Sex Education How Come the Thesis

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In a report that aimed to give recommendations to the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated teen pregnancy policy, pediatric obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Louisville, Dr. S. Paige Hertweck said "Teaching abstinence but not birth control makes it more likely that once teenagers initiate sexual activity they will have unsafe sex and contract sexually transmitted diseases." (the Associated Press; 2008).

Scientific studies point that adolescents benefit greatly from comprehensive medically accurate sexual education. Demonstrated positive effects of such programs include increased awareness, delay in onset of sex, reduction in frequency of sex and increased use of contraception. One study conducted from 2005 to 2006 surveyed 1,209 teens who completed abstinence-only programs in rural and urban areas and 848 teens in the same communities who had not. It turns out there the two groups' behavior was practically identical as far as sexual behavior is concerned (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.; 2007).

Studies also show that limiting sex education to discussions of abstinence neither ensures that kids delay sex until marriage nor lowers rate of pregnancy and STDs. In fact, most state-level abstinence programs have little to no measurable effect on teen behavior, as detailed in one of the reports of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (Friedman; 2008).


The state may be adamant in pushing and spending for this program, but most medical practitioners, as well as parents and adults, are not on the same boat. Every reputable sexuality education organization and the American Medical Association have denounced abstinence-only education. Likewise, a Kaiser Family Foundation report stated that more than eight in 10 American adults support sexual education that includes discussion of contraception and sexually transmitted infections (Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California; no year; the Associated Press; 2008). Furthermore, 2004 poll, also by the Kaiser Family Foundation, also showed that more than 93% of parents of junior-high and high-school students believe contraception is an appropriate topic for school sex education programs (Friedman; 2008).

What seems to work best, then, is a sex education program that not only describes abstinence as the only guaranteed way to prevent pregnancy and STD, but one which also equips students with the much-needed knowledge, appreciation and understanding of contraception......

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