This is a question we recently received from a student after viewing our presentation. This is a valid question, and one we hope to answer it in a brief and concise way.
First, let’s define some terms. SAFE-SEX defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is: ‘Sexual activity and especially sexual intercourse in which various methods are taken to avoid disease (as AIDS) transmitted by sexual contact. — called also safer sex.” Practicing safer sex is one way to go about things, but have you ever considered that there is an even safer and healthier way?
“According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), sexually active youth ages 15-24 years old are at a higher risk of acquiring STI’s for a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural reasons. Many STI’s can be spread through skin to skin contact, not just through sexual intercourse. The CDC also states, abstaining from vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse is the only 100% effective way to prevent STIs. No protective method is 100% effective, and cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STI or pregnancy.”
So, with that being said, our purpose for our program, ‘Why Not Delay?’, is to share the safest way to prevent STI’s and unplanned pregnancies.
This is called, Sexual Risk Avoidance. When a person abstains from sex/sexual activity outside of marriage, they avoid the risk of contracting an STI or experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes, as high schoolers you can feel like everyone is doing it. But, that’s not the case…
“According to the Youth Risk Behavior survey done by the CDC, only 40% of high school students have had sex. Meaning that 60% of high school students have chosen not to have sex while in high school.”
After sharing this statistic during one of our presentations, a male student shared that the thing that impacted him the most was, “The statistic that most high schoolers have not had sex, because it makes a big impact on my decision.”
The heart of our program is to give you all the correct information so that you can avoid the risks COMPLETELY! We also want you to know is that if you have already engaged in sex/sexual activity outside of marriage, it’s never too late to practice abstinence. You can always choose to renew your abstinence in order to avoid more risk in the future.
Two students shared,
“Renewed abstinence is a thing and it doesn’t mean you have to feel bad for what you did.”
“Renewed abstinence is an option because it’s hopeful for those who’ve had sex already.
In conclusion, we want you to be the safest you that you can be. Which is to practice abstinence, avoiding the risks entirely, without any chance of contracting an STI or experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
Regardless of the healthy or unhealthy choices that you have made, you are still
valuable and full of worth!