The CDC states, “The most reliable ways to avoid transmission of STDs/STIs are to abstain from sexual activity, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.” [1] In other words, condoms/contraceptives do not guarantee STI or pregnancy avoidance; Only abstinence is 100% effective.
Why Not is a Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education program, teaching that sexual risk can be avoided entirely, similar to avoiding other risky behaviors like smoking and/or substance abuse. Other sexual education programs like Sexual Risk Reduction (SRR) and Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) take more time to demonstrate the proper use of condoms and encourage contraception; Both methods have varying failure and success rates. However, every federally approved sexual education program has the inherent goal of decreasing STI transmissions and unexpected pregnancies among young people by primarily encouraging students to practice abstinence, delay first sexual encounter, and decrease the total number of lifetime sexual partners. [2]
Unlike SRR and CSE programs, SRA education has confidence that teens have the strength to choose abstinence or renewed abstinence for the sake of their overall health, putting themselves in the best possible position to achieve their dream lives. The majority of high school students in the United States are already choosing abstinence. [3]
Condom Information
Condom use and contraceptives can be helpful tools to reduce sexual risk, but not avoid it entirely. The World Health Organization reported that condoms have a 2% perfect use failure rate for pregnancy (if everyone used them perfectly every time); The typical failure rate is 15% (how often they actually fail). [4]
The CDC states, “Consistent and correct use of the male latex condom reduces the risk of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. However, condom use cannot provide absolute protection against any STD.” [1]
“Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection for various STDs, depending on differences in how the diseases or infections are transmitted. Male condoms may not cover all infected areas or areas that could become infected. Thus, they are likely to provide greater protection against STDs that are transmitted only by genital fluids (STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and HIV infection) than against infections that are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact, which may or may not infect areas covered by a condom (STDs such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus [HPV] infection, syphilis, and chancroid)” [1] In short, condoms can help prevent some STDs more than others, but not all, and not with absolute certainty.
“To achieve maximum protection by using condoms (risk reduction of some STD transmission), they must be used consistently and correctly.” [1]
Contraception Information
The CDC states, “Many elements need to be considered by women, men, or couples at any given point in their lifetimes when choosing the most appropriate contraceptive method. These elements include safety, effectiveness, availability (including accessibility and affordability), and acceptability. Voluntary informed choice of contraceptive methods is an essential guiding principle, and contraceptive counseling, when applicable, might be an important contributor to the successful use of contraceptive methods..” [5] In short, before using contraceptives, it is important to consider safety, effectiveness, availability, and acceptability, and to first get advice from your health care provider.
“In choosing a method of contraception, dual protection from the simultaneous risk for HIV and other STDs also should be considered. Although hormonal contraceptives and IUDs are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, they do not protect against STDs, including HIV.” [5] In other words, some contraceptive methods aim to prevent pregnancy more than STDs, and some aim to prevent STDs more than pregnancy.
It is important to consider all aspects of a contraceptive method, including side effects, success and failure rates, etc. Be sure to talk to your health care provider before using contraceptives. A comprehensive list of contraceptive methods can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm
Avoiding the Risks
The risk of sexual activity can only be avoided through abstinence. The use of condoms and other contraceptives can help reduce risk, but not avoid it entirely. It is important to also talk to your health care provider about the safety and effectiveness of condoms/contraceptives when considering using them.
Waiting to have sex until you are more equipped to handle the potential risks is the healthiest option, and puts you in the best possible position to attain your dream life. Why Not encourages students to put sex off until marriage. Sex is a good thing, but there are better times in life than others to have sex.
Sources
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/brief.html
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882098/#:~:text=The%20risk%20avoidance%20(RA)%20program,%2Dbased%20condom%20skills%2Dtraining.
[3] https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline/App/Results.aspx
[4] https://www.publish.csiro.au/SH/fulltext/SH11095
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm