UK teen celibacy

[Russ]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3699851.stm

At last - a US idea being promoted over here that I finally agree with

[kronas]

oh joy, people promoting abstinence from sex by using the STD line of 'scaremongering' its not enough that individuals themselves should be able to make that decision of whether they choose to engage in sex for 'recreational' purposes on there own accord

Abstinence is the only way truly to protect yourself against getting a sexually transmitted disease, especially as a teenager."

thats just utter stupidity, anyone can get STD's, even if they have abstained, you can be as careful as you want to be there is always a risk.

[Chimaera]

Yes - but a silver ring that American kids get charged $12 for will be £10 for British kids?
Someone is raking it in!

[Russ]

You call using STDs scaremongering? Have you seen the figures in the UK for teens who have contracted an STD?

[kronas]

Originally Posted by Russ D

You call using STDs scaremongering? Have you seen the figures in the UK for teens who have contracted an STD?

yes and education is the key.

the only reason the americans are acheiving prominance in abstaining is because bush is a huge advocate of abstaining from sex how many millions is he spending on such projects to 'tell' teens to abstain ?

EDIT: just spotted the note on the BBC site

The Bush administration has given $120 million to abstinence groups.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by kronas

yes and education is the key.

And that's what they're trying to do - educate teens about the risks of STD and promoting a pretty good level of protection against them.

Originally Posted by kronas

thats just utter stupidity, anyone can get STD's, even if they have abstained, you can be as careful as you want to be there is always a risk.

Pardon me for asking but how does someone get an STD if they abstain?

[Jon M]

he may be referring to herpes via cold sores.. but I'm not sure if it can be transferred mouth to mouth even if you can contract it via oral sex

[caledoniangold]

cold sore herpes and std herpes are caused by different, but related, virii. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is the cold sore one whilst HSV2 causes genital warts.

CG

Originally Posted by s1lv3r

he may be referring to herpes via cold sores.. but I'm not sure if it can be transferred mouth to mouth even if you can contract it via oral sex

But that would only be a case of catching a STD without sex if you accept the Bill Clinton definition of 'sexual relations'

I'm very interested to know, how is it possible to pass on a SEXUALLY Transmitted Disease without SEXUAL contact?

It is undeniable that if your aim is to avoid STDs (and unwanted pregnancy, for that matter), the safest course of action is not to have sex. End of. All discussion about whether abstinence is practical and desirable as a message to teach to teenagers is very valid and interesting, but it should not be clouded by spurious argument about very basic biological facts.

[philip.j.fry]

I'm with Kronas, education is the key, I don't think there's anything wrong with teenagers being sexually active, the dangers are that a lot seem to take too many risks (in the physical and emotional sense) and I'd like to see better sex ed. My own sex ed in school as far as I can remember it (about 10 years ago now) was pretty confused because no-one wants to deal with such a taboo subject.

They might be advocating a good-level of protection against STD's, but then it's on about the same level as 'lock yourself away in a room and you won't get hit by a car'. From my point of view it's not dealing with the problem, it's instead trying to stop the problem existing.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Russ D

Pardon me for asking but how does someone get an STD if they abstain?

Im not sure wich ones, but several STD's can be transferred by sitting on a public toilet seat if its improperly cleaned (Herpes beeing one, theres another common one aswel but I cant think of it right now)

[Jon M]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Im not sure wich ones, but several STD's can be transferred by sitting on a public toilet seat if its improperly cleaned (Herpes beeing one, theres another common one aswel but I cant think of it right now)

Sorry, common urban myth.. you cannot contract any STD's via toilet seats.
Most if not all STD's are transferred via mucus membrane contact. The nasties cannot survive outside that environment.

Originally Posted by philip.j.fry

They might be advocating a good-level of protection against STD's, but then it's on about the same level as 'lock yourself away in a room and you won't get hit by a car'. From my point of view it's not dealing with the problem, it's instead trying to stop the problem existing.

I don't think that is in any way equivalent. Lock yourself in a room and you are completely unable to do anything with your life. Abstain from sex and you can carry on and do everything you ever wanted except that one thing, and even that exception is temporary - remember, we're talking about abstinence here, not outright celibacy.

Sex is great, but it is not the be-all-and-end-all of life. Take it from someone who knows - my first time was wedding night, aged 26. No regrets whatsoever.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by s1lv3r

Sorry, common urban myth.. you cannot contract any STD's via toilet seats.
Most if not all STD's are transferred via mucus membrane contact. The nasties cannot survive outside that environment.

I guess I stand corrected then

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by towny

I don't think that is in any way equivalent. Lock yourself in a room and you are completely unable to do anything with your life. Abstain from sex and you can carry on and do everything you ever wanted except that one thing, and even that exception is temporary - remember, we're talking about abstinence here, not outright celibacy.

And what is the thing that most teenagers want to do most? I disagree, I do think that it is a good analogy because it involves a curtailment of regular activities when there is no need if sensible precautions are taken.

Also, the exception is not temporary because you restrict yourself to having intercourse with only one person. Sex is not the same with every person and every time you 'do it'. Now I know that you made that choice and have no regrets but I don't think that that can work for everybody. I think the important thing is that teenagers are given the choice, that they have all of the options presented to them with the associated benefits and risks and how to best protect themselves from the risks, and that they don't have one ideal pushed onto them more than another.