Being a 21 year-old that is quite aware of the culture of sex we are immersed in, I find many folks' notion of sex hysterical, especially among my generation. There are so many inconsistencies surrounding pregnancy, STDs and birth control, so it's no wonder the pro-life movement is up in arms. Many abortions could be prevented, however, if the truth were told at an impressionable age, but lately I've found that I am the person friends come to for Sex-Ed. Now don't get the wrong idea, I'm not a wild thing gallivanting about Auburn. I just think it is crucial that young people, many of whom are sexually active, know how to protect themselves; I only want the best for my friends. I've done a lot of research for this one because I think it is so important, and I think the best place to begin may be abstinence. Hear me out.
In high school I was a mentor for T.G.I.F., a program that teaches abstinence only. And yes, abstinence is a fantastic thing because it is the safest form of birth control. But shouldn't we teach our children, half of whom are going to have sex between the ages of 15 and 19, methods of protection for when they do decide to "do it"? Some may argue that kids will wait if they are scared to hell and back during abstinence only education. And that is somewhat true. Students in abstinence programs wait on average 18 months before having sex, and they are also 88% less likely to use protection during intercourse. There are also many misconceptions about birth control. First of all, some abstinence programs teach that condoms only protect against STDs, including HIV, 31% of the time. So kids who are taught this are going to think, "What the heck" when they do the deed and leave themselves vulnerable.
I also don't believe it is coincidental that the South, a region five times more likely to teach abstinence only sex education than the Northeast, has the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS infections, highest rates of STDs and the highest rate of teen pregnancies. This should be a wake up call to all of us.
Now trust me, I am terrified of having of having "the talk" should I have children, but I'm going to make sure they know the truth about contraception as well as abstinence. I know that my daughter or son would have a healthier and more successful life sans a newborn. I am going to try to be a practical mom and realize they are probably going to engage in certain activities, but they can spare me the details. If we all take this approach and understand how important initial protection is, we can prevent unwanted pregnancies and avert the last resort, abortion.
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