Not only were teens who publicly promised to put off sex till marriage as likely to have premarital sex as non-pledgers, they were LESS likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control.

Pregnancy rates

The fact that the UK has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe has been blamed on too much sex education. I'd say it's down to not enough of the right kind.

Reliable research shows that teens who have a good sex education - learning not just about the biology of sex but the responsibility that goes with it - are more likely to delay sex and to practise safe sex when they do. Unfortunately, a lot of our state sex education is inconsistent. Some aspects, such as safe sex, are compulsory while the relationships side isn't. So kids may learn nothing about sex in a loving, respectful relationship.

They may not be taught that it's not ok for boys to coerce girls into sex, that it's not ok to try to take advantage of someone when they're drunk, that it's not ok to put someone at risk of sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, and that it is ok to say no.

If kids aren't learning this at home either, exposure to other influences such as internet porn, plus a natural urge to experiment, can be disastrous.

Responsibility

I'm as keen as any parent for kids to wait till at least 16 before having sex. The younger someone is when they have sex, the less likely they are to use condoms, leaving them vulnerable to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. That's before we've even touched on potential emotional consequences.

But I think kids need to be sold the idea of responsibility - and that can only come with a full and complete sex education package.

Source: Daily Mirror