Research has shown that abstinence-only education does not work. Pregnancy prevention and safe sex education needs to start young, but should be a lifelong process.
This article will go over 10 reasons why comprehensive sex education should be part of a young person’s education.
Since the primary purpose of abstinence-only education is to prevent sexual activity among teenagers, it is clear that the teaching does not work.
No form of sex education has been shown to effectively convince teenagers not to have sex.
It’s important that caregivers, educators, and other influential adults in a young person’s life support them and promote their health and well-being. This should happen even when a young person doesn’t conform to certain standards of behavior, be it around sexuality or something else.
Other studies have shown that providing condoms in schools doesn’t make kids more promiscuous.
The report also found that:
About 57% of 12th graders had had intercourse, compared to about 20% of 9th graders Only 3% said they started having intercourse before the age of 13
The report also showed that the trends in sexual activity in high school-aged students has actually been going down.
In fact, in 2017, the number of students who had ever had sexual intercourse was the lowest it had ever been since 1991 when researchers first started collecting data.
The YRBSS report from 2019 also found that:
About 54% of sexually active teens said they used a condom the last time they had intercourse About 35% of sexually active female students reported using prescription birth control (such as “the pill” or an IUD) the last time they had intercourse About 13% said they had not used any pregnancy prevention the last time they had intercourse About 9% had ever been tested for HIV About 8. 6% said they had had sexual intercourse with four or more partners
When kids are young, parents often set the example and make the decisions about healthcare visits, whether it’s making appointments or shuttling them to the provider’s office.
As young people get older, they may not feel prepared to take on the responsibility. As such, the opportunities they have to be screened for STIs and other sexually-related health topics decrease.
A study in Pediatrics found that parents who talk to their male children about sex are more likely to have children who go to a healthcare provider.
One of the biggest risk factors for not seeking care is holding traditional views about masculinity. It’s important that young people learn early that taking care of their health is a priority regardless of their sex and gender.
The difference is that the programs also give students realistic and factual information about the safety of various sexual practices.
They’re also given accurate information about the odds of pregnancy when using various birth control methods. In addition, they get the chance to understand their feelings about the risks.
Teens also need to learn about how other behaviors can put them at risk if they’re sexually active. For example, about 21% said they had used alcohol or drugs before the last time they had intercourse. These behaviors can increase the risk of STIs, unplanned pregnancies, or sexual violence.
About one in 10 high school students reported experiencing sexual violence in the last year. LQBTQ+ students were at the highest risk.
If caregivers simply haven’t felt like it’s been “the right time” to have these talks with their kids, the start of sex ed at school can be a springboard.
Comprehensive sex education at school doesn’t prevent parents from sharing their personal beliefs, moral views, and values with their kids.
If kids are getting the facts about sex at school, it gives caregivers the chance to explain and explore their beliefs and expectations with their children when they feel it’s appropriate.
While it can be hard to have these conversations if beliefs, values, and expectations don’t line up, it’s crucial that kids feel they can trust and have the support of the important people in their lives.
That said, when a teacher tells students that only abstinence can protect them from STIs and pregnancy, young people know they’re being lied to—or at the very least, misled.
Giving adolescents an accurate picture of the risks of different types of sexual behavior can help them make informed decisions about sex.
They often have other kinds of sex. For example, youth may have oral sex or anal sex instead of vaginal intercourse because they think it’s less risky.
In particular, many teenagers don’t see oral sex as incompatible with abstinence, even though oral sex can transmit STIs.
Abstinence-only education sometimes encourages students to abstain from sex without ever telling them what sex is.
In contrast, when comprehensive sex education is taught in schools, it helps teens make informed decisions about different kinds of sexual behaviors they might want to partake in.
Sex ed class is also a place where young people can start to learn about what a healthy sex life can look like.
Topics like sexual health check-ups, having open communication with partners, masturbation, and sexual and gender identity are key topics for teens to learn about.
Teens also need to be taught what to do if they have a sexual experience that is harmful, negative, or unintended. For example, it’s crucial that teens who are sexually active know:
When—and where—to get tested and treated for STIs What their options are for an unplanned pregnancy, including the use of Plan B, how to access safe abortion providers, and who to talk to about prenatal care, adoption, childbirth, and parenting What to do if they are sexually assaulted or raped, including the medical and legal actions they need to take for their safety
