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There are many complex reasons a person refrains from sexual intercourse. Abstinence typically is practiced to avoid physiological complications like sexually transmitted infections and diseases. The act of abstaining and the purpose it serves an individual is known to change throughout a lifespan, and generally has persons reassessing their reasons for becoming abstinent according to an article in the Planned Parenthood website. During the fall 2007 semester at PCC, the student health office randomly selected over 800 students to fill out the National College Health Assessment Survey backed by the American College Health Association.

The survey was meant to provide information about common health and risky behaviors in relation to academic performance. Results show that, within the previous 12 months, 37 percent of students had no sexual partner, 38.5 percent had only one sexual partner and 10 percent had four or more sexual partners.

Reasons for the relatively high number of students with one or no partner are not covered by the survey. The article suggests that students in pursuit of their educational or professional goals do not typically prioritize sex. It could also simply be that “they’re not in the market,” suggested Jo Buczko, coordinator at student health services.

There are two common practices of abstinence. Periodic, or selective abstinence (natural family planning) is when sexually active women prevent pregnancy by familiarizing themselves with their fertility patterns and refrain from having sex on days they think they could become pregnant.

The second form is continuous abstinence, refraining from sex altogether and is known to be the only method that is 100 percent effective in avoiding unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. It is for the last reason that Jade Martinez, 20, sociology, decided to be abstinent at the age of 14.

“It was doing a lot of research,” said Martinez of her decision to wait until marriage to have sex.

Her research led her to information about STDs and at the time, according to Martinez, she was going through a mysophobic (also known as “germaphobic”) phase. Three years later, her abstinence streak came to an end. “I fell in love for the first time,” said Martinez.

She went on to explain that her reasons for being abstinent and breaking her chain of abstinence “were very straight forward.”

According to the article, men and women have to be clear about their reasons for being abstinent and values play a big part in making decisions concerning sex. Researchers suggest that people who practice abstinence should educate themselves about birth control and prepare in the same manner as if they were in a sexual relationship. In that sense, someone who breaks their abstinence streak will be better prepared for any consequences.

A 2001 study by Peter S. Bearman and Hannah Bruckner involving adolescents taking virginity pledges found that pledge breakers are more likely to have unprotected sex their first time than those who did not pledge. Also, the pledge did not work for all age groups.

Other studies suggest that schools with abstinence-only programs have higher incidents of teen pregnancies than those that do not. Over the last decade the federal government has spent over $1 billion on abstinence-only sex education, despite evidence questioning its effectiveness.

A recent federal study reported that at least one in four teenage girls have a sexually transmitted disease. Those who debate the effectiveness in abstinence education programs suggest that the information presented, though true, is misleading. Such concerns stem from programs that tend to exaggerate the risks of oral sex. Currently, there is a heated discussion as to what abstinence means: is it abstinence from sexual intercourse, or from sexual behavior all together?

“I think what it comes down to is [that abstinence is] more of a personal choice,” said Janet Llord, 20, anthropology major, adding, “If anything, you’re making your own rules.”

Touching on the role a person’s values play in making decisions about sex, she said: “Everyone is going to say something different [as to what abstinence means to them].”For some individuals, sexual abstinence is simply a lifestyle choice. They may have a dislike of sex, or are simply not interested in it.

They may view sex as an unnecessary part of human life. As with other lifestyle choices, this attitude toward sex and relationships can vary greatly. Some who choose such a lifestyle still accept sex for reproduction, some engage in romantic relationships, and some engage in masturbation. This year in California a new path is being laid with the implementation of the first standards for what students should be learning about sex.

This decision came directly after the federal study about teenage girls and STDs. The new guidelines have it so that fifth graders will learn about STDs, middle school teachers will talk about rape and sexual assault, and in high school the curriculum includes information about condoms and the morning after pill.

It took two years for the board of education to discuss and agree upon the new curriculum. It is not known exactly when the fifth grade lessons on STDs will begin, but it is safe to presume that teachers will need to be trained accordingly.

Hopefully, with the new guidelines in place, future generations will better be equipped to make decisions about whether or not to have sex.

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