March 12, 200818 yr http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/344134.html CHICAGO --At least one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease, suggests a first-of-its-kind federal study that startled some adolescent-health experts. Some doctors said the numbers might be a reflection of both abstinence-only sex education and teens' own sense of invulnerabilty. Because some sexually transmitted infections can cause infertility and cancer, U.S. health officials called for better screening, vaccination and prevention. Only about half of the girls in the study acknowledged having sex. Some teens define sex as only intercourse, yet other types of intimate behavior including oral sex can spread some diseases. Among those who admitted having sex, the rate was even more disturbing: 40 percent had an STD. "This is pretty shocking," said Dr. Elizabeth Alderman, a specialist in adolescent medicine at Montefiore Medical Center's Children's Hospital in New York. "To talk about abstinence is not a bad thing," but teen girls, and boys, too, need to be told about how to protect themselves if they do have sex, Alderman said.
March 12, 200818 yr IF those numbers are correct (I kind of doubt they are) I wouldn't be too surprised. Why? Paris Hilton. That's pretty much all I need to say.
March 12, 200818 yr That is a shocking number. :eek: Think of this, many STD's can be passed through birth (as in the mother contracts an STD then gives it to their baby). Look back at this study in 15-20 years and it will be worse.
March 13, 200818 yr NYC handed out 17 million condoms in 2006, but cyphillis, ghonnorea, and two other STD's went up in the period. So what did they do? Handed out 36 million condoms this year. We worry about second hand smoke but we don't teach anything having to do with sexual restraint. It is no wonder that so many people have an STD.
March 13, 200818 yr And they partially blame abstinence only education? I think the point is that a percentage of teenagers, not matter what they learn in school, will have sex. Abstinence only education doesn't teach them how to protect themselves when they do have sex, so STD's are spread. It makes sense.
March 13, 200818 yr Author I think the point is that a percentage of teenagers, not matter what they learn in school, will have sex. Abstinence only education doesn't teach them how to protect themselves when they do have sex, so STD's are spread. It makes sense. Using that mindset we should drop the "Don't start smoking" mindset and just tell them to try and smoke safely. There is only one surefire way to prevent catching a disease. That is abstinence. Not sure if it was this article or not but one of them I read on the subject said part of the problem is oral sex. Teenagers don't see oral sex as sex and partake in it when they wouldn't partake in intercourse. But they are partially catching the STD's through oral sex.
March 13, 200818 yr Using that mindset we should drop the "Don't start smoking" mindset and just tell them to try and smoke safely. There is only one surefire way to prevent catching a disease. That is abstinence. Not sure if it was this article or not but one of them I read on the subject said part of the problem is oral sex. Teenagers don't see oral sex as sex and partake in it when they wouldn't partake in intercourse. But they are partially catching the STD's through oral sex. That's what i'm saying. Abstinence only education doesn't teach kids anything about sex. Sex is a natural thing that takes place, that will not harm you if done correctly. Teenagers shouldn't be doing it in my opinion, but like I said there are a percentage that will no matter what is done. If they were actually taught that you could get STD's through oral sex I think that would help. The way it works now alot of kids are presumably getting infected without even knowing that it was a possibility. As for the first part. Smoking and sex are in no way similar. Sex is neccesary for the survival of all human and animal life on earth while smoking isn't. My point is that we should not ignore the fact that teens are having sex. They always have been and they always will be. I think I would like to see a "Preferebly abstinence, but if you do have sex here's how it works and here are the way's you should protect yourself" method taught to teenager's. I think that would work out alot better.
March 13, 200818 yr How many families promote/discuss/encourage, etc. abstinence? How many of those kids STILL have sex? Abstinence "education" alone will not work, because kids have ALWAYS made decisions to go against their parents' or church's wishes. What do we do about those kids?
March 13, 200818 yr Author That's what i'm saying. Abstinence only education doesn't teach kids anything about sex. Sex is a natural thing that takes place, that will not harm you if done correctly. Teenagers shouldn't be doing it in my opinion, but like I said there are a percentage that will no matter what is done. If they were actually taught that you could get STD's through oral sex I think that would help. The way it works now alot of kids are presumably getting infected without even knowing that it was a possibility. As for the first part. Smoking and sex are in no way similar. Sex is neccesary for the survival of all human and animal life on earth while smoking isn't. My point is that we should not ignore the fact that teens are having sex. They always have been and they always will be. I think I would like to see a "Preferebly abstinence, but if you do have sex here's how it works and here are the way's you should protect yourself" method taught to teenager's. I think that would work out alot better. Reproduction not sex is necessary for the survival of all human and animal life on earth. Are you saying teens are having sex for reproduction purposes? Is that the school's responsibility or the parents? I don't want the school to step in and teach my impressionable preteen child something that stands in stark contrast to what I am teaching at home. Basically, what you are saying is that schools should step in and tell 10, 11, 12 year olds that their parents are wrong and this is what they should be doing. What about the schools being responsible for teaching EDUCATION? The 3 R's rather than putting the schools in charge of teaching social issues.
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