"United States Needs a Lesson in Sex Ed"

[Randers]

graphs showing how bad the US in in effectiveness of getting the message out:
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http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsest.htm
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The study also cited inaccurate assertions from the curricula about the failure of condoms and the rates at which they prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
"When used by real people in real-life situations, research confirms that 14 percent of the women who use condoms scrupulously for birth control become pregnant within a year," teaches Big Talk Book, published by Choosing the Best. As the study’s authors point out, however, couples that use condoms properly and "scrupulously," experience a failure rate of only 2 to 3 percent in the course of twelve months.

Some believe Europe’s success is based on the comprehensive, relatively progressive sex education curricula taught there. In an interview with WebMD Medical News, Susheela Singh, director of research at the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which conducted a study of worldwide teen pregnancy and abortion rates, attributed reduced rates of teen pregnancy in many European countries to the acceptance that teens are sexually active and the provision of condoms, emergency contraception and comprehensive sex education."

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=1273


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In the United States, teens get pregnant, have abortions, and contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at rates ranging from three to 74 times higher than teens in the Netherlands, France, and Germany.

Another reason for Europe’s lower teen pregnancy rates is the acceptance and availability of contraception. Teenage girls in Germany and the Netherlands use more oral contraceptives than U.S. girls.

“First, European teens are provided with national health insurance, which is universal and covers the cost,” said Barbara Huberman, director of education and outreach at Advocates for Youth. “Secondly, young woman are taught in school how to use the Pill. Last, but not least, instead of being taught to say ’no’ to sex, women are supported in their prevention of unplanned pregnancy.”

In Europe, teen contraception is so accepted that a commonly-used term is “double-dutch,” which is when the guy wears a condom and the girl is on the Pill, says Huberman. This has contributed to the lower rates of teen pregnancies, abortions, and STIs. The European focus, Huberman says, is on empowering young people to make an informed decision on whether they want to become sexually active. If they decide to, then they know it is expected they will always use protection against pregnancy and STIs.

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Why is anyone in the US trying a make a case that condoms are effective in and of themselves? Same with any other birth control method with a 15-20% m/l failure rate. I don't get it.

Seems to me people who are serious about reducing teen pregnancy - would suggest pills (or the equivalent) for females/condoms for males - everyone takes care of it for themselves - and double the protection is more likely to work than a single method that might be forgotten or failed for some other reason (plus there is the STD angle).

[ultraist]

1. Abortion rates and teenage pregnancy UP under Bush's "abstinence" sex edu

Both teen pregnancy and abortion rates have increased under Bush as a result of the "abstinence" sex edu classes.

For the first time in decades, teen pregnancy is on the rise. What a shame.

[Randers]

3. That is the problem with Hillary's message yesterday.

That's why it seems like she is trying to appease the pro-lifers - which if anything would result in increased abortions (relying on abstinance instead of being more open with sex education and more accessible, reliable birth control - not just condoms).

[Jackie97]

4. If she is, then it better be an act.

It better be an act just to get the vote in 2008. She better not act on any of this shit. Otherwise, the Dem party is as leftist as the Republican party.

What is the matter with America? Are they really that messed up in the head lately? It's almost like Americans actually want to die of epidemics and so forth. Why are they doing this to us? If they have a deathwish, that's one thing. Can't they leave other Americans out of it?

[CBHagman]

7. Don't overreact. Look at her voting record and audience.

She wasn't talking to the pro-life marchers but to abortions rights supporters, which puts her remarks in context. Moreover, she is consistent in her support of the right to choose abortion, even late-term abortion.

As for the topic of this thread, one thing I noticed while living in Europe was the relatively down-to-earth, matter-of-fact approach to sex. We in the U.S. are still into entertainment that emphasizes titillation more than straightforward depiction of sexuality. I think Americans should just face facts and stop kidding themselves. Kids need to be taught values and science, NOT "abstinence," as Laura Bush rather foolishly suggested. Kids are already getting the titillation and the misinformation, so they'd better get the science and all the gory details -- STDs, what pregnancy really involves, sexual identity, various methods of contraception, etc. We are in serious denial.

[iverglas]

2. oh ... dear ...

Here I thought maybe ... but no.


Why is anyone in the US trying a make a case that condoms are effective in and of themselves?

Here's the question: WHO WAS DOING THAT?

The point being made was that FALSE INFORMATION is being disseminated by someone.

The question that then arises is: WHY?

And maybe if we look at the someone in question, we can see why.

http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/2004-10-28/news_feature.html

Abstinence for profit
Chairman of state board may have used public post to promote private business

Typically, a conference on teen abstinence doesn't pack much excitement. But several attendees of just such an event at Kennesaw State University last week were taken aback when the chairman of the board of the state Department of Human Resources took the stage to tout his company's line of abstinence-education products.

As DHR chairman, Bruce Cook helps guide policy -- and a $3.2 billion budget -- for the huge state agency responsible for delivering health and social services to mostly lower-income Georgians. As a business owner, Cook operates Choosing the Best, a Smyrna-based firm that publishes abstinence materials used by county health departments, local school systems and some of the community-based teen centers that are operated by the very agency Cook oversees.

They don't just lie to teenagers for their personal pleasure -- THEY DO IT FOR PROFIT.


I don't know of anyone who would advise anyone else to use a condom and nothing else. But for fuck's sake, eh? Using a condom is BETTER THAN USING NOTHING.

And since THAT is what the Big Talk Book guy wants teenagers to do -- USE NOTHING -- that might just be why he's saying bad things about using condoms.

A person who really wanted to help teenagers protect themselves from the potential adverse effects of having sex would be giving them ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO AT LEAST *TRY* TO DO THAT, **NOT** giving them false and absolutely useless information that is likely to DISCOURAGE them from using a method that is MUCH BETTER THAN NOTHING.

Does Mr. Big Talk Book say to teenagers: "... and so this is why you should use a condom, which offers reasonable protection against STDs, and also, preferably, use another form of pregnancy prevention"?

I don't think so.

Who's the bad guy here, hmm?

Once again.

Of all the food for thought in the quoted passages, that was some red herring you fished out.

[Randers]

5. well I don't think it's a red herring at all

Yours is another of those "Randers isn't' supposed to make any observations - they might be dangerous for somebody" kind of diatribes.

It's just something I noticed when I was looking at different birth control sites - many give you the impression that people are choosing one method. And I got to thinking about the lower rate in several European countries and wondered what was up. Of course there are different factors - not the least of which are attitudes that everyone should be taking responsibility for themselves - and the tendency not to be moralistic about it all.

The site I mentioned where people were defending condoms on their own just seemed to sum up the attitudes I was seeing. It was not in and of itself the whole deal.

Example See:

Choosing a Method
At any given time, a couple may find one method of birth control suits their needs better than others. Most women and couples use many methods over their lifetime.

All methods have a chance of failure. When a method is used correctly each time, the failure rates are lower. Choose a method you will be able to use on a regular basis. If your method fails, you may want to consider emergency contraception.

Finally ...
No matter which method of birth control you choose, be sure that you know how it works, how to use it, and what side effects may occur. Even with methods that do not need a prescription, you need to learn how to use the method.

This excerpt from ACOG's Patient Education Pamphlet is provided for your information. It is not medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for visiting your doctor. If you need medical care, have any questions, or wish to receive the full text of this Patient Education Pamphlet, please contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.

To ensure the information is current and accurate, ACOG titles are reviewed every 18 months.

Copyright © February 2003 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ48OI527C?_cat=5

[iverglas]

6. on being colour-blind ...

... and seeing what one wants to see.

You evidently have a bee in your bonnet about this "use more than one kind of birth control" business ... and for some unknown reason you seem to think that everyone in the world disagrees with you about the advisability of doing that, and recommending it.

"The site I mentioned where people were defending condoms on their own just seemed to sum up the attitudes I was seeing."

Here is the passage you took exception to in the initial post:

The study also cited inaccurate assertions from the <abstinence-only> curricula about the failure of condoms and the rates at which they prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"When used by real people in real-life situations, research confirms that 14 percent of the women who use condoms scrupulously for birth control become pregnant within a year," teaches Big Talk Book, published by Choosing the Best.

As the study’s authors point out, however, couples that use condoms properly and "scrupulously," experience a failure rate of only 2 to 3 percent in the course of twelve months.

Where, exactly, are you seeing anyone "defending condoms on their own"??

If someone claimed that Hitler had caused the death of a billion people, and I corrected him/her, would I be "defending Hitler"??

The guy who publishes the false information about condoms (are you saying it isn't false, btw?) and is in charge of the budgets used to purchase the material containing the false information evidently has an agenda, or two.

HE DOES NOT WANT young people to use condoms. Not alone, not in combination with another method, not in layers of three. Not at all.

HE is not minimizing the effectiveness of condoms so that young people will use another method in addition to or instead of condoms. HE is minimizing their effectiveness SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WILL PERSUADED NOT TO HAVE SEX. Apart from being simply dishonest, this is dumb, since (a) a lot of young people will have sex anyway, and (b) a lot of young people are smart enough to figure out that he's not telling them the truth. (And remember, people like him are also busy telling young people that condoms do not protect against HIV transmission.) HE DOESN'T WANT THEM USING ANY BIRTH CONTROL.

HE is the one who is most likely to ensure that some young women get pregnant, by persuading them that it isn't even worth using an "unreliable" method (and one that many young men pressure young women into agreeing to do without). Many of them are not going to not have sex, they're going to have sex without birth control.


As for seeing what one wants to see ... you quote, with your emphasis:

Choosing a Method

At any given time, a couple may find one method of birth control suits their needs better than others. Most women and couples use many methods over their lifetime.

All methods have a chance of failure. When a method is used correctly each time, the failure rates are lower. Choose a method you will be able to use on a regular basis. If your method fails, you may want to consider emergency contraception.

Your emphasis seems to be rather misplaced. It really doesn't say one and only one. It really doesn't say a couple may find that using one and only one method of birth control suits their needs better than using more than one.

Your link doesn't work, so I don't know what preceded the part you excerpted.

Planned Parenthood USA, however, says this:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-condom.xml

Effectiveness

Of 100 women whose partners use condoms, about 15 will become pregnant during the first year of typical use.* Only two women will become pregnant with perfect use.** More protection against pregnancy is possible if condoms are used with a spermicide foam, cream, jelly, suppository, or film.

*Typical use refers to failure rates when use is not consistent or always correct.
**Perfect use refers to failure rates for those whose use is consistent and always correct.

... Hormonal, intrauterine, and surgical methods of birth control offer greater protection against pregnancy than condoms, but no protection against sexually transmitted infections. Many people use latex condoms along with another method for the best protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-bc-choices-teens.xml

Increase your protection:

Do not use oil-based lubricants, like Vaseline® on latex condoms.
Use correctly: Place rolled condom on tip of hard penis. Squeeze air out of half-inch space at tip. Pull back foreskin and roll condom down over penis. Smooth out any air bubbles. Lubricate with water-based lubricant, like K-Y® jelly. Hold condom against penis to withdraw.
Also use spermicides for increased contraceptive effectiveness.

(along with pages with far more detailed instructions for correct condom use)

And on a quick google for "multiple methods" teenagers "multiple methods":

http://www.teenhealthfx.com/answers/Sexuality/756.html

By the way, we are glad to hear you are taking responsibility for your sexual health by practicing multiple methods of birth control. Unfortunately, your condom broke, but please always use condoms along with the pill. This offers you STD protection and double protection against pregnancy.

http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/cde/demsem/MS2098.FRISCO.FINAL.VERSION.6.21.pdf

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND YOUNG WOMEN'S CONTRACEPTIVE USE
... Multiple method use is more likely to prevent pregnancy than use of a single method, oral contraceptives when taken correctly are more effective than condoms, and both methods are more effective than withdrawal ...

And oh look! here we are; your article showed up on my search for "birth control" teenagers "more than one method" -- and here's what it said before the bit you quoted:

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ48OI527C&sub_cat=5

Methods of Birth Control

There are many methods of birth control. Each method has good points as well as side effects. Birth control allows a woman to plan her family — both the number and spacing of children.

The birth control pill, injections, vaginal ring, skin patch, intrauterine device (IUD), diaphragm, Lea's Shield, and cervical cap require a prescription. Condoms and spermicides do not.

More than one method may be used at the same time. For instance, a barrier method may be used with any other method.

Hmph, eh?

[Randers]

8. Ok

You got me on that one. :)

I didn't see that part on...

http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article...
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I suspect you are right about:

And since THAT is what the Big Talk Book guy wants teenagers to do -- USE NOTHING -- that might just be why he's saying bad things about using condoms.


I noticed on another site (designed for parents):

Contraception: What are the failure rates?

About one in ten women relying on reversible contraception, which includes all methods except sterilization, will get pregnant within a year, according to two studies updating birth control effectiveness.

The studies, published in "Family Planning Perspectives," note that young, poor, single and minority women are at especially high risk.

One year failure rates:
Hormone implants, 2 percent
Hormone injections, 3 percent
The pill, 7 to 8 percent
Diaphragms and cervical caps, 8 to 12 percent
Male condoms, 9 to 14 percent
Spermacides, 15 to 26 percent
Withdrawal, 19 to 24 percent
Periodic abstinence, 20 percent


Kim Painter "Reversible contraception will fail 10% of users a year, studies find" USA Today, April 20, 1999, D11

http://www.parentsplace.com/fertility/contraception/articles/0,,238697_112491,00.html


Which if that the only thing someone read - they would tend to think OMG - that would mean 10% of teenagers would have to expect to get pregnant. (And that is the rate in some states). It also failed to include the IUD.

THAT is the kind of thinking I'm opposed to. The kind that assumes or would like others to assume that it is not possible to have a more reliable birth control method(s) than that - so teens should not have sex at all and should all abstain...

Of course the Netherlands proves them wrong with their .7% rate of pregnancy (teens).

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I'm for problem solving - that is what. And preferably preventive problem solving. And I don't think that I am that off the mark in suggesting that the birth control situation in the US would be improved if people expected that it could be more under control than some people would lead others to believe.

[Jackie97]

9. I hope you're right on this one.

"(b) a lot of young people are smart enough to figure out that he's not telling them the truth"

I hope you're right on this one. I would like that to be true in his case and in the case of these dumb classes.

[WildClarySage]

10. Kids are not stupid and they do have great bullshit detectors when

it comes to adults, however, you wouldn't believe the crap they routinely swallow from their peers. I used to lead a drug use prevention group of high risk HS teens. When we got into more informal talks about sex, the girls would tell me some whoppers. I would correct them, but I still had at least one girl in each group of about 15 each year who was pregnant by the end of the year. The stuff they told me- you can't get pregnant if HE orgasms but you can if SHE does... douching after sex with coke and you can't get pregnant... take two asprins before sex... if he's on top... if she's on top...

and when we got bumped into the health classroom one week, guess what text they were learning from. Abstinence and Your Health. These girls were starved for real sex education and even though we could have gotten in trouble (presumably) for it, we talked about how drug use could limit your ability to use a condom properly (lesson inserted on how to use condoms) or forget to take a birth control pill (lesson on where they could get the pill and what risks/benefits), touched on several other methods, and some other info on how bodies work reproducitively, and then we addressed the myths they had about sex and what the real facts were.

But they could easily call me out if my facts weren't perfectly accurate on drug use. Go fig...