Several studies have found abstinence-only programs to be ineffective, and found no measurable impact on increasing abstinence or delaying having sex among its participants. Instead, studies have found that abstinence-only programs have actually decreased adolescents' confidence in a condom's ability to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.  Below is a sampling of the reports and their findings.

University of Florida

The University of Florida conducted research on sex education in 2005-2006. The study found that:

• Sex ed is afforded too little time
• Occurs too late in students’ academic career (usually in 9th or 10th grade);
• Has little uniformity or standards (in terms of training or quality assurance);
• Is not accessible to all students (especially Latinos); and
• May not adequately address student’s needs.

 Meanwhile, most of the respondents believed that:

• Accurate and balanced information on sex education should be discussed and taught in schools.
• Talking about sexuality does not encourage sexual activity.

Mathematica Study

An April 2007 study conducted by Mathmatica Policy Research, Inc., found that abstinence-only programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth.  The study also showed that students who attended abstinence-only programs were no more likely to delay sexual activity or have fewer partners.

Emerging Answers

A national report, Emerging Answers 2007, was released on November 6, 2007 by Douglas Kirby, Ph.D., and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.[1] The report showed that abstinence-only programs are ineffective and that comprehensive sex education programs, including information about both abstinence and contraception, are effective.

• Over 40% of comprehensive sex education programs delayed the initiation of sex, reduced the number of sexual partners, and increased condom or contraceptive use;
• Almost 30% of comprehensive sex education programs reduced the frequency of sex; and
• More than 60% of comprehensive sex education reduced unprotected sex.

Centers for Disease Control

Recently, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) released data showing that sex education programs do work to help discourage many teens from becoming sexually active before age 15.  Instead, many Florida teens are being short-changed by ineffective abstinence-only programs.

Johns Hopkins Study
A study released in December 2008 by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health showed that teenagers who pledge to remain abstinent until marriage were just as likely to engage in sexual activity as those who do not make this pledge.   Even more alarming, those who made "virginity pledges" were significantly less likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control.