Even though the current abstinent only educations are abundant in most schools, there are still going to be students who do not follow what is taught in these programs. With this in mind, the students who decide not to follow that path have little to no knowledge on how to keep themselves from getting pregnant. They were not taught about the proper use of condoms or how to use other forms of contraception. This poses more problems than it solves because these students are not being careful and taking the proper precautions.
Statistics are a major factor in teaching abstinence. They rely on these cornerstones to back up their teachings and prove to their students the truthfulness behind their philosophies. Contraceptive effectiveness, abortion rates, and many scientific facts are included in their lectures. But little do most students know, many of these teachings are false or taken out of context. In one curriculum they state "Condoms fail to prevent HIV approximately 31% of the time." This statement is presented as a scientific fact, when in reality no research has been done to support their thesis. Another teaching is "5 to 10 percent of women who have legal abortions will become sterile." This is an extreme fact that is completely false. If a professional does the abortion properly, no risks increase for future pregnancies. Most teach that 24 chromosomes from the female and 24 chromosomes from the male are used to start the formation of a baby. The correct number is 23 chromosomes from both individuals, and this mistake in facts just shed more light on the other fallacies they may be teaching. A 1993 study of condom effectiveness that has been re-tested and disproved is still being used by eleven out of thirteen curricula in the United States. This being said, the government does not review or approve the information taught in these courses. Apparently the government is more worried about the overall message than the factual content and authenticity of the information given to the future of America.
