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The following table compares two contrasting approaches to helping young people learn about their sexuality. The differences between comprehensive sexuality education and abstinence-only-until-marriage programs point to the real need to understand exactly what young people are, and are not, learning in your community.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage
Teaches that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy part of life. Teaches that sexual activity outside of marriage will have harmful social, psychological, and physical consequences.
Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the most effective method of preventing unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse before marriage is the only acceptable behavior.
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 one set of values as morally correct for all students.
Includes a wide variety of sexuality-related topics, such as human development, relationships, interpersonal skills, sexual expression, sexual health, and society and culture. Limits topics to abstinence before marriage and the negative consequences of pre-marital sexual activity.
Includes accurate, factual information on abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation. Either omits or contains biased information about topics such as abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation.
Provides positive messages about sexuality, including the benefits of abstinence. Often relies on fear and shame to control young people’s sexual behavior.
Teaches that the proper use of latex condoms, along with water-based lubricants, can greatly reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of unintended pregnancy and infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. Discusses condoms only in terms of failure rates; often exaggerates condom failure rates.
Teaches that consistent use of contraception can greatly reduce a couple’s risk for unintended pregnancy. Discusses contraception only in terms of failure rates; often exaggerates contraceptive failure rates.
Includes accurate medical information about STDs, including HIV; teaches that individuals can avoid STDs. Often includes inaccurate medical information and exaggerated statistics regarding STDs, including HIV; suggests that STDs are an inevitable result of pre-marital sexual behavior.
Teaches that religious values can play an important role in an individual’s decisions about sexual behavior; offers students the opportunity to explore their own and their family’s religious values. Often promotes specific religious beliefs.
Teaches that a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy has options: carrying the pregnancy to term and raising the baby, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption, or ending the pregnancy with an abortion. Teaches that adoption is the only morally correct and mature decision for a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy.