This document discusses abstinence-only sex education programs and their effectiveness. It notes that abstinence-only programs have been found to provide students with medically inaccurate or misleading information about contraception and reproductive health. In contrast, comprehensive sex education programs provide young people with evidence-based information about relationships, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and decision making to support healthy choices. While abstinence-only programs were federally funded, many states have declined this funding in favor of comprehensive approaches.

1. Sex Education In Schools
How effective is Abstinence-
Only Sex Education?

2. Defining Abstinence-Only
Education
Section 510 (b) of Title V of the Social Security Act, P.L.
104–193
has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health
gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected
standard for all school-age children;
teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid
out-of wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated
health problems;
teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of
marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity;
teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have
harmful psychological and physical effects;
teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful
consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug
use increase vulnerability to sexual advances, and
teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual
activity.

3. How are these programs harmful
to youth?
● These programs cause students to feel shame or guilt about
sexual feelings they may be having.
● Abstinence only programs lead students to believe that forms of
contraception are entirely ineffective, which cause those same
students to not use contraceptives when they do become sexually
active.
“Analysis of federally funded abstinence-only curricula found that
over 80 percent of curricula supported by the U.S. Department of
Health & Human services contained false, misleading, or distorted
information about reproductive health. 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”

4. Should Today's Youth be Lied to?
“Many of the curricula distort information about the risks of sexual activity. In the
case of cervical cancer, the risk of disease is stressed, but simple prevention
measures often go unmentioned. HIV exposure risks are discussed in confusing
terms, and risks of substances and activities are exaggerated. Several curricula
also present misleading information about the relationship between sexual
activity and mental health, inaccurately suggesting that abstinence can solve all
psychological problems.”
Other misleading information found in abstinence only curriculum are as
follows....
HIV/AIDS can spread through tears or sweat.
that 43-day-old fetuses can think
that condoms have a failure rate of 14%,
and that 10% of women who have abortions later commit suicide.

5. Comprehensive Sex Education
● The real Education for Healthy Youth Act was introduced in November 2011
recognizes the right of young people to information in order to make healthy and
responsible decisions about their sexual health; imparts the information they need
to know about—
· anatomy and physiology;
· growth and development;
· healthy relationships;
· prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV, through abstinence and contraception;
· gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation; and
· protection from dating violence, sexual assault, bullying, and harassment
is evidence-based or incorporate characteristics of effective programs proven to
change sexual behavior in young people; includes medically accurate and
developmentally appropriate information; promotes educational achievement,
critical thinking, decision-making, and self-efficacy; fosters leadership skills and
community involvement; is culturally and linguistically appropriate; is inclusive of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual students

6. Statistics
“23 states and the District of Columbia have declined to apply for the
annual abstinence education grants set aside for them under Title V”
“Nearly 14 million young people aged 12–18—46% of those nationwide
—reside in states that have passed up abstinence-only funding.”
“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 non-use. Just 14%
of the decline is attributable to decreased sexual activity”

7. References
Kaye K et al., The Fog Zone: How Misperceptions, Magical Thinking, and Ambivalence Put
Young Adults at Risk for Unplanned Pregnancy, Washington, DC: National Campaign to
Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2009..
Section 510 (b) of Title V of the Social Security Act, P.L. 104–193
Special Investigations Division, U. S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government
Reform The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs. Washington,
DC: Author, 2004.
"The Content of Abstinence-Only Federally Funded Education Programs." Gender Issues and
Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and
Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 327-331. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8
Aug. 2012.
Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. "Abstinence-Only Initiative Advancing." Social Policy: Essential Primary
Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit:
Gale, 2006. 439-442. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 Aug. 2012.
“support the real education for healthy youth act.” Advocates for youth. WWW.SIECUS.org.
Sexuality Information and Education council of the United States. Web. 8 Aug. 2012
Boonstra, Heather. “Advocates Call for a New Approach After the Era of ‘Abstinence-Only’
Sex Education”. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/12/1/gpr120106.html Web. 8 Aug. 2012
Santelli JS et al., Explaining recent declines in adolescent pregnancy in the United States: the
contribution of abstinence and improved contraceptive use, American Journal of Public
Health, 2007, 97(1):1–7