2. What is abstinence? Abstinence is the choice not to be
sexually active.
3. Five reasons to chooseabstinence Anyone can do it Your
chances of getting an STI are greatly reduced. Wait until youre
ready, not your partner Better academic performance Helps you avoid
a bad reputation
4. Five consequences of riskybehaviors Pregnancy Depression
STIs Abuse Financial dependency
5. Five statistics Although 1524-year-olds represent only
one-quarter of the sexually active population, they account for
nearly half (9.1 million) of the 18.9 million new cases of STIs
each year In 2005, New Mexico had the highest teenage pregnancy
rate (93 per 1,000); rates in Nevada, Arizona, Texas and
Mississippi followed. The lowest rates were in New Hampshire (33),
Vermont, Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota. Six percent of teen
mothers aged 1519 received late or no prenatal care. Babies born to
teens are more likely to be low-birth-weight In 20062008, the most
common reason that sexually inexperienced teens gave for not having
had sex was that it was against religion or morals.
6. Five ways to stay abstinent Dont reconsider while aroused-
wait until you can think clearly Learn how to protect yourself in
case you do change your mind. Many teens who dont stick with
abstinence dont know how to stay safe Explain clearly to your
partner why you made the choice that you did. Remind yourself why
you chose abstinence Try not to use drugs or alcohol, which impair
your judgment.
7. Five alternatives to risky sexualactivity Talkingand
listening Mutual respect Hugging/kissing Hand holding Dancing
8. Sex doesnt mean love You can be in love without having sex,
and vice versa.
9. Drugs and alcohol ofteninfluence decisions regardingsex
Drugs and alcohol change the way your brain works. They make it
harder to make educated decisions and impair good judgment.
10. Having a baby means youhave financial responsibility forthe
next 18 years You have to pay for your childs food, clothes, and
school materials, as well as everything else they need, until they
are legally an adult.
11. If they say, You would if you love methey probably dont or
else they wouldrespect your decision and not try topressure you. In
a safe, healthy relationship, you should never feel pressured into
doing something you arent comfortable with.
12. Teenagers are often told bypeers, Everyone is doing
it.Theyre not! Peerpressure alone is never a good reason to do
anything.