What a corny idea--waiting until marriage before sex! And impossible, too. Why, everyone has sex before marriage--don't they?

Actually, no. Many people wait. And other people who've had sex, have changed their minds and made a decision to stop. (This is sometimes called "secondary virginity.") There are many good reasons for waiting for an old-fashioned, romantic wedding night to have sex.

Freedom

This probably wasn't what you were thinking: that not having sex gives you freedom. But it really does.

The day-to day, month-to-month fear of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can get old real fast. Perhaps you have friends who are anxious all the time because they know what they've been doing. Their nervousness is justified.

Because even the "best" contraceptives can fail. Birth control pills or injections don't always work. And they offer no protection against STDs, which are at epidemic levels today. Some STDs are very dangerous and can change a person's health permanently. Some can impair a person's ability to have children later. (See below)

And condoms are a joke. They break, they're uncomfortable, and they offer no protection against some of the most harmful STDs.

The so-called "experts" on these issues--like Planned Parenthood and such--are making money by convincing young people to get contraceptives. They know that most young people don't use contraceptives correctly, and even when they do, that contraceptives fail. So, they know you'll be back to see them ñwhen you need to be tested for a suspected STD, or when you need an abortion.

Abortions are very profitable.

Isn't this tragic? That adult-run organizations are making money from the heartbreak and disease of young people--who would have been happier and less anxious all along if someone had just told them they were allowed to not have sex!

Yes, not having sex brings real freedom--freedom from fear.

Pregnancy--It's Serious Business

Of course, probably the first fear is pregnancy. But you could always have an abortion--right?

Not if you value your own life. You were once an embryo, you see. And fair is fair. If someone didn't abort you, you shouldn't be aborting someone, either. Or pressuring a girlfriend to do so.

The best way to avoid this dilemma is to not have sex. If you do get pregnant, it isn't the end of the world, though. Many people have figured out humane options--abortion being not one of them.

Remember--"safe" sex is only safe for one group of people: those making money off of your sexual activity. It isn't safe for you, your sexual partner, and certainly not for the baby who may be casually discarded.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

You hear lots these days about AIDS. In most cases, people who contract the HIV virus will get AIDS eventually. And most people with AIDS will die a tragic, painful death. AIDS is a concern primarily for those who are having homosexual encounters, or have sex with bisexual people. Another real risk is having sex with people who use drugs involving needles (injectible drugs).

For heterosexuals who don't fall into any of those categories, AIDS can still be a concern, but less so than other STDs. It's these other STDs that aren't getting much publicity today, but are much more of a risk.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is at epidemic proportions in this country. It is currently the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S.

Then why aren't we hearing much about it?

Probably because to tell young people about their real risks, would be to start to dismantle the sex industry cartel that is making lots of money off the sexual activity of young people. The condom manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, abortionists and Planned Parenthood would have a fit if young people really knew their risks. But that's another subject.

Human Papilloma Virus

HPV has grave consequences. It can mean incurable warts on a man's genitals. And when he passes it along to his girlfriend, it can be devastating to a young woman. HPV is another term for genital warts. It's a virus, which means there is no known cure, just treatments that may or may not work. And you've heard of Pap smears? The existence of HPV is basically the reason that women get Pap tests. HPV is the cause of 90% or more of suspicious Pap results.

"Suspicious" results often mean cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is usually treated with radiation or surgery--surgery which can leave a woman unable to bear children. And overall, cervical cancer is the fourth deadliest form of cancer--right behind cancers of the breast, stomach, and lung.

Just to give you an idea of how common HPV is, scientists estimate that between 30 to 75% of sexually active American heterosexuals and homosexuals are infected with HPV! And condoms don't protect against HPV because it is not contracted through fluids, but by skin-to-skin contact. The "warts" may be all around the genital area, the legs, etc.--areas not covered by, or in contact with, a condom.

So, if you have sex for the first time with a girl who had a previous boyfriend, and that guy had a previous girlfriend, who had been even once with a guy who was promiscuous--well, you see how this has spread. And what your risk may be. Once a male has contracted HPV, he may give it to every woman he has sex with thereafter.

Researchers at University of Washington followed 600 female students through their college years, starting in 1991. Among those young women, 20% picked up the HPV virus in their first sexual encounter!

Even if HPV is detected by a Pap smear before it becomes cancerous, the treatment often involves removing the lining of the cervix using lasers or a procedure called freezing. Either way, there is a risk that the woman will become infertile.

This is just one of the many reasons there is so much demand today for infertility treatments. Can you imagine not being able to have children when you want them?

All this because a person bought the idea that sex was just like on TV--no consequences, just pleasure.

Each year there are 5,000 deaths from cervical cancer. It is estimated that 24 million Americans are infected with HPV--a number that is rising every year.

Chlamydia

Another serious and under publicized STD is Chlamydia. There are an estimated 4 million new cases of Chlamydia each year. Chlamydia is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

The good news is that it's bacterial, which means that it can be successfully treated with antibiotics. The bad news is that it has few symptoms, so many people contract it, then never get treated because they don't know they have it--so they pass it on to someone else. Men often have Chlamydia without knowing it, and then pass it on to a sexual partner.

Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in a woman, which can lead to scarring of the fallopian tubes. This is a major factor in infertility and ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy that settles in a woman's fallopian tubes instead of the uterus. This type of pregnancy frequently leads to a miscarriage, often with health risks for the mother--and the loss of the child's life.

Other STDs

Genital herpes, syphilis and gonorrhea are all increasing dramatically. While genital herpes is a virus and therefore incurable, it doesn't have life-threatening implications. But periodic, painful sores on or around the genitals are the result. There are some treatments now that can reduce the severity of these break-outs, but it is still contagious at those times, which would affect a person's intimate relationships. And the presence of genital herpes during the delivery of a child can cause severe health complications for the child. For this reason, doctors usually recommend that a woman with herpes have a Cesarean section.

It is important to note that condoms are not very effective against genital herpes. There are approximately 500,000 new cases of genital herpes each year in the U.S.

Syphilis is on the increase again. It can be treated with antibiotics, but if untreated can result in severe health complications for the person infected, as well as for a baby during delivery. The first symptoms can be very mild, usually a painless open sore in the genital area. If left untreated, complications can include a rash and eventual involvement of the heart and central nervous system.

Gonorrhea is still very common and increasing in frequency. There are about 1 million new cases of gonorrhea each year in the U.S. Symptoms include painful or difficult urination or a discharge from the vagina. For women, gonorrhea carries a serious risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility. It can be treated by antibiotics, although there are strains that have recently proven resistant to antibiotics.

Other serious STDs include various forms of hepatitis (A, B and C).

For more information, consult the resources below:

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control website:
www.cdc.gov

Medical Institute for Sexual Health
P.O. Box 4919, Austin, TX 78765
1-800-892-9484
www.medinstitute.org

Congressional Record
Speech by Rep. Tom Coburn
House of Representatives
September 17, 1998

Mayo Clinic website
www.mayohealth.org