If You Give a Teen a Condom

One of the hottest debates among school administrators, parents, and politicians is sex education, specifically information about safer sex, in schools. If you give a teenager a condom, are you promoting promiscuity? Are we inviting unplanned pregnancy and STIs into teen’s lives by acknowledging the fact that they might be interested in sex?

Simply put: No. Duh.

Wrapping It Up Still Feels Good – Why the Bad Rap?

We’ve all heard it before – sex with condoms isn’t as good as sex without condoms.

However, a new study by ASHA board member Dr. Debby Herbenick and other researchers from Indiana University’s Center for Sexual Health Promotion shows that condoms’ bad rap might be unwarranted.

Turning the Tide on HIV

Reports of dramatic decline in sexual risks among black youth is certainly news that brings cheer and deserves universal appreciation. The advances made by a community that has been disproportionately affected by the scourge of HIV/AIDS are certainly encouraging. The data covering 1991 to 2011 was presented by Dr Laura Kann, Ph.D., Chief, Surveillance and Evaluation Research Branch, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the XIX International AIDS Conference held on July 25, 2012, at Washington, D.C.

Sex education: How young is too young?

A somewhat controversial article was published in the UK last week. According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in London and Manchester, children as young as five years old should be taught about sex—and not just sex but the “value of ‘mutually rewarding sexual relationships’” says Jimmy Kilpatrick from EducationNews.org.

Wisconsin’s Tussle Over Sex Ed

Wisconsin’s Governor recently signed into law the Healthy Youth Act, a measure that requires schools in the state to update their human growth and development curricula to offer age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education. This includes information on the use of birth control and contraceptives.

Good for them, and I hope they have thick skins and steeled nerves. They’ll need them.