen pregnancies (Stanger-Hall, K. F., & Hall, D. W. (n.d.)). While abstinence may work for some, it is not realistic to believe that all teens will abide by it. Teens need a comprehensive sexual education with emphasis on safe sex practices, which is where Be Safe, Not Sorry comes into play. The comprehensive program will cover all

Master of Professional Health Debra Hauser states that sexual education is an essential part of the development and growth of teenagers. In her article “Youth Health and Rights in Sex Education”, MPH Hauser provides a report of teenage pregnancies and STDs incidences, which points out that each year in the United States, about 750,000 teens become pregnant, with up to 82 percent of those pregnancies being unintended. Young people ages 15-24 account for 25 percent of all new HIV infections in the U.S (Hauser). According to Hauser, “sex education teaches young people the skills they need to protect themselves”, such as the ability to recognize patterns of a toxic relationships, learning to value and have control over their bodies, understanding

There is a continuing increase in the rates of sexually transmitted infections, particularly in people ages 15-25 (Westwood, 2006). Twelve million new cases of

We have all heard the stories about the rise in teenage pregnancies, girls dropping out of school to care for their newborns, and even those who get pregnant on purpose. This new trend is everywhere. Most parents fail to have the “talk” with their children and are left without the proper education regarding sex until its too late. With the current rates of teenage pregnancy correlated with the current rates of spreading epidemics of STD’s and HIV/AIDS, steps should be taken in an effort to aid the situation. Schools are a main source of information and education for teens, and are in a unique position that can provide adolescents with knowledgeable skills and understanding that promote sexual health. With consistent speculation surrounding

While in high school, most teenagers between the ages 13-17, will have attended at least one sex education class. Instead of using the “Abstinence- Only” approach, schools should consider on teaching students the “Safe- Sex” approach to increase their knowledge on potential health risks involving sex. Increasing their knowledge not only increases their awareness, but lets them use their knowledge in the real world and let them form their own decisions, whether they be bad or good.

First, with young students this subject may be a little uncomfortable to talk about, but without learning about sexuality extensively many students may be unaware of the hazards of unprotected sex. Being open with our children and explaining the natures of sex will help them make the best decisions for themselves without scaring our students by focusing on the dangers. Second, some may say that our sexual education course is fine how it is, but there always room for improvement. A questionnaire was presented to graduates from Ontario Canada. They were asked what they think should be mandatory concerning sexual education in high school. Many agreed that talking about sexual decision making, communication about sex, relationships and more should be mandatory throughout sexual education creating a better understanding of safe sex. (Meaney 112). Why isn’t this in the United States curriculum? Whether teachers or parents like it or not, every teen is curious and full of questions. Being prepared for that is the best solution to protect our youth from sexual transmitted disease and pregnancy. Last, you may know someone who has had a child in their teenage years and question how hard could it be? They could do it, why can’t you? Talking to

The continuous rising health anxieties for the United States, adolescence is the increasing rate of teenagers that are going through an outburst with diverse sexual transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that you can get from having sexual intercourse with someone who has the infection(s) and or are creating one through that exposing period. “The causes of STDs are surrounded by multiple bacteria, parasites and viruses invading the areas used during intercourse, such as oral, anal and through regular sexual encounters. There are more than 20 types of STDs” (Nursingceu), including the following: Hepatitis, Chlamydia, Herpes, Scabies, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Genital Warts, Public Lice and Pelvic Inflammatory

These days it seems that teenagers are experiencing sexual intercourse earlier in life than those of previous generations. There are many physical, emotional, and behavioral consequences that can plague early starters, such as teenage pregnancy, STD’s, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, truancy, etc. These consequences affect not only their teenage years, but they can follow early starters into early adult years. This study goes beyond the early adult years, to see if any reproductive health consequences extend as far as middle adulthood.

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STD’s, are something that everyone is aware of, but few pay adequate attention to. Teenagers that are having sex far too early are finding out what STD’s are firsthand. Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming more and more common in teens. The rates are becoming so high that it is alarming. Many teen do not realize the risk that they are putting themselves at by having sex whether it is with one partner or multiple partners (Immell).

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

The prevalence of having had sexual intercourse before age 13 years was higher among male (8.3%) than female (3.1%) students(Kann, Laura, Steve Kinchen, and Shari L. Shanklin, et al.). Most schools do not even start the education until around 9th grade when a student is in most cases already over the age of thirteen. Children are starting to have sex at earlier ages so with reason schools need to start educating them at earlier ages. Students who are starting to have sex at such a young age need to know that the biggest risks of having sex at such a young age are unintended pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), and STIs.

There are multiple issues that arise due to the lack of sex education in schools today. It was estimated from the twenty million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases recorded each year, approximately half of those cases included young people ages ranging from fifteen to twenty four. In addition, there are roughly 230,000 teen births each year in the United States (Sexual Risks). Clearly, it is crucial that adolescents receive a sex education to help prevent more cases of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. These statistics also prove the ineffectiveness of sex education that students are receiving, not to mention some even acquiring a proper sex education. It is alarming that less than half of high schools across the country relay the basics of sex education to their students, when it should

Controversy is rampant regarding the sexual education of grade school children. Some insist that it is prudent to educate children on this subject beginning as early as kindergarten. Others strongly disagree that earlier education has any effect at all on teen sex and pregnancy and, therefore, abstinence should be the focus. Lastly, we have those who believe advocating abstinence is appropriate, but agree that a more in depth sexual education is also necessary for those who are going to have sex anyway despite our best efforts to teach them otherwise.