Teenagers Should Practice Abstinence Because of the High Risks of Long-Term Consequences from Having Sex

Teenagers should practice abstinence because of the high risks of long-term consequences from having sex The topic of sex is a unique issue because it’s one of those topics that are essential for a teenager to know about (like their changing bodies, needs, and aspects of gender differences, sexual orientation and the nature of sex). Yet, certain types of sex education topics are not discussed as much as they should be and/or by the right person. About one-third of teens had not received any formal instruction about contraception; fewer males received this instruction than females (62% vs. 70%) [15]. Among teens aged 18–19, 41% report that they know little or nothing about condoms and 75% say they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill [15]. Many sexually experienced teens (46% of males and 33% of females) do not receive formal instruction about contraception before they first have sex [15]. 63% of parents say it is not acceptable for teens to be sexually active even if they take precautions [10]; so it can be assumed that they would agree that that limitation of sex education is acceptable without realizing the penalties of what it can do to teens. Yet, individuals such as 42% of teen females and 43% of teen males have admitted to already having sexually intercourse at least once [1].
Before leaning too much on one side of this topic, it is however, important to know why teens are having sex in the first place. Research has suggested that why teens have sex is that sexual behavior is influenced by positive motivations for sex, which may be physical (the desire for feelings of excitement or pleasure), relationship-oriented (the desire for intimacy), social (the desire for peer approval or respect) or individual (the desire to gain a sense of competence and learn more about oneself) [3]. Studies with late adolescents and young adults has found that perceived benefits may be at least as motivating as perceived risks in sexual decision making [3]. Young adolescents viewed intimacy, sexual pleasure and social status as important goals in a relationship, and many had strong expectations that sex would satisfy these goals [3]. Because adolescents consider parents, peers and the media to be important sources of sexual health information [7], understanding why teens are having sex in the first place may benefit everybody. It can help parents and the media to talk more about sex education topics, therefore helping teens and peers to be more educated and safe about sex. It has been shown that parents who talk about sex education topics with their teens have been linked to delayed sexual initiation and increase in contraception among teenagers who have been sexually active [2]. Although it’s ultimately the teenager’s decision to be abstinent from sex or not, 41% of teenage females and 35% of teenage males say it’s against their religion or morals for their main reason for not having sex [1]. While religion and morals may be the most common reason among teens for being non-sexually active, there are many reasons why teens should practice abstinence. The advantages are; it prevents unwanted teens pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, it supports personal as well as religious morals and values (shown above), gives the option of waiting until they’re ready and/or finds the right partner, it prevents further physical and emotional vulnerability, and it doesn’t interfere with education or harm social reputation. Although birth control methods have a 99.9% rate of success if used properly, they can fail occasionally [4], their typical-use effectiveness is closer to 92% [12]. Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs [4]. When it comes to waiting until they’re ready or find the right partner; 57% of teen boys and 65% of teen girls wish they had waited longer to have sex. Overall 60% of teens who have had sexual intercourse wish they had waited longer [5]. The link between teens being abstinent from sex and school education are that, teens that are involved in school and plan to attend higher education are all related to less sexual risk-taking and lower pregnancy rates [8]. Unlike teens who have sex only with partners with whom they are not romantically involved are at greater risk on the following measures: (1) experiencing problems in school, (2) being suspended or expelled, (3) being less likely to expect to attend college, (4) being less attached to school, and (5) earning lower grades [9]. Teens as they’re developing are physically as well as emotionally vulnerable; using sex as a coping mechanism can create depression, low self-esteem, or interpersonal problems, and often leads to hyper sexuality [11]. It also can inhibit intimacy, prevent personal and interpersonal growth, and diminish sexual satisfaction [11].
Although it would seem that there are no disadvantages for a teenager to be abstinent from sex, it does however seem as if abstinence doesn’t make a huge impact among teenagers. The reasons for that are because “abstinence-only” classes are misleading of what teens should know about sex education topics; the idea of being abstinent is not realistic to all teenagers; contraception is the real reason why teen pregnancies has decreased, and teens can break vows without realizing or admitting to it. When dealing with “abstinence-only” programs, analysis of federally funded abstinence-only programs found that over 80 percent of programs supported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services contained false, misleading, or distorted information about reproductive health [13]. Specifically, they conveyed: false information about the effectiveness of contraceptives, false information about the risks of abortion, religious beliefs as scientific fact, stereotypes about boys and girls as scientific fact, and medical and scientific errors of fact [13]. Sex education programs that lack comprehensive sexuality information prevent young adults from fully educating themselves about their reproductive health, their contraceptive options, and the best sexual practices to avoid potentially risky behavior [14]. The idea of abstinence being realistic among teenagers is that simply, 42% of teen females and 43% of teen males have admitted to already having sexually intercourse at least once [1]. Yet, however realistic or unrealistic the idea of abstinence is to a teenager, the leading notion that the decrease in teen pregnancy is due to delayed sexual activity is false; in reality, the majority (86%) of the decline in the teen pregnancy rate between 1995 and 2002 was the result of dramatic improvements in contraceptive use, including an increase in the proportion of teens using a single method of contraception, an increase in the proportion using multiple methods simultaneously and a substantial decline in nonuse. Just 14% of the decline is attributable to decreased sexual activity [15]. For some, sexual activity is sex regardless of where it takes place. But others, especially hormone-driven teenagers, can justify any non-vaginal penetration as not counting towards their abstinence pledge, allowing for oral and anal sex [16]. The different meanings of “abstinence” among teens is misleading; and so for many teens it may not seem like they are breaking their vows or morals but whether it’s oral or anal or vaginal sex, it is still classified as sex. Sex with all its physical, emotional, and mental rewards and consequences isn’t for every teen; especially for those teens who don’t think about the long-term consequences. Sex can be very rewarding; if teens are being smart and safe by being educated on all sex education topics and are using contraception; if they are being responsible by making sure if a pregnancy or STDs occur that they will take responsible in deciding what is best; and if they are being respectable by talking to their parents or guardian about sex education topics and discuss what are each other’s views about it. However, sex can also be very consequential because no matter how much protection each teen has the risk of a pregnancy and catching a STD; along with being physical and emotional vulnerable, are greater than if teens were to be abstinent from sex.

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13.) Brigid McKeon, “Effective Sex Education,” © 2006, Advocates for Youth www.advocatesforyouth.org 14.) Tara Culp-Ressler, “Because Of Abstinence Education, 60 Percent of Young Adults
Are Misinformed about Birth Control’s Effectiveness,” May 14, 2012 (Source from Jennifer J. Frost, Laura Duberstein Lindberg, Lawrence B. Finer. “Young Adults ' Contraceptive Knowledge, Norms and Attitudes: Associations with Risk Of Unintended Pregnancy,” The Guttmacher Institute. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Volume 44, Number 2, June 2012
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Cited: Television to Text Messages) on Teen Sexual Behavior and Attitudes,” Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2008. 8.) Kirby, D., “The Impact of Schools and School Programs upon Adolescent Sexual Behavior.” The Journal of Sex Research, 2002 Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, April 29, 1999 11.) Hajcak, F., & Garwood, P 14.) Tara Culp-Ressler, “Because Of Abstinence Education, 60 Percent of Young Adults Are Misinformed about Birth Control’s Effectiveness,” May 14, 2012 (Source STD Testing. December 5, 2011. http://www.newerastdtesting.com