I’m not arguing about fetal pain either–the facts are on my side. You may believe that pro-life sites exaggerate their statistics and twist info, but what if they don’t? What if it is the pro-abortion sites are the ones exaggerating the stats and twisting the info? What if you are believing a lie? If you don’t believe me about fetal development, and don’t believe the Task Force Report, which talked to an embryologist and other knowledgeable scientists/doctors, call your gynecologist and ask him/her about fetal development. See what s/he learned in med school and since then.

You asked why anyone should abstain just to avoid pregnancy, and then bring up birth control. You’ve answered your own question in your original post–birth control can and does fail. Condoms fail. Condoms don’t protect against all STDs–some STDs can be transmitted by hand-genital contact, or by contact of genitalia where condoms don’t cover. I know that birth control is widely used–I was a pharmacy tech for over 5 years and we dispensed tons of birth control pills and patches and shots.

You say that our young people need medically accurate info on sex, contraceptives, and the true failure rates. For what purpose? I don’t deny that they need to know this stuff, but the only reason I can think of is so that they understand they’re playing with fire, and they’re going to get burned. I read recently that 25% of young people nowadays have an STD. Teen pregnancy and abortion rates are high. You may say that you’re looking for proof that abstinence-only education is working to prevent pregnancy or STDs. Back in the 50s, teen pregnancy, abortion and STD rates were both low–and had been low for centuries. This was back in the days before “sex education” and these kids were taught “abstinence only.” Since the “sexual revolution” of the 60s and 70s, those things have sky-rocketed. They are still high, even though sex-ed is commonly taught in American high schools. STDs are I believe at an all-time high.

Again I ask, what is the purpose of medically accurate info on sex, contraceptives and true failure rates? “Comprehensive sex education” in reality just tells kids “here’s what to do *when* you have sex,” and in essence promotes sexual behavior. It confuses them because the authority figures are telling them on one hand not to have sex, but on the other hand telling them to do it. That’s not the stated intent, but that’s what teenagers hear. Abstinence-only education tells them in no uncertain terms “don’t have sex”–single message, no confusion. The reasons why don’t have to be anything related to morals or religion; it’s just plain basic science and medicine: if you don’t have sex, you won’t get a sexually-transmitted disease; if you don’t have sex, you won’t get pregnant. There are a lot of good, solid, scientific and medical reasons to remain abstinent. The only reason to have sex is because it feels good. You may say that no one should have to wait until they are married just to enjoy sex, but are you willing to stake your life on that? Some STDs are fatal; some cause infertility, multiple miscarriages, pre-term birth and a whole host of fetal/neonatal problems; some cause serious infection, perhaps even life-threatening; abortion can cause the same thing–even “safe, legal” abortions (realchoice.blogspot.com). *This* is medically accurate information on sex, and should scare the pants on teenagers. But is this being taught in “comprehensive” sex education?

Kathy
womantowomancbe.wordpress.com
katsyfga.wordpress.com

I have read so many posts of Mothers who are in open adoptions but do not see their children. I can’t understand that. I am on a search for my daughters Mom..I “want” her in her life, I fear that without having her in her life, that my daughter will feel a loss or absence that she can’t explain or understand…I mean how could she not? I have friends who see their daughters Mom all of the time, they have a beautiful relationship, and I am so secretly jealous. I pray I’ll find her some day.

Hang in there and I hope you will have more good days, than bad!

Unfortunately, too many adoptive parents are disparaging of mothers like you and I truly don’t get that. Such attitudes have got to be trickled down to the children and how can they do that??? None of it makes sense to me.

You are your daughter’s mother. My daughter has two mothers. Absolutely.

Tina

But I want to stress my thoughts on the whole abstinence thing. I have not yet found any proof that abstinence only education is working on preventing pregnancy or STD’s. Why should anyone abstain from sex just to avoid a pregnancy? Birth control is available and is used on more occasions that you might think. What our young people need is comprehensive sex ed with medically accurate info on sex, contraceptives, and the true failure rates. I didn’t wait until marriage to have sex and no one else should have to wait until they are married and willing to gestate just to enjoy sex. Welcome to the 21st century.

I would recommend this pdf to you: https://www.voteyesforlife.com/docs/Task_Force_Report.pdf, especially sections B and H. These deal specifically with the development of the baby as an embryo and the consciousness of the baby–that they can feel pain very early in the pregnancy, etc.

I bet if abortion were illegal or dangerous, a whole lot of females “single, married, young or old” *would* abstain from sex just to avoid getting pregnant. That’s the way it used to work. But you’re wanting action without reaction. You want sex without pregnancy. Rights without responsibilities. You used abortion as a back-up plan when you had an unplanned pregnancy. I gave birth to my child who was accidentally conceived. But then, I was a virgin when I got married, so while it changed my life, I wasn’t faced with single mother-hood. But I made the conscious choice not to have sex before marriage, so I never had a smidgen of fear or worry when I was a day or two late. You may say it’s “crap” to talk about abstinence, but it works. The overwhelming majority of abortions are due to babies that were conceived by consensual sex. Had these women chosen not to have sex, those babies would not have been conceived, and the whole question of abortion would never have been brought up.

Kathy
katsyfga.wordpress.com

I’m an adoptive mom and no, it doesn’t hurt to call my daughter’s mother anything else but her mother.

Rock on.

Tina