Even having these kinds of discussions on the internet clearly shows the moral values of our country are in the sewer.

Agreed

I agree Mike the moral values in our country are horrible. Just when I think I can be shocked no more then you get a story like this one. I can’t believe that we fund studies like this one. It makes me even more afraid for my children as they grow up. What a World we live in!!!

AGREED!!!!

The research is clear; teenagers are not using oral sex to avoid sexual intercourse, they are doing to with intercourse. Rachel Jones appears to use the research as a positive testimonial. The article uses sensationalism on one point to defuse the fact that more than half of the teens age 15-19 are sexually active and that they participate in oral and anal sex. Is there any wonder our nation continues to decline in every area, especially moral and social decay?

This entire research is obviously designed to give authority to Bill Clinton’s idea that oral sex isn’t sex at all. Whether it is vaginal or any other form, sex is sex.

I think this study is seriously flawed. Because my teenage daughter told me that she knows girls who are having oral sex & even anal sex so they can still be “virgins”.

I agree with Mr Hanks. This is a sick study. One more thing to thank Bill Clinton for–a new definition of sex.

All this proves is that the researchers who think they’ve debunked this idea don’t know what a confounding factor is.

Our moral values are in the sewer? Why? Because we are talking about teens having sex instead of ignoring it? Teens having sex have does mean our “moral values are in the sewer.” I think our values are truly in the sewer when we decide to not properly educate our children about sex and about how to protect themselves. THAT’S when our values are in the sewer. When we choose to ignore the problem and not talk about it, even if it means putting our teens’ health at risk. I think these types of discussions are extremely necessary. Things are changing. Teens are having sex younger and younger. Time to deal with it.

It amazes me to see the instant authority given to a so called ground breaking report!

It is as if the Guttmacher Institute is a non-biased, infallible authority!

Where is the cross-examination of the data?

What about the possibility of question bias or the source of the data?

The Guttmacher Institute is named for a former leader of Planned Parenthood, a very biased organization with an aggressive pro-abortion platform.

This organization feeds off of the people of the United States, using their opinionated claims to drive legislation and big tax dollars into their coffers!

So, here is another ’study’ that will be used to continue their agenda!

Hello people, shouldn’t there be some serious evaluation about where this is leading?

Where is the critical testing of claims such as these prior to announcing to the world new revelations?

News workers used to require verification of claim. But today, it seems sensationalism sells and selling or taxing is all that matters!

I suppose now sex-ed teachers will step up their efforts to try to further corrupt students in their thinking and behaivor. The liberal teacher unions try to portray abstinance off as an impossibility and child molesting porn perverts would certainly like to see an increase in teen sexuallity. To say that people can’t wait until they are married is a punny cop out, along the same lies of saying people are born alcoholics, crack addicts, gay, transgendered or whatever, it all comes down to making decisions. The liberals act as though abortion is the only situation choice plays a role in, hardly.

wouldn’t you say though, its better to talk about it and discuss it than not. This shows that younger people are having more resistance from peer pressure and sex doesn’t have to be a “IN” thing.

That’s like saying, “Even reading these kinds of articles on the internet clearly shows the moral values of our country are in the sewer.” What’s the difference between reading these articles and discussing them? One is no less ethical than the other.

I hate it when people use bad statistics. This study does not show that teens are or are not using oral sex to avoid having sex. It just shows that sexually active teens are more likely to have oral sex, which should be blindingly obvious to anyone with half a brain.

It’s amazing how bad both the quote and the reporting is on this story.

Wait just a minute!

There’s no such thing as “oral sex.” Bill Clinton taught us that!

They didn’t survey the group that is claiming to have oral sex to preserve virginity. I work in a school system and it’s the 12 to 14 year old group that brags about it. Shame they missed the boat on this one. And Mike H., I agree with you.

With four teenagers of my own, I’m so thankful that the Washington Post has debunked this myth. If I had known that only 55% of our teenagers are engaging in oral sex or, even better, only 26% of virgins are giving it a go, I would not have been so worried. 26% is hardly commonplace.

The title of the article says it all. WP looked at the data (at least I hope they did) and decided the perspective of the piece would be that we’re all too worried about nothing. I would like to believe that most rational parents have the same reaction that I did….Thanks for nothing Bill!

That study is a no-brainer for me…. I was one of those teens who chose not to have sex before I was married, a rarity in our society. My husband and I both made the decision not to have sex before marriage when we were in our teens (and before); we married as virgins. Why? The decision was based on more than just a choice to steer away from diseases or a personal conviction about sex before marriage. The decision was based on a conviction in the truth of the Bible’s sanctity of marriage. We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman for life. God’s intention for marriage was exactly that. We did not engage in oral sex either; because in our minds that is engaging in a very intimate sexual activity reserved only for the marriage bed. That is the crux of your study. Why do teens who choose not to have sex before marriage also decide not to engage in oral sex? Hmmm….because in most cases their choice is based on a standard set down by God Himself. Their beliefs encompass more than just sex. They want to honor their future husband or wife by saving themselves entirely and only for that one person. When I walked down the aisle to be married, I didn’t want to have any other thoughts of other men “that I may have had” in my mind. I wanted to give myself to one man only for the rest of my life. I also wanted to honor God by keeping myself pure, because that is His command. I cannot tell you the joy that my husband and I have had as a result of our choice. Our love is far deeper and more true than I could possibly have imagined; because we chose to honor God, each other and ourselves. I don’t wonder if my husband is cheating on me or looking at porn; because we have such a deep level of commitment not only to each other but to God Himself! That commitment isn’t knew…it was decided before we got married. You wonder why there is so much disease, divorce and misery in our relationships and marriages today? It is because people don’t know God; and they understand what true love is. They don’t understand what it’s like to selflessly, sacrificially love someone and to remain true to that person through the trials and joys of life.

First thing: this “study” is not a study. It is a survey, which is potentially one portion of a scientific study. Teens can say one thing and do another, just as easily as adults do, especially if that “study” is not censored from parents, due to the subject matter and the age of the minors.

As far as moral decay… Ask yourselves this: is it better to talk about the sex we’re having, or to secretly have an abortion and pretend nothing happened, so that we can pretend that we’re not having sex? My great grandmother lost her virginity behind the bleachers of her highschool football stadium in the ’30s. Want to guess where my sister lost her virginity in the ’90s? Not a whole lot of difference in the times–except now we’re admiting that it’s going to happen no matter what we do.

On the religious side–please show me where in the Bible premarital sex is forbidden or considered a sin? You will not find it. It’s not there–and don’t point to the vague allusion of the “virgin” Mary trying not to disgrace her fiancee. It’s a well documented fact that the word which we read as “virgin” was deliberately mistranslated by the Translating Commission authorized by King James I, and should properly have been translated as “unwed”, not pre-sexual. If you doubt me on this, pick up a Strong’s Concordance Bible, and compare the original-language texts to KJV.

Amanda, you go girl. The answer to the whole problem. If both girls and boys respected themselves, they would not engage in activities that degrade not only themselves but their whole future. We carry all that we do into to our future life. Why not keep ourselves “pure” until we decide who we want to spend the rest of our lives with? We need to be teaching our young people this concept, to protect them and whomever they date. The discussion is very important for teaching the right concepts. Whether we believe in God or not the scenerio is the same. Respect for ourselves and our future, and our future family.

Do girls have oral sex to preserve their virginity? Here’s my story:

Early 80’s – Fancy and I were together for 4 years (highschool and beyond). The good catholic Fancy insisted that she preserve her virginity, but decided that oral sex and other adventures didn’t count. For four years we had an active sex life while she preserved her virginity. She went to church each sunday with a clear conscience.

I have absolutely no doubt that there are girls that still believe this today.

BTW, when Fancy finally decided the time was right – pregnant, first time. All my children know this story and I repeat it often.

Why can’t we have discussion boards on stories that actually matter?

Hey Fancy’s boyfriend…I dare say Fancy DID NOT go to church each Sunday with a clear conscience. She may have gone to church thinking (errantly, I might add) that she hadn’t had sex, but her conscience was not clear.

Are we at all really shocked that oral sex and intercourse are linked and that virginity and refraining from oral sex are linked?

Not all that ground breaking to me.

Is it just me, or is this survey a waste of time??? OF COURSE virgins are less likely to have oral sex. I would like to know how much money and time was wasted on this project…….

anybody alarmed that half of young adults are having oral sex? I am…

Wow. When will the religious fanatics of the world finally realize that they don’t make decisions for the rest of us? Guess what? Sex is a natual human instinct, its not something to feel ashamed of, its not something that degrades someone for engaging in it outside of marriage….there are a lot of teens out there having sex before marriage. We need to educate them about disease and birth control, not try to shame them with a guilty conscience for not waiting “for that one perfect god ordained union between one man and one woman”, so that they are afraid to come to the adults in their lives for guidance for fear of being judged and condemned for “evil” acts. We don’t all live our lives to the standards set forth by “God”. I live in the real world.

What a waste of time, money and ink. If anyone believes this I have a bridge for sale. The kids are having as much sex, oral, vaginal and anal as you wish you were having. I remember driving my girlfriend home from high school jumping in bed with her, then we would jump in the pool, her parents never knew. The kids were just telling the dumb adults what they wanted to hear.

Wow Robin. I didn’t know religious fanatics were talking about sex as a corruption and as being evil! I personally think that Christians should have fantastic sex lives…just that it should happen within marriage. Saves a lot of troubles of wondering if you’ve gotten a disease from someone you didn’t “visually check” (something they teach), or pregnancy (teen or not).

I guess I took the article a little better than a lot of posts here. Teens are abstaining from all of it if they choose to abstain.

Sex is a wonderful human act…I agree! But why do so many people treat it like they’re raging animals? Teens think they know everything about sex and relationships…when quite frankly they know very little.

This discussion with teens should start before they are teens. How about talking to our children about “good touch vs. bad touch”, then when they are teenagers we won’t be so scared of having “the talk”. Make the majority of information given from you.

I guess I didn’t know I lived in a fake world. I just make different choices to change mine.

I knew the first study was flawed. True virginity is complete abstinence and void of any type of sex. As always, I tell my teens “Do not believe the hype that everyone is doing this or that!” “Don’t buy into the lies that have been engineered or manufactured by some morally- bankrupted group of (worldly) people who have done just about everything in the book. It is their story, not yours. Respect yourself…know who your are and what you stand for.”

In short, I am so refreshing to see and share this study which reflects those who are truly virgins with a strong sense of strong moral values and integrity. It is hard for those who do not practice such teaching to believe that other could be quite different and walk-the-walk that they talk.

Yeah, Jeanie, in fact they are. If sex doesn’t happen in the confines of “holy matrimony” the way they believe it should be practiced by them, as well as EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD, whether you are a christian or not doesn’t matter, what is right for Christians in their view (and yours I’m assuming), is right for everyone, because “god” said so. I didn’t say I thought everyone should run around like “raging animals” having sex with everyone in their path. I’m smart enough though to figure out that a lot of teens ARE having sex whether we like it or not, they know as much about sex as WE teach them. Many of the Christian groups would like to keep them all ignorant in the hopes that if we don’t talk about it, they won’t do it. Teens, actually starting before the teen years, (my kids have been talking and learning for years, we don’t treat sex as if its something “bad” and shameful, just a a part of life that everyone is ready for at different times) need to be educated, very educated, about sex, and yes, they can make their own choices about it. Some will wait, many will not. And yes, some of us live in the real world, and others choose to live in their own little fantasy world of denial.

Those brought up in homes with strong moral values are more likely to be happier adults. As a family counselor for over 20 years, those who wait to have sex until they are married are much happier in their marriages in the long run. Sex is not for experimentation – it is a gift for a husband and wife.

Amen Robin, this discussion is raging with jesus freaks. They are ignorant to reality.

This reminds me of what my daughter learned in her health class ( a senior in HS) “How to put a condom on & how many FLAVORS to choose from!!! The principal of the school told me that this was government mandated!!! I let him know how immoral this was and strongly suggested he look over this “Planned Parenthood” organization who came to teach our children this garbage!!

I can honestly say from a medical standpoint that teens are not staying away from oral sex or nartural intercourse. I work in a lab and I see alot of STD’s, in cluding STD’s of the throat and eye…..

Sex Ed needs to stap it up and inform these teens that while oral sex may prevent pregnancy and preserve virginity, it is not safe. You can still get STD’s and stuff from oral sex. Parents need to step up and educate their children as well, and for those parents that have had the “talk” with your kids, good for you

“People perish for lack of knowledge.” Young people are misinformed about what being a virgin means. Young people are making up their own definitions and misinforming each other. The adults in their lives must sit down and communication to them what sex is all about and the true meaning of virginity.

Yeah Amy, how “immoral”, how dare they teach 17 and 18 year olds how to properly put on condoms. Oh my lord, now they will definitely run out and have sex, and maybe even SAFE SEX!!!!!
GASP!!! Complete and total trash…
They should have this in 9th grade imo. Senior year is WAY too late.
Like I said, welcome to the real world.

So would it be immoral of me, Amy to make sure that my kids know proper condom use? or is thta bad parenting to ensure the safety of my children?

What a lot of hoo haa this is! The study is about as objective and believable as believing that the the laws of physics would allow me to leap The Empire State in a single bound with no propulsion.

As for correlation between successful and not successful relationships having anything to do with premarital sex… or that sex in marriage is wonderful and can’t be improved upon outside matrimony… C’mon now. Be serious… please! Why then are so many people addicted to extra matrimonial relationships? I suspect there’s a few here deeply indoctrinated who have never actually thought his one through or tried alternatives themselves and simply have no idea!

I guess it’s the same old FRIG Principle at work: fear, repression, ignorance and guilt! Worked in the 16th century! Indoctrination into a belief, not allowed or fearing free discussion or challenge, and definitely no experimentation because that may disprove the point! … and then being expected to nod in acquiescence whenever a “moral crusader” opens his mouth.

Sex has 3 functions: procreation, pleasure and means of communication. Matrimony has no relevance to the quality of sex. But if we are to discuss sex stats… please let’s be objective and stop misquoting either the Bible or facts, and it would be nice to have objective studies.

So where in the Bible does it teach against premarital sex? Better still… where in the Bible does it teach against polygamy? Shock horror! It doesn’t. How misguided we have become! A case of “back2the future” via the Dark Ages it seems.

My husband and I were virgins when we married. We abstained from sex for eight years while we dated- no heavy petting, even. We did this to honor God. Now, after eight years of marriage we are still abstaining from sex to honor God. We have never had a sex life. I no longer want to abstain- I would like to have children at some point, and realize that a divorce and remarriage are inevitable. So, abstaining from sex before marriage doesn’t always work folks. You never know what you are going to end up with.