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Abstinence
(06/29/2004) by Unknown
WHAT IS ABSTINENCE?
Abstinence means different things to different people. For a man and a woman who are considering sexual activity which can lead to pregnancy, abstinence refers to not having penis-in-vagina intercourse. For protection against infection, abstinence means avoiding vaginal, anal, and oral-genital intercourse or participating in any other activity in which body fluids (semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and breast milk) are exchanged with another person. On this page abstinence refers primarily to not having vaginal intercourse - where the penis enters the vagina. Some people will use other kinds of touching to satisfy their needs. Others will avoid any kind of touching because it is too tempting. Some people have intervals of intercourse and then later change their minds and decide they would like to return to abstinence for a period of time. Some people use abstinence “just for tonight,” as in “Let’s not have sex tonight.” The decision to have sex is your decision, each and every time.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
• Abstinence is free and available to all.
• It is extremely effective at preventing both infection and pregnancy.
• It can be started at any time in one’s life.
• Abstinence may encourage people to build relationships in other ways.
• It may be the course of action which you feel is right for you...boost your self-esteem in choosing what is right for yourself.
• Along with increased use of Depo-Provera and Norplant, abstinence contributed to a fall in teen pregnancy rates in the ’90s.
• Abstinence may increase the creativity in a relationship for partners to find new ways to express intimacy with each other.
• It has no medical side effects.
• It is cost-effective because there's nothing to buy!
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
• If you’re planning to use abstinence, and change your mind in the heat of the moment, you might not have birth control handy. Some people would like to be prepared and have a condom or spermicide available in case they change their mind. Others feel that having a contraceptive ready and available might tempt them.
• Some people find not having sex too frustrating, and may feel as though they are "missing out".
• If only abstaining from penis-in-vagina intercourse, there may be no protection against infections transmitted through other activities such as oral and anal intercourse, including herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS.
• Some who choose to no longer abstain may have little knowledge about other methods.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
What you do sexually is an important decision. Start by thinking it through carefully yourself. You may want to discuss your decision with another person whom you respect. You may want to pray, meditate, or talk it over with your partner. Some churches and sex education programs have organized support groups or curricula for young people wanting to wait until marriage before having intercourse.
WHAT IF I HAVE SEX AND DON’T USE BIRTH CONTROL?
Did you know that for 120 hours after sex, you can take emergency contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant? AND for 5 to 7 days after sex, you can have an IUD put in, so you won’t become pregnant? Not all clinicians know about this. If you want more information or would like the phone numbers of clinicians near you that prescribe emergency birth control, call the toll-free number: (1-888) NOT-2-LATE. Some of these sources of help are free.
The above information is taken from http://www.managingcontraception.com/cmanager/publish/choices.shtml
This information is not copyrighted, and may be copied or adapted without asking permission. Lengthier descriptions may be found in the books Managing Contraception, Contraceptive Technology and LA Planification Familiar, which may be ordered from the above website or by calling (706) 265-7435.
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