Abstinence: Is Waiting Worth the While?

When the subject of sexual activity enters a teenager's life, they can make one of two decisions. To partake, or not to partake? That is the question.

Sex and Simplicity

Teenagers have a rather long standing reputation with sexual exploration. The choice of abstinence is more often than not the rarer decision to stick with, being influenced mostly by moral standings, religion, or strong parental restrictions. Rumors over the years have stated that it's certainly the healthier way to go, but does the brain's association with it being safer affect a virgin's judgment when he or she does choose to have sex?

Former studies have indicated that individuals who select the route of abstinence have just as many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as those who choose a more 'casual' lifestyle involving his or her number sexual partners. What is the primary reason for these statistics? Virgins are less likely to use condoms when engaging in sex for the first time.

No Condom, Big Problem

Since making the decision to wear a condom is less likely in those who practiced abstinence, the risk of contracting STDs increases greatly. In which case, the number of sexual partners one has makes no difference if you skip all the preliminary precautions necessary to ensure your own safety.

Those who undertake the virginity oath are also less likely to seek medical attention if they do contract an STD. This can pose a very serious problem, as many of the diseases can be cured if caught at an early stage. When a person is too nervous or embarrassed, or simply uneducated about it to come forward, the hazard of serious health risks increases significantly.

'Til Death Do Us Part

The psychical problem of not wearing condoms is one of the many complications followed up by abstinence. Studies have shown that teenagers are more likely to engage in marriage at a much earlier age.

According to 1995 statistics, approximately 40% of people that married under the age of 20 eventually get divorced. The percentage of first marriages that end in divorce is roughly 50% (according to 1997 statistics). While the statistics may be a little outdated, the overall rate of divorce has not improved over the years.

The Benefits

There are benefits to making a pledge to keep your virginity. The likelihood of teen pregnancy isn't an issue at all to those who undergo the abstinence oath (and stick with it). And for some, simply living up to their own moral code is benefit enough.

The issue of abstinence will never fall out of the gray area. As long as teenagers make intelligent decisions based on what they feel most comfortable with, whether this includes pre-marital sex or saving themselves for the honeymoon, the world will go on as it always has.