Does abstinence-only sex education really work?

Question

Wouldn't the better solution be to give kids easy access to the devices that make sex safer as well as provide them with a solid education about the topic?

Answer 1

Studies have shown that increased access to birth control has actually increased the rate of unwanted pregnancies....and the number of subsequent abortions.....and the rate of STD's. Not a very good record for those pushing "safe sex" and "birth control" on demand.

Statistically speaking, the more people you have on birth control, the more mistakes will be made (i.e. improper used, miss taking pills etc) so the more unwanted pregnancies there will be.

The problem with anything other than abstinence is that kids get the idea sex can be safe, when actually it's like handing them a gun with a bullet in one of the six chambers and telling them to point it at their head, pull the trigger and they will "most likely" not be killed.

Of course, not every kid you teach abstinence to will abstain, but that's obvious because abstinence is about choices. Not all kids will make the right choice but at least society can say "we taught our kids the safest method out there."

Answer 2

Well lets put it this way. I guess if all depends on what religion you are. Say Catholic... they don't even let the thought of birthcontrol come into any conversation. But really I think that most religions think that you shouldn't till you are married or are atleast old enough to take care of any situation... which this could lead to pregnancy weither you used contraceptives or not. So no I don't think that the better solution is to teach kids how to have sex. They should be teaching them that they have more in their lives before they take on something so serious and that could have serious consequences. The last thing that we need is to have a pregnant teenage mom who in most cases won't have a chance to make it through school. School is so important and kids take it for granted cause it's free and they are forced to do so. So again my answer to your second question is no. If kids understood what they were getting into then they would just understand that abstinence is the only way that their life will not be completely altered.

Answer 3

No. It doesn't work because there is way too much peer pressure and media pressure that works against it. The past has proven that restricting information about proper birth control leads to unwanted pregnancy and an increase in STDs. In the information vacuum left by promoting abstinence, some really rediculous myths about birth control and STDs take root. Like the rythm method, various food and beverage items as birthcontrol agents, the idea thah STD can be spread by dirty toilet seats.
The best would be to be honest and open with sex education, with an emphasis on the responsibilities of being a parent.

Answer 4

Interesting question. I've never really seen *abstinence only* sex education. Since the sixties when "free love" was the "groovy" liberated thing, I haven't heard much public teaching about abstinence, have you? I know that there are families that teach it, and religions as well. Abstinence doesn't mean no sex, it means wait for the right person and the right time, when the sexual relationship will be a completion for an emotional and spiritual relationship. Sex within the context of a marriage has room to fly. Kind of like an athlete say, or dancer, or musician who has the discipline to train for his art; he finds the soul of what he's doing that's way beyond technique. Let's see...
condoms?... fulfilling relationship?
hmmm....
birth control pills?... building a life together?
broken hearts?... solid home.

I guess I'm really commenting on the idea that people don't talk enough about the consequences of 'just do it' and that the idea that when two people share intimacy they are actually sharing a part of their soul. What's the real price of easy access and what's the reward of a deep relationship?

The thing is, there is only one way to know what the rewards of a committed marriage are. It's kind of like ice cream. I can try all day to explain or describe it, but you'll never really know until you taste it.

May you someday know the sweet taste of a loving, joyful marriage. It's amazing.

Cheers!

Answer 5

Actually, teen pregnancy is up significantly. Why? Because teenagers aren't being taught about birth control. So, if they decide to have sex, they won't think to use protection. I know, I am a teenager. We have an abstinence program, and I've talked to the man who is in charge. They teach "condoms are bad, and fail 100% of the time. If you use them, your penis will fall off and land in another demention completely populated by dogs that will eat it". They teach that God wouldn't want us to use birth control, and that if we have sex before marriage, we will go to hell. Also, a lot of the teenagers are having sex, but they say it's cause they're "in love and feel spiritually married" to their boyfriend or girlfriend..Of most likely less than 6 months. Then, they have sex without a condom. Then, the girl gets pregnant.

Answer 6

To answer your question, no. Kids who go through abstinence only sex ed classes are just as likely to have sex as kids who don't. And for your other question, I think you should do a combination of both. You should be like abstinence is something that you should shoot for, but if you decide to have sex, you should use whatever and you know take procautions.

Answer 7

Only teaching abstinence does not work. I went to two different high schools, one taught sex ed freshmen year showing us how to get birthcontrol, how to use condoms, etc etc.... but they did tell us it is better to wait. they had an on campus health center where you can get tested for stds, get condoms, learn how to talk to your parents about sex, pregnancy, stds. THere were very very very few girls who got pregnant there. When I went to another school, they taught sex ed to seniors.... (i thought that was alittle late) All they did at that school was show pictures of STDs and said abstinence was the only protection out there. Now technically that is true but, they never showed them how and where to get condoms, birthcontrol, spermicides etc... all they preached was "Abstinence is the only way" atlesat 30%-40% of that school was infected with some sort of STD. I was a student aid in the nurses office and I saw so many girls going in there with mystery rashes, bumps, etc... Also atleast 20 girls from my graduating class were either pregnant or had a child at home already. I only graduated with 130 students. Of course teach your children abstience, tell them to wait, but also tell them it is okay to turn to you for advice and how to use protection. DOn't tell them "You have to wait until you are married, dont ever have sex till then" because if you tell them that, then they more than likely will not go to you when they NEED that birthcontrol or condoms. Most of you are saying thats not true, but really it is.

Answer 8

Every recent study has shown that abstinence-only education does not increase abstinence.

By the way, the rate of teen pregnancies is actually going down. Look it up, people.

Answer 9

No.In fact a study showed kids given abstinance education waited on average only 3 months longer then those taught about birthcontrol... and tended to engage in unprotected sex more often.

Answer 10

I don't think.

I think the parents should preach adstinence, and waiting, and all that. It should be something that is encoraged.

BUT, they should also teach about all types of birth control (condoms, the pill, the other things.) In the heat of the moment, few people will stop and say 'wait, they said not to do this.' They will stop to grab the condom on the bedside table.

Many teens know nothing about birth control methods because they have abstinence pounded into their heads, and are told its the ONLY option. My friend was taught abstinence-only in her school, and she is almost through with her 2nd pregnancy. It just doesn't work.