THE CASE FOR MAINTAINING ABSTINENCE EDUCATION
The President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2010 would eliminate abstinence education funding. The Obama Administration has instead requested the creation of yet another comprehensive sex education program, the “Teen Pregnancy Prevention” program. The House of Representatives has included this request in their annual appropriations bill that is now moving through Congress. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT.
QUOTE
“Disinhibition is a term that is increasingly being used in HIV/AIDS prevention. Why? Because the introduction of live-prolonging drugs has caused many people to believe the risks associated with casual sex either no longer exist or have been greatly reduced. Consequently, many young people have reverted to past practices of having many sex partners, avoiding the use of barrier protection, or not knowing their partner’s HIV or STD status. The result is increasing numbers of new HIV infections in the United States.”
- Shepherd Smith (President of the Institute for Youth Development – www.youthdevelopment.com May/June 2009 Youth Connection Publication)
Oxytocin: The Chemical Commitment
Teen abstinence is the safest, healthiest lifestyle, but understanding the power of the oxytocin hormone makes the importance of teen abstinence even clearer. Oxytocin is a hormone that is released in a woman during childbirth, nursing a child, and during sexual activity. Commonly referred to as “glue,” oxytocin creates a strong bond between the woman and the other involved. In the case of childbirth and nursing this bond is important because it creates a nurturing environment for the child.
In a marriage relationship where sex is safe and beneficial, oxytocin helps keep the bond between a husband and wife strong. Outside of marriage however, the oxytocin bond can increase the emotional pain when the relationship has ended. Oxytocin is impartial. Whether during sexual activity between husband and wife or in a teenage hook-up, the hormone is still released and the bond is still created. Oxytocin promises an involuntary chemical commitment.
Every parent, educator, and school administrator can undertake the mission of teaching abstinence with heightened significance as the intensity of the oxytocin bond explains why teens suffer emotionally after breakups, and often even during a relationship. Sex was created to unite two people, bringing a bond unlike any other relationship. This powerful bond is what sustains husband and wife until “death do us part” contributing to trust and security. Outside of marriage the release of oxytocin can lead to distrust, hostility, and insecurity. Sexual relationships without commitment still have a lasting bond. Oxytocin even has the power to sustain attachment within abusive relationships.
Abstinence is the safest, healthiest choice for teens to prevent negative emotional, social and physical consequences. Even if the mind has set boundaries, the physiology of the body cannot. Abstinence protects from the emotional attachments that dramatically affect teens. But even more, abstinence protects their future.
Sources:
The Oxytocin Factor, Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, 2003
Aspire, Scott Phelps, 2008
The Medical Institute of Sexual Health, 2006
Advise your patients who have not become sexually active to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage and remain mutually faithful and monogamous in marriage. All sexually active single adolescents need to be advised that nonmarital sexual activity places them at a significant risk for sexually transmitted infections and nonmarital pregnancy. Patients should be advised that their safest choice is to become abstinent or sexually active only in marriage. Patients should be aware of the effectiveness and failure rates of contraceptives and condoms for both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
A statement you can make which can be effective and nonjudgemental is: “As your doctor, I need you to know that abstaining from sexual activity until you commit to one lifetime partner in marriage is the most important thing you can do to protect your current and future sexual health.”
RESOURCES
This website is dedicated to the promotion of physician and community action on alcohol and health. We envision a world where underage aocohol use will be eliminated, and all people will be protected from the negative consequences of alcohol consumption, promotion, and distribution. This site is for health professionals and others who want to fight alcohol problems, especially underage drinking, by changing clinical practice and the social environment.
This website quiz provides a confidential way for clients to obtain information and suggested screening for sexually transmitted infections.
This website provides a confidential way for your patients/clients to obtain information regarding an unplanned pregnancy or information concerning their sexual health.
This website exists to draw attention to the issues of abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, cloning, infanticide, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, out-of-wedlock sexual activity and the medical merits of risk elimination through sexual abstinence.
This is a link to the 2006 Disease Profile, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.medinstitute.org
The Medical Institute offers a private, members-only, resource for those who desire up -o-date, medically accurate information at their fingertips 24 hours a day. The Platinum membership level is designed for you to become a member of this community of educators, medical clinicians, and other health care professionals, scholars, and researchers, with access to the latest research and technical information on sexuality and sexual health. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES
Check Back Later
Make a Sound Choice is not sponsoring the training listed above. We are of the opinion that this would be a great opportunity to take full advantage of!
**Disclaimer: Make a Sound Choice is not responsible for the content of items suggested as resources. However, after careful consideration, these suggestions were compiled to provide information and guidance. Please contact us if you find inappropriate or inaccurate information within any suggested resource. Your input is valuable to us!
