Sex Education - Reader Question Response

                According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, nearly half of adolescents have had vaginal intercourse, and 38.5% of those sexually active do not use condoms and only 16% use a birth control pill.  The survey also shows that students are likely to have had sex before age 13, have four or more sexual partners, and to have never been taught about sexually transmitted diseases in school. Mental health professionals are also seeing an increase in the number of preteens having sex too soon. They also reported that some of the preteens who are considering themselves virgins have had oral sex 50 or 60 times. Adolescents are also turning to electronics by sending sexual messages and pictures via text or email to express their sexuality.

A question from a reader asked about sex education in the school system. She asked what the research said about educating teens about sex education and if the schools should teach sex education or abstinence only programs. Sex education has been an ongoing debate for many years. Abstinence only programs are a federally funded program which began in 1981 when the federal government funded the programs despite overwhelming research proving they are ineffective. Funding for these unproven programs grew exponentially from 1996 until 2009 when Congress allocated over one and a half billion dollars into abstinence only programs.  Despite all of the money that has went to promote abstinence-until-marriage programs, research shows that these programs do not reduce the incidence of unprotected vaginal sex, number of partners, or sexual initiation.

There are three types of programs that are taught in various schools in the country. The first is a curriculum-based sexuality program. This program was developed to reduce adolescent sexual activity, pregnancy, and STDs. These programs also offer positive information about condoms and other contraceptives. The second program is abstinence only, which focuses on the importance of abstinence from sexual intercourse, typically until marriage. The abstinence only programs either do not discuss contraception or they emphasize the limitations of condoms and contraceptives in protecting against pregnancy and STDs. Research shows that abstinence only education may delay intercourse for a short time, however, when the youth does participate in sexual behaviors. The third program is a comprehensive program which encourages both abstinence and the use of condoms and/or contraceptives. Comprehensive programs have a very clear message that not having sex is the safest choice. They put emphasis on skill-building and role-playing, they teach how to use condoms, and they encourage people not to have sex. These programs have been shown to delay the age at which teens first have sex, reduce the number of sexual partners they have, and increase their use of condoms. The comprehensive programs have no evidence of resulting in an increase in sexual activity.

It is important that school and parents work together to teach adolescents about sex. Although it is difficult for a parent to think about their own children wanting to have sex, it is important that parents talk to their children about sex. Because talking to teens about sex can be embarrassing for the parent and/or the teen, it is good to practice in front of a mirror or with your partner to get comfortable talking about it. Parents’ goal when talking to their children about sex should be to give information to them and not to extract information from them. Even if kids act like they don’t care or act like they are not listening, they probably are, so continue to talk to kids about it.

-Tiffany

References:

Jayson, S. (2011). “Talk sex, even if your kids tune you out.” USA Today.
Lickona, T. (2000). “Bringing parents into the picture.” Education Leadership.
Malone, P. (2010). “Comprehensive sex education vs. abstinence only until marriage programs.”
Realini, J. (2010). “Evaluations of Big Decisions.” Journal of Sex & Martial Therapy.