ABSTINENCE Personal Development Sexual Education WHAT IS ABSTINENCE

ABSTINENCE Personal Development Sexual Education

WHAT IS ABSTINENCE? n n n Can mean different things to different people. Sexual abstinence means no exchange of bodily fluids and/or genital to genital or skin to genital contact. The only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and the contraction of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s).

WHAT IS VIRGINITY? Virginity has different meanings to different people and various cultures. Generally, it is defined as never having sexual intercourse.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A VIRGIN TO BE ABSTINENT? No. A person who is abstinent is not necessarily a virgin. Someone who is abstinent may have had sexual intercourse in the past, but is not currently sexually active. The choice to be abstinent can be made at ANY TIME!

WHAT DOES POSTPONING SEXUAL ACTIVITY MEAN? n It is waiting, until you are ready, or until a time you have decided, to have sexual intercourse.

WHAT ARE SOME REASONS PEOPLE CHOOSE ABSTINENCE OR TO POSTPONE SEXUAL ACTIVITY? n n n Personal: q Family values or religious/moral beliefs q Not ready q To avoid guilt, fear or disappointment Medical: q Fear of pregnancy q Fear of HIV/AIDS or other STI’s q Lack of info on contraception q Protect against disease (Ex. Cervical cancer) Relational: q Haven’t met the right person q To strengthen a relationship: May allow for a deeper friendship and intimacy that is not sexual. Time talking, building trust, and sharing good times.

WHAT MAKES ABSTINENCE WORK? n n n Being able to talk to each other Commitment Partner cooperation Assertiveness A positive vision for the future Self esteem Self-control Information Knowledge of consequences Awareness of personal values Ability to identify sexual situations

WHAT FACTORS CAUSE ABSTINENCE TO FAIL? n n Alcohol/drugs Peer pressure Threat or force “Alone for the weekend”

Reading n n Love Waits : pages 212 -220 Please set up your page like this: For the child n For the Relationship For the Freedom Please read the pages above, and write three important points in each category explaining the reasons to choose abstinence.

For the Child For the Relationship For the Freedom

A quote from a student just like you… n “Believe me, you don’t want to have your heart broken, you don’t want to feel used, you don’t want to be raising a kid when you’re still a kid, and you don’t want to tell your future fiancée, “Sorry, but I have this strange sexual disease I picked up in high school. Oops!”

Making an Abstinence Ad You are going to make an ad in order to inform young people about choosing abstinence. Options: n Use a pre-existing ad and make it about abstinence n Use an idea from the textbook n Make it eye catching and informative n