The average age for initiation of sexual intercourse is now middle to late adolescence. As of 1992, 54% of all U.S. high school students were coitally experienced, and since then the rate has risen steadily. Unfortunately, studies also show that the majority of these kids do not use condoms consistently. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of any developed nation, and worldwide, more than one million teenagers become pregnant each year. Approximately 3 million 13 to 19 year olds are infected with STD's, not including HIV/AIDS. This disease infects 10,000 13 to 21 year olds yearly. The dreadful statistics just go on and on. Many people have been working to find a solution, through schools, that will help reduce these problems. However, an agreement has not been found. It is yet to be decided whether we should be teaching abstinence, or teaching more about contraception, and making easier ways for students to get it. ABSTINENCE Many organizations and individuals feel that teaching abstinence is the best way to improve teen health problems. It is thought that if we can teach the youth to abstain from sexual activity until marriage, or until psychosocial maturity, then many of the problems can be greatly reduced. Abstinence is clinically proven to be the only 100% affective way to prevent pregnancy, avoid STDs, and avoid HIV/AIDS. It is also widely believed that abstinence is the only way to prevent the emotional, social and mental damage that can be cause by pre-marital or pre-psychosocially mature sex. However, it is also strongly believed that teaching abstinence promotes naive thinking pertaining to sex. It neglects the necessary teaching of birth control and contraceptive methods. It is argued that only teaching abstinence cheats youth out of knowledge they deserve to have, since they are physically capable of intercourse, and many of them do choose to be sexually involved.
