2004 Abstinence Essay Contest 1st Place Brianna Durham, 10th grader at Charles B. Aycock High School is recognized by Dr. Terry Frazier, Board of Health Chairperson (left) and Mr. James Roosen, Health Director (right). Brianna will be a rising junior at Charles B. Aycock High School in the 2004-2005 school year. She received a $100 gift certificate to Berkeley Mall and a $10 gift certificate to McDonalds.

Why abstinence is the best choice for teens in the prevention of teen pregnancy

Abstinence, to refrain from having sex altogether, is the best choice, the only real choice, for teens in the prevention of teen pregnancy. It is the only sure way, one hundred percent sure way, of not getting pregnant. The other forms of birth control, such as the pill, IUD, foams, or condoms, do not give the same guarantee of no teen pregnancy, and also do not prevent other issues that might arise with teen sex.

The problems of the birth control pills depend on several things. They include whether or not a person has any health problems or is taking other medications that interfere with its use. It also depends on whether or not the person remembers to take the pill everyday. The possible side effects are menstrual bleeding, nausea, gaining weight, headaches, breast tenderness, mood changes, and blood clots. The pill cannot guarantee that a girl will not get pregnant. Abstinence is the only guarantee that pregnancy will not occur.

The Intrauterine Device, better known as the IUD, is another form of birth control that is not a one hundred percent guarantee that pregnancy will not occur if a teen has sex. The IUD is a small object which is interested in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Risks also occur with the IUD. The IUD can cause longer, heavier, and more painful menstrual cycles, can cause cysts on the ovaries, and may even result in fertility problems later. Foams and condoms, the other often used contraceptives, do not guarantee that pregnancy will not occur if one engages in a sexual encounter. Abstinence is the only guarantee that pregnancy will not occur.

Psychological reasons also exist for abstinence. One has the right to do what one wants for oneself. This means a girl has the right to tell herself she does not want to have a baby at this time. She should want to wait until she is married. She should want to get to know her dating partner better than what she already knows. She needs to be in control of herself and not have sex or try to have a baby while still a teenager. One can easily get a disease through a sexual encounter with could harm or affect one at a young age. A sexually transmitted disease (std) could have a profound affect on a person for the remainder of their life. Some STD’s are not curable and can be passes from one partner to the next. Teenagers also need to show respect for themselves and say no sometimes when they feel pressured to do things that they do not want to do.

Teenagers also need to think about these things before they do them. Teenagers should want to look forward to a good marriage and not have to worry or fret about past sexual encounters. A person’s first sexual encounter should be one that the male and female want to be the most special moment of their life. Teenagers should never want to think about the past on their special day. Teenagers always need to think about the future. Teenagers need to make sure that they have a strong commitment, trust, and faithfulness when they are marrying someone.

Abstinence can also prevent the pain and agony of having to decide whether to keep a baby, have an abortion, or give a child up for adoption. Teen pregnancy can change one’s life for a lifetime. If the teen decides to keep the baby, the responsibilities of youth now change. One now has a little life to consider; a consideration that must come first. Time with friends, social activities, etc. are now secondary as well as in most cases, education, in a teen’s life. “Getting by” on the small income presents problems, especially since finding a job to support the “family” one now has becomes number one priority. If abortion or adoption is the decision, one has to be able to cope with the feelings that may come with whichever decision is made for a lifetime.

Teenagers can help themselves by being careful of the situations they put themselves in and the messages they send. The way one dresses can send messages to others that they may not mean to send. One should stay away from drugs or alcohol. These things affect your ability to think about what is best. One should date in groups of people who have the same ideals and beliefs. Do not spend a lot of time alone with one person. Think about the values that are important up front making up one’s mind that abstinence is the way for them and make sure they stick to it. If teenagers believe in God and the Bible then they know God wants them to wait until they are married to have a baby.

Teenagers also need to enjoy their years being mom and dad’s little baby girl or boy because they will miss their parents when they grow up and are in college somewhere away from home. Teenagers need to enjoy being with friends. Parents, family, and friends are people that teenagers have to relate to as a teen, and they should not want to take a chance of disappointing them, or losing the teen years of their life. Abstinence is the only absolutely guaranteed way to prevent teen pregnancy and guarantee that teen years are for teenagers and not for teenagers and a child. The decision to remain abstinent until marriage will help them strongly seal a trusting relationship with that person. Sexual abstinence is one of the strongest ways to show respect for oneself.