Abstinence Among Teens

1. Abstinence Isn't Always Easy to Define

By definition, abstinence is the act of refraining from sex. But teens today tend to make up their own interpretations of the word: To some, abstinence may mean completely refraining from all sexual activity; to others, oral sex is O.K. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that that one-quarter of teens who have not had intercourse have had oral sex and still think of themselves as virgins. But when teaching abstinence, educators hold fast to its true meaning, encouraging teens to avoid any act that might result in sexual transmitted diseases (STD).

2. Abstinence Is an Answer to Rising STD Rates, Teen Pregnancy

The CDC reports that at least 25 percent of teenage girls nationwide have a STD. Among African-American teens, the rates are one in two. Abstinence and education remains the surest way to bring these skyrocketing stats down.

3. Abstinent Teens Are Smarter

Studies have shown that, on average, abstinent teens are more psychologically adjusted an have higher academic achievement than the sexually active. In addition, teens who avoid early sexual activity will not be exposed to the risks of early pregnancy and STDs, which may cause psycho-emotional harm.

4. Making Abstinence Acceptable

To get more teens to grasp the concept of abstinence, many programs celebrate chasteness through pledges, trinkets and parties. Each year, thousands of kids as young as nine sign virginity pledges, promising to abstain from sex until marriage. Some pledges are even signed with great fanfare at Purity Balls, formal events in which young girls pledge their virginity in front of their fathers. Other programs sell silver rings inscribed with a virginity symbol to be removed on the wearer's wedding day and given to his or her spouse. The downside to these types of promises? While as a whole pledgers do delay intercourse, studies find that many of them still engage in anal and oral sex and experience similar rates of sexually transmitted diseases as those who don't sign a pledge.

5. Presenting Teens with Choices About Sex

Sexual education programs have proven to delay sex among teens, consequentially helping to plateau skyrocketing STD rates. But experts stress that these programs need to present teens with a broad spectrum of information about sex and not just the message that abstinence is the only way. Since abstinence programs tend to withhold information about contraception, teens who aren't educated otherwise are less likely to use condoms when they have sex. Present teens with all the info they need to know to stay safe, and let them may their own choices about sex.