“Newspaper editorials from across the country have echoed Planned Parenthood’s call to end ineffective and dangerous “abstinence-only” funding.” Planned Parenthood director says, “In the last decade more than $1.5 billion has been wasted on abstinence-only programs that do nothing to help teach our teens responsibility, and zero federal dollars have been spent on comprehensive sex education. It’s time to put money towards real solutions that will help prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies among teenagers.” “That’s why Planned Parenthood is a leading advocate for education programs in America’s schools that will keep teens healthy-by including information about abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.”
Planned Parenthood and teenwire.com says, “Several forms of prescription birth control, including the pill, the patch, and the ring, prevent pregnancy by releasing hormones into the bloodstream. The hormones estrogen and progestin stop ovulation from occurring. Without ovulation, there’s no egg available for sperm to fertilize. No fertilization, no pregnancy.
Studies have shown that use of any of these three forms of birth control reduces the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Ovarian cancer is cancer that originates in a woman’s ovaries, where her eggs are produced. Endometrial cancer occurs in the endometrium, which is the thin lining on the inside of the uterus. On the flip side, you may have heard claims linking the pill to breast cancer. The most recent medical literature suggests that the pill has little, if any, effect on the risk of developing breast cancer.
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Planned Parenthood and teenwire.come say, “Where sex and cancer do sometimes come together is in an infection called human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV, the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), is spread through vaginal and anal intercourse and other direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. There are many types of HPV; most are relatively harmless, but a few genital HPV strains can lead to cancer of the cervix, and may play a role in cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, or vulva.” Planned Parenthood goes on to talk about HBV and how “most HPV infections leave the body on their own without doing any damage. But if you are a woman over 21 or if you are younger and have been sexually active for three years, you should have periodic Pap tests to see if anything abnormal is going on in the cells of the cervix. Early detection can prevent the development of cancer.”
Planned Parenthood says that making the decision, if you’re ready or not to have sex, is a big decision. They state, “Making your decision means getting to know yourself. Try to think about what sort of person you are and want to be. What kind of life do you want? What work will you do? What training will you need? The more you are sure of yourself, the less likely you are to be flattered or frightened into doing something before you’re ready. Sex is an important part of life. It is not separate from everything else. Respect for ourselves and others is essential in all parts of life — including our sex life. Respect allows us to accept and appreciate each other. It helps us to be thoughtful and trusting of each other. It’s not always easy. But it’s always important.”
Planned Parenthood talks about some of the reasons why teens may be having sexual intercourse before they’re ready. Here are some of those reasons.
The American Social Health Assiciation and National Coalition of STD Directors say, “There are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S. each year, but obvious symptoms often don’t develop and many people who contract an STD are unaware they and their partners are at risk. With this in mind the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) recognize April as National STD Awareness Month, and emphasize testing as a key component for sexual health. “We encourage anyone who is sexually active to discuss testing for HIV and other STDs with their health care provider, even if they have no symptoms,” says ASHA president and CEO Lynn B. Barclay, who explains that the most commonly reported bacterial STD, chlamydia, often doesn’t cause symptoms in women (and sometimes men) but when undetected in women the infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). If untreated, PID can lead to chronic pelvic pain and infertility.”
According to the researchers, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, ”Sex education in school may encourage teenagers to put off having sexual intercourse, the results of a U.S. government study suggests. The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Adolescent Health, did not determine if the type of program matters — that is, abstinence-only versus more-comprehensive programs. However, the findings do suggest that having some form of sex education helps delay teen sex.”
Turner reports, “Congressional Democrats say they will pull the plug on abstinence-only sex education when a $50 million grant expires on June 30, a move sparking outrage among social conservative groups.” He goes on to write, “Democrats would still include money for abstinence teachings in schools, but would combine it with comprehensive sex-ed programs that would teach about birth control and other safe sex methods. States currently pay for abstinence-only education in public schools by matching $3 for every $4 they receive from the federal government.”
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A study done at the University of Washington found out that teens aged 15-19 that have received comprehensive sex education are 50 percent less likely to get pregnant than those has received abstinence-only education. Those teens who received the comprehensive sex education are also 60 percent less likely to get pregnant than those who had no sex education at all. The University of Washington study asserts that, “Abstinence-only programs had no significant effect in delaying the initiation of sexual activity or in reducing the risk for teen pregnancy and STD. In contrast comprehensive sex education programs were significantly associated with reduced risk of teen pregnancy.”
Planned Parenthood says, “On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 (1973)), a challenge to a Texas statute that made it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman’s life was at stake. The case had been filed by “Jane Roe,” an unmarried woman who wanted to end her pregnancy safely and legally. Siding with Roe, the court struck down the Texas law. In its ruling, the court recognized for the first time that the constitutional right to privacy “is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy (Roe v. Wade, 1973).” They go on to say, “Roe has come to be known as the case that legalized abortion nationwide. At the time the decision was handed down, nearly all states outlawed abortion except to save a woman’s life or for limited reasons such as preserving the woman’s health, or instances of rape, incest, or fetal anomaly. Roe rendered these laws unconstitutional, making abortion services safer and more accessible to women throughout the country. The decision also set a legal precedent that affected more than 30 subsequent Supreme Court cases involving restrictions on access to abortion.”
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