The Effects of Teen Sex: What Science Shows

Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)[1] proponents downplay the harms of teenage sex. They teach that it’s okay for teens to have sex if risk reduction methods are used.  Their common claim is that “Having sex is a normal part of adolescence and can be practiced safely.”

Let’s explore what Science shows:

STDs & HIV. Worldwide, young people aged 15–24 account for nearly one-half of all new HIV infections. Globally, more than 1 million new STD infections occur each day, and youth are especially vulnerable.  The effects of STDs can range from bacterial infections to death. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the main cause of cervical cancer, kills thousands of women each year. Other STDs like chlamydia can lead to infertility. The human immune deficiency virus (HIV) can cause AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), which can kill by weakening the body’s ability to fight other illnesses. Despite improved treatments which have extended the lifespans of many people with HIV or AIDS, e.g in America thousands still die from HIV and AIDS every year, where teen STD rates are at epidemic levels and rising. Prevalence estimates suggest that young people aged 15–24 years acquire half of all new STDs and that 1 in 4 sexually active adolescent females has an STD.

Teenage Pregnancy. Out-of-wedlock pregnancy, Single mothers, especially teenaged single mothers, are much less likely to complete their education or achieve their career goals. They (and their children) are also much more likely to live in poverty. More than 6 in 7 teen births are to single girls, a circumstance which is a well-documented predictor for poverty. Just as condoms cannot provide complete protection against STDs, no contraceptive device or method can provide complete protection against unplanned pregnancies. e.g in the U.S Teen pregnancy is the highest among industrialized nations and especially high in minority populations. Teen pregnancy leads to lower education and higher poverty for single teen mothers, higher crime, addiction or teen pregnancy for their children, a self-repeating destructive cycle.

Emotional Harm and Violence. Detrimental psychological effects. Teenage sexual activity decreases emotional health (higher risk for depression, suicide, regret, etc.) and Leads to higher rates of dating violence. A teen pregnancy often brings emotional stress to both the girl and the boy involved, related to teen parenthood, limited education, poverty, adoption or abortion. Sexually active teenagers are more likely to be depressed and attempt suicide. E.g in the US, one 2013 study found that overall, adolescent females with no sexual partners were significantly less likely to report measures of poor mental health than those who have had 1, 2, or 3 or more sexual partners. Similarly, girls who reported 3 or more partners were significantly more likely to report sadness, suicide ideation, suicide plans and attempts than those with fewer partners.

Lower academic achievement. Generally, sexually active teens have lower GPAs, more disciplinary problems and were less likely to attend college. Compared with virgins, teens who have casual sex had lower GPAs, cared less about school and experienced more problems in school. Teens who have sex were at higher risk of being truant and dropping out compared with teens who don’t have sex. A number of studies have shown that teenagers who abstain from sex are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college than their sexually active peers.

The Economic Costs. The US CDC estimates that there are 20 million new annual STDs, 110 million total infections with a total of $16 billion in medical costs. STDs among teens incur $4.5 billion in tax-payer funded expenses annually. Taxpayers save up to $19,000 every time a teen chooses abstinence and avoids pregnancy and STDs, with the potential of a cumulative savings of $11 billion per year.

Given the massive deleterious, economic and social effects of Teen Sex, the benefits of Sexual Purity cannot be downplayed.

Source:

1. Protect Child Health Coalition, (2020). The Failure of Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE) and the Case for Abstinence Education What the Research
2. Arina Grossu and Peter Sprigg, (2014). Sexual Risk-Avoidance Education. Family Research Council Policy Issue

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[1] CSE programs teach risk reduction through condom and/or contraceptive use and may also teach abstinence