NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin : Issues : Fact Sheets

(Large sections taken from Advocates for Youth's Sex Education Programs: Definitions & Point-by-Point Comparison)

Abstinence-Only Education: teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for teenagers and the only 100% way to prevent unintended pregnancy and STDs. Abstinence only education usually excludes any supplemental information regarding sexual health and reproduction including information about contraception and condoms.

Comprehensive Sex Eduction: teaches about abstinence as the best method for avoiding STDs and unintended pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception. Students are given medically-accurate, age-appropriate information about sex and their bodies. Comprehensive education addresses every aspect of sexuality health and reproduction including, but not limited to, sexual anatomy and physiology, interpersonal communication skills, self-esteem, responsible decision making, parental responsibly, prenatal development, childbirth and adoption.

	Comprehensive Sex Education	Abstinence-Only Education
View of Sex	Teaches that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy part of life.	Teaches that sexual expression outside of marriage will have harmful social, psychological and physical consequences
Prevention	Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the most effective method of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV	Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse before marriage is the only acceptable behavior
Values	Provides values-based education and offers students the opportunity to explore and define their individual values as well as the values of their families and communities	Teaches only one set of values as morally correct for all students
Curriculum	Includes a wide variety of sexuality related topics, such as human development, relationships, interpersonal skills, sexual expression, sexual health, and society and culture. Includes accurate, factual information on abortion, masturbation and sexual orientation	Limits topics to abstinence-only-until-marriage and to the negative consequence of pre-marital sexual activity. Usually omits controversial topics such as abortion, masturbation and sexual orientation
Unintended Pregnancy	Teaches that a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy has options: carrying the pregnancy to term and raising the baby, or carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption or ending the pregnancy with an abortion	Teaches that carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption is the only morally correct option for pregnant teens