Abstinence is the only fool-proof solution
There are reportedly 65 million people living in the United States with a sexually transmitted disease Almost 500,000 people have died from HIV/AIDS.
Now that I've gotten your attention, I'm going to share some of the concerns I've heard college students bring up here at OU. The most frequent one I have heard is--"I think I might be pregnant." Others believe they may have an STD but are too worried to seek medical aid. There are even people who have STDs but don't tell their sexual partners because they don't want this information to change the relationship.
For those who are sexually active, the main solution is condoms. Condoms are pushed in American society as the ultimate fix-it for those who want to remain sexually active but may have one or more of the above concerns. There is a massive problem with this: There is no evidence, scientific or otherwise, that condoms actually prevent any type of STDs. Not a single one. And condoms definitely do not prevent HIV/AIDS, which is one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the world.
Pregnancy is another serious concern. One Planned Parenthood study holds that condoms have a 98 percent effectiveness rate. Other studies have lower numbers, but we'll go with the 98 percent. Nevertheless, you've got to remember these statistics are based on perfect conditions. The condom is in perfect condition, and the user is completely knowledgeable and careful.
Here are a few things that can happen with condoms you might want to think about: breakage, slippage, tears, bubbles, holes, condoms that are too old, condoms that are defective in some other way, people who don't know what they're doing and people who aren't paying attention to what they're doing.
Very rarely in reality do people experience the "perfect conditions" these studies assume. Basically, if you are a condom user, your health and safety are at the mercy of the condom manufacturer, and in some cases, your partner.
Then there's birth control. One of the funniest things I ever heard someone say about birth control is: "I like being on birth control because it gives me freedom." Not exactly. If you are a sexually active woman, you have to be taking that pill at the exact same time every single day in order for it to work at its 99 percent effectiveness rate. So if you miss one day or are even late by a few hours, you'd better not be sexually active for at least a day.
What is freeing about having to take something at the exact same time every day? Then, there are numerous side effects. Birth control pills are full of hormones that basically trick your body into thinking that it is pregnant. Chances are you'll experience quite a few accompanying symptoms: morning nausea, weight gain, etc. The pill is also quite expensive if your insurance won't cover it.
I see nothing freeing about being confined to a schedule with the possibility of all these side effects and the possibility of paying $35-$125 per month for this. Then there's always that dark possibility in the back of your mind all the time--what if it doesn't work this time?
Let me talk about real freedom for a minute. What about abstinence? Is this society so mired in its ethic of self-gratification that this option isn't even taken seriously anymore? Despite what you've been told, abstinence is not some crazy, right-wing religious position. Many intelligent, mature people are choosing this simply because it makes sense. It's obviously 100 percent effective--no STDs and no pregnancy.
Abstinence is a choice about real freedom. You're not at the mercy of the condom manufacturer, a 9 a.m. pill time or your partner. You, and only you, are in charge of the situation.
Abstinence is not one of those ideas you can just throw aside. From a purely logical level, abstinence is the star winner of the day. You keep your freedom, you make the choices and you act in a truly loving way to your partner. For those who don't have one partner but actually have as many sex partners as ice cream flavors--all I have to say is, stop being stupid. You're just asking for it. Don't put your health, your life plans, possibly even your life at risk just for sex. Be the better man or woman and find something more worthwhile to do with your time.
hello there & you too