The Science of Sex Education (VIDEO)

What is the most effective way to educate young people about sex? What can we do to minimize unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Does abstinence-only education work? Some people think so.

"I'm going to tell you from my own personal life, abstinence works."

First and foremost, anecdotal evidence does not scientific data make. Data is plural for datum. A single datum is not enough to establish a pattern or to induce a cause-and-effect relationship. This is why scientists perform repeatable experiments when they are ethically feasible. When it is impossible to perform an experimental investigation, correlational research is done in the most rigorous way possible.

Second, the data clearly show that abstinence-only education does NOT work. Obviously abstinence works. One cannot get pregnant or contract an STI if one is not engaging in sex. But teenagers are engaging in sex, almost half of them, regardless of how they are being taught. United States teens are equally as likely to have sex as teens in other industrialized nations, but they are twice as likely to become pregnant. And if that's not shocking enough, 25% of teen girls in the US have an STI. Let me repeat that. One out of four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection.

What is so different about the United States? Federally funded abstinence education programs. They have been around since 1982. Beginning in 1998, between $59 and $179 million has been funneled to the states each year for abstinence education in schools. And although very new legislation provides funding for scientifically rigorous strategies of teaching sex education, Title V (abstinence-only) funding has been extended to the states for another five years. Incredibly, only 13 states currently require that information presented in sex education classes be medically accurate and factual.

There exists no scientific evidence that abstinence-only education delays the initiation of sexual intercourse in teenagers. It also does nothing to reduce teen pregnancies nor STIs. In fact, abstinence-only education is positively correlated with teen pregnancy and birth rates. Who would have thought that the less kids know about their bodies, birth control, and safe sex practices, the more likely they are to accidentally make babies?!

Community-based programs don't seem to help either. In a randomized study published earlier this year, inner-city youth in Syracuse, NY were taught about abstinence outside of the classroom. Regarding premarital sex, there was no statistically significant difference in young people who were involved in the program than those who were not.

Abstinence-only programs also do nothing to meet the needs of individuals who are at an increased risk of contracting HIV, such as youth who are homeless or have run away, youth who were sexually abused, or LGBT youth. In fact, LGBT youth are often negatively impacted by these programs, since they are completely left out of a conversation centered on waiting until heterosexual marriage until one "should" have sex.

So what does work?

We know that the earlier children have positive school-related experiences, the less likely they are to engage in risky sexual behavior as teens, especially when these children live in impoverished conditions. We also know that when scientifically accurate information about pharmacological contraceptives, condoms, abstinence, and STI prevention is provided to young people in a discussion-based environment, and when those young people are engaged in a conversation that is culturally sensitive, respectful, and non-judgmental, teens are more likely to engage in healthy and safe sex practices, if they engage in them at all.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect link referencing that "25% of teen girls in the US have an STI." This error has been corrected.

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Comments

[Joneen Mackenzie]

12:56 PM on 11/17/2011

If abstinence education does not work, why does every program call themselves abstinence based? If it doesn't work, why bother? Just teach body parts, condoms and contraceptives. Why waste time with abstinence?

As a nurse and author of the WAIT (WHY Am I Tempted?) Training curriculum, I am offended at the blatant disregard for the facts. I cannot write about all abstinence programs, but WAIT Training is based on sound theoretical frameworks, teen brain development and child pedagogy. It is aligned with national health education standards and curriculum content standards across the country and been reviewed by government agencies and medical professionals for medical accuracy. It is age appropriate and sensitive to cultural, ethnic, and GLBTQ students because it teaches the skills necessary to develop healthy relationships, build strong lifetime partnerships / marriages and safe and stable families. All humans long for acceptance, love, connection and affirmation. Stop the tired old “abstinence does not work “mantra. Since the 90’s teen pregnancy has been reduced dramatically. There was nothing new in sexuality education except for abstinence programs. We teach healthy relationship skills, dating well, stages of attachment and commitment, knowing your love language, communication skills, steps of intimacy, appreciating your unique personality and the personality of others, decision making, conflict resolution, future planning, financial and media literacy, character development, alcohol and substance resistance, self regulation, and managing peer pressure. How about promoting the science of relationship and love education?

Joneen Mackenzie RN
The Center for Relationship Education
www.myrelationshipcenter.org

[icebb]

02:20 AM on 11/17/2011

Another Oops for Perry !!!!

[jf12]

11:17 PM on 11/16/2011

Looks like nobody linked this NYTimes story yet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/magazine/teaching-good-sex.html

[jf12]

11:12 AM on 11/17/2011

From upscale students, older high school, already engaged in sexual activity, liberal, well-educated, already had sexual education several times, note:
"What’s interesting, he added, is that both the boys and girls receive the photographs of the penises rather placidly but often insist that the vulvas don’t look “normal.” “They have no point of reference for what a normal, healthy vulva looks like, even their own,” Vernacchio said. The female student-council vice president agreed: “When we did the biology unit, I probably would’ve been able to label just as many of the boys’ body parts as the girls’, which is sad. I mean, you should know about the names of your own body.”"

The girls are more familiar with boy's bodies than their own. It has nothing to do with lack of education, nothing to do with lack of exposure (!), merely lack of interest and consequent lack of familiarity.

[Nathol99]

08:23 PM on 11/16/2011

Thank you Rick Perry for explaining to all of us that you are most definitely NOT qualified to be the president. Now, please leave. Thanks a bunch.

[jf12]

05:31 PM on 11/16/2011

To me, the scientific content of sexologic education should be: as much as they can understand properly at a given age. But there are clearly moral aspects as well as other content. Part of that morality is determining what proper understanding means at what age, and even for a given individual. In other words, it is not information that is needed by children so much as guidance.

So it is not the content of instruction, but rather the location that is most questionable. Even confining the discussion to what should be taught in schools, sex ed is naturally scientifically part of biology. Physiology functions. As part of Health (or God forbid Hygiene) instruction, sex is merely something that you can do healthily (and cleanly).

Six or seven years ago my son took a required Health class in high school in Texas, where sex ed was part of a hygiene instruction that included deodorant demonstrations and clean underwear posters, I kid not. And plenty of kids needed that, and would have benefited if they followed the deodorant guidance ... And yes they mentioned condoms, and the Pill, and STDs.

[ColleenHarper]

06:02 PM on 11/16/2011

And a significant part of sex ed is age-appropriate education.

I've so often heard people wail the end of the world because children in the first three grades are getting "sex education." I hope like hell these children are getting the message that their bodies are their private property and strangers are NOT allowed to touch them in ways that make them uncomfortable. THAT is age appropriate sex education for the first three grades, which these "end of times" freaks are ranting against.

[jf12]

08:51 PM on 11/16/2011

We originally taught our son to call his privates, which he misunderstood as having to do with pirates, so we switched to genitals which he pronounced as "gentles" to his kindergarten teacher etc.

[BarryS]

03:59 PM on 11/16/2011

You keep using logic and science. THEY don't believe in that. Nuff said.

[ColleenHarper]

06:02 PM on 11/16/2011

So true!

[Jeff Parfitt]

03:33 PM on 11/16/2011

There are two big problems with abstinence-only education. First, it does nothing to educate, it only verbally deters students with warnings. Anyone who has spent time with a teenager knows how useful verbal warnings are at preventing certain behaviors. Second, abstinence-only has been statistically shown to be effectively useless at preventing anything, from teen pregnancy to the spread of STI's.

There are a lot of other ways to promote safe sex practices and reduce the number of teens having sex and getting pregnant. First, put the emphasis on self-esteem and self-worth. Studies show that teens with higher self-esteem are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. Second, be open and honest about all things sexual, including contraception, birth control, STI's, pregnancy, and stages of a relationship. Giving students knowledge and preparing them for the real world is better than keeping them ignorant and expecting them to just do what you say. If you teach students safety, even if they go out and have sex they have a higher chance of using protection and reducing their risk of pregnancy and disease. Isn't better outcomes for teen health and wellness the whole point of sex education?

[Fran Jaime]

09:31 PM on 11/16/2011

You nailed it! I taught Sex ed at elementary and Middle School levels. Besides all the necessary information, we had an anonymous question box. It was so useful! They could ask whatever they wanted (no name, no shame) and they had very good questions. The other thing we would do, would be to try to come up with fun ideas for things to do on a date that were not sex. The homework assignments were designed so that their parents would either help them or be interviewed about some of the topics. It was an amazing experience.

[GeorgeBurnsWasRight]

03:14 PM on 11/16/2011

Abstinence-only education basically reduces interpersonal relations between two humans down to focusing almost exclusively on the merely physical issue putting one body part into another body.

Love, heck, even casual sex, is a whole lot richer than that.

[Fred Taylor]

02:19 PM on 11/16/2011

He almost had a Rick Perry moment in the middle of that.

[Transit]

02:13 PM on 11/16/2011

Whatever happened to the one about aspirin being being an effective birth control? The girls takes one and places it between her knees and doesn't let it fall until the boy has left. That's at least half as good as abstinence.

Now it's not like abstinence is a bad thing. It works! But seeing as how sex is pretty much standard among adults it's understandable that teens (sometimes younger) are going to get curious. What the young people need is understanding about growing up and parents willing to tell them that it wasn't the tooth fairy who put that coin under their pillow everytime they lost a tooth.

It's like when I was young and full of piss and vinegar it was Friday night and I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror in my best suit. I had just finished slapping on the after shave when my mother past by and asked me, "Where ya going son?"

I told her I was going out catin' trying to shock her just a little bit for fun and she answered over her shoulder as she was walking away, "Well just don't bring home any kittens!"

[Iwasthinking]

01:51 PM on 11/16/2011

CPR, Self Defense, and Fire Safety: These are taught in a matter-of-fact, science-based way to prepare students for life-altering situations that most of them will never face. This teaching method helps create knowledgeable, crisis-ready adults.

Sex Education, Reproductive Health, and Family Planning: These are taught in an alarmist, fear-based way to prepare students for life-altering situations that all of them will face throughout their lives. This teaching method creates students who are woefully unprepared to make wise, informed decisions about their future and their families.

The purpose of teaching students about sex, reproductive health, and family planning is not to teach them how to be sexually active teenagers but to teach them how to be informed, healthy, contributing, joyful adults. Kids grow up fast—in only a few years, the students become the adults. They must have the knowledge that allows them to form healthy families on their own terms and in their own time. We owe it to them—and to our society—to provide that knowledge. We need to have comprehensive, science-based, age-appropriate sex education in U.S. public schools.

[Transit]

02:24 PM on 11/16/2011

Well said.

[Cara Santa Maria]

03:05 PM on 11/16/2011

Hear hear!

[StopMakingSense2]

01:38 PM on 11/16/2011

So in other words it's not conservative sex ed since there is no mention of chastity belts and praying I can keep my legs crossed! Although I do give conservatives credit for expanding women's appreciation of oral and anal sex and the need for more abortions.

[jericarla]

01:20 PM on 11/16/2011

when you watch the video you see the honorable mr perry obfuscate the question and when forced to responde, he ignores truth in favor of his personal beliefs. many in our culture refuse to face reality in favor of their beliefs. i worked with a woman who insisted her daughter was not sexualy active until she went home early and caught her pristine daughter in bed with a boy. this mom was very upset about her daughter ruining her moms reputation of raising a great daughter more than the fact her daughter was in bed not using a condom,and this mom was in denial that teens will have sex its in our entertainment as what you should ber doing. its in the music they listen to. its in the literature and advertising. why wont they have the sex society says we should and at the same time says no you cant? when you get mixed messages like that you take the course that benefits you at the moment.

[Bill J4321]

01:07 PM on 11/16/2011

Religion has made humans ashamed of sexuality, as it has been used to control people and their sex lives.

We seem to have no problems whatsoever discussing any of our other basic needs, yet sexuality seems to trip up the masses.

It's dysfunctional at best, and damaging to human lives at worst.

[ColleenHarper]

06:08 PM on 11/16/2011

So true! The Judeo-Christian religions are so sexually repressed and hung up as to be dysfunctional.

If we want to reduce pregnancies and STI's, the best choice is to talk clearly and frankly about contraception and blocking transmission of disease, but the religionists want to prevent THAT conversation. They therefore are complicit in pregnancies and transmissions of disease.

[jericarla]

01:07 PM on 11/16/2011

i mentor teens and young adults ages 14 to 24 at a youth center. i hear comments from staff that say you should wait its better if you do. im the only one that says you should wait because.... and i say if you wont wait use these and dont let your partener tell you not to. i hear comments from the teens such as:but its oral its not sex and its anal its not sex and i cant get pregnant if he masturbates first. the kids refuse to admit they are sexualy active if they use any method except vaginal sex.
i dont know what sex ed they have in the schools but a great indicator could be the high school principal said" we dont need a glbt club on campus we dont have any gay students at our school". the school has aprox 3000 students so by average statistics should have 300 to 450 gay students. i dont think public schools can teach sex ed competently and parents refuse to. (warning humor~~>) lets bring back the chastity belt. until adults are made responsible for the actions of their children there will be no correction in the society at large for many of the problems in society at large. everyone must actively teach social responsability. not just schools.