When it comes to sex, many teens feel pressured because they think everyone's doing it. This is actually not the case. Statistics show that less than half of teens in high school have had sex (43% of boys and 42% of girls).
(source: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)
Yes, it is true that sexual activity among teens, teen pregnancy and incidence of STI's and STD's has risen in recent years, but that doesn't mean that all young people are choosing to be sexually active.
In fact, "there is a growing body of research that confirms that abstinence-centered education decreases sexual initiation, increases abstinent behavior among sexually experienced teens, and/or decreases the number of partners among sexually experienced teens".
(source: National Abstinence Education Association, Feb. 2010)
Parents often fear that the abstinence option sets teens up for failure in the area of sex. But the reality is you are not setting up your teen for failure. Sexual abstinence is much more broad of a topic than just pregnancy or STD prevention. It's been said, "you can't put a condom on someone's heart."
Abstinence education realizes that “having sex” can potentially affect not only the physical aspect of a teen's life but also, as research shows, can have emotional, psychological, social, economic, and educational consequences as well. (source)
The Facts
- It is NOT unrealistic to think that teens can exert self-control.
- Not ALL teens are sexually active.
- Teens deserve more credit for their potential to make healthy choices
- Abstinence is the ONLY 100% protection against STD's and pregnancy.
- Parents influence teens and can empower teens to say NO.
- "Among teens that have had sex, 55% of boys and 72% of girls wish they had waited." (source)
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