Sexual abstinence or chastity is the practice of voluntarily refraining from A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their honeymoon period Sexual intercourse (synonymously coitus or copulation) is the act of inserting the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female... sexual intercourse and (usually) other Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. This article concentrates on physical activity. Social and psychological issues are covered in other, related articles such as heterosexuality and... sexual activity. Sexual abstinence is typically considered a subset of behavior in the context of chastity as the latter refers also to attitude and intent and not mere mechanics. Sexual abstinence is typically advocated in the categories of religious/moral concerns and health/social concerns, with a significant overlap between the two.

Pre-marital chastity

Moral or religious advocates want people to refrain from unmarried sex, because they believe exercising such restraint is virtuous. So they urge children, teens, young adults and other unmarried people to abstain from premarital sex and to prepare for marriage and a life of fidelity to one's spouse. In many past and some present cultures, minors (particularly females) are expected to abstain from A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their honeymoon period Sexual intercourse (synonymously coitus or copulation) is the act of inserting the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female... sexual intercourse until Marriage is a relationship that plays a key role in the definition of many families. Precise definitions vary historically and between and within cultures, but it has been an important concept as a socially sanctioned bond between people who (usually) are in a sexual relationship. Globally, societies that sanction polygyny... marriage and to remain faithful to their spouse thereafter. Thus, being "chaste" in these cultures means sexual abstinence for unmarried persons or those separated from their spouses.

The groups that propose it commonly consider that purity has to be part of what the consorts have to bring in their new common life, living the intimate experience of sex as a means to enforce the tie between husband and wife. Sometimes this concept is part of a wider concept allowing sexual activity for the sole purpose of biological reproduction, therefore limited to fertile age only.

The concept has not always been used in the same way for males and females, women often being more deeply conditioned than men — also due to factors of anatomical evidence, sometimes subject to formal, and even public, examination in the imminence of the marriage. Abstinence before marriage has been idealized more consistently for women than for men. Some theorize this derives from the risk of pregnancy, which poses a threat to Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to ones fathers lineage; it generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well. A patriline is a line of descent from a male ancestor to a descendant (of either sex) in which the... patrilineal inheritance. In some cultures, proof of A virgin is most commonly seen as a person who has not engaged in sexual intercourse. In a stricter sense it is somebody who has not yet engaged in sexual activities (the wider this term is taken, the stricter the definition of virgin). The status of virginity (remaining a virgin... virginity, often in the form of a bloodied sheet from the conjugal bed, is demanded as part of the marriage contract. Some cultures take the infringement of rules of chastity so literally that ostracism (or even accusations of Adultery is generally defined as consensual sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their lawful spouse. As there is usually an implicit or explicit agreement between spouses to not have sex outside the marriage, the common synonym for adultery is infidelity as well as unfaithfulness or in... adultery, which in Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. Like most religious cultures, Islam classically drew no distinction between religious and secular life. Hence Sharia covers not only religious rituals, but many aspects of day-to-day life. However, this traditional view... Sharia law can result in death by stoning) may result from cases of For the domesticated crop plant called rape, see rapeseed. For responding to rape as a medical emergency, see sexual assault. For the former administrative division of Sussex, see Rape (district). Rape is a crime wherein the victim is forced into sexual activity against his or her will. Effectively, it co... rape.

Western attitudes

Historically, there has been a swing from the sexually free end of the Industrial Revolution to the often degenerate values of the early Victorian period. This was then followed by a new puritanism from the late Victorian era to the early 1900s. This important transformation often colours discussion of sexual behaviour in the later (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... 20th century period. The Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. Battle aftermath. Remains of the Chateau Wood World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, the War of the Nations, and the War to End All Wars, was a world conflict occurring from 1914 to... First World War began a return to sexual freedom and indulgence, but more often than not the appearance of conforming to the earlier moral values of abstinence before marriage was retained. With the conclusion of the Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (60,000 ft) into the air. August 9, 1945 World War II was a global conflict that started in 7 July 1937 in Asia and 1 September 1939 in Europe and lasted until 1945, involving the majority of the... Second World War, the importance of abstinence declined swiftly. The advent of the Oral contraceptives are contraceptives which are taken orally and inhibit the bodys fertility by chemical means. Female oral contraceptives have been on the market since the early 1960s. Male oral contraceptives remain a subject of research and development, and are not available widely (if at all) to the public... oral contraceptive pill and widely available An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. They are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat infection. The term... antibiotics removed the consequences of wide and free sexual behaviour, while social mores were also changing. By the 1970s - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes.css; @import /skins/monobook/IE55Fixes.css; @import /skins/monobook/IE60Fixes.css; /**/ 1970s From Wikipedia Millennia: 1st millennium - 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of... 1970s, such restrictions were no longer expected in the majority of western societies; perhaps even the reverse: that members of both sexes would have experienced a number of sexual partners before marriage. Some cultural groups continued to place a value on the moral purity of an abstainer, but abstinence was caught up in a wider re-evaluation of moral values.

Anthropologists and social historians have noted that many cultures such as Victorian Britain or the rural areas in the modern United States, which formally place a high value on abstinence until marriage, actually have a large amount of pre-marital sexual activity in which there is no actual A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their honeymoon period Sexual intercourse (synonymously coitus or copulation) is the act of inserting the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female... sexual intercourse and which preserve a state known as A virgin is most commonly seen as a person who has not engaged in sexual intercourse. In a stricter sense it is somebody who has not yet engaged in sexual activities (the wider this term is taken, the stricter the definition of virgin). The status of virginity (remaining a virgin... technical virginity.

In some cultures, those who infringe the rules regarding chastity may be ostracized. Social reacceptance can sometimes be regained by marriage between the two. In the West, even as late as the mid-20th century, there was a stigma attached to being a 'one-parent family' and an illegitimate child could be legitimized by the marriage of the parents. (This latter is still the case in many Western countries, though the lifting of legal penalties and social stigma regarding illegitimacy has rendered this irrelevant to social acceptance.)

Abstinence

Lifelong (or at least long-term) abstinence, often associated with religious An ascetic is one who practices a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve spiritual attainment. Lao Zi, Gautama Buddha, Mahavir Swami and Jesus can all be considered ascetics. These people left their families, possessions, and homes, and in the eyes of their followers demonstrated great spiritual attainment. Monks, yogis, hermits... ascetism, is distinguished from chastity before marriage. Abstinence is often viewed as an admirable act of self-control over the "natural" desire to have sex. The display of the strength of character allows the abstainer to set an example for those not able to contain their "base urges." At other times abstinence has been seen as a great social ill practiced by those who refuse to engage with the material and physical world. Some groups that propose sexual abstinence consider it an essential means to reach a particular intellectual or spiritual condition, or that chastity allows one to achieve a required self-control or a self-consciousness.

In many Religion, sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the practices and institutions associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankinds relationship with the universe. Religion... religions chastity is imposed to the respective sacerdotal orders. In some religions, including some branches of Christianity such as The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. Members generally prefer the term Catholic Church, but this term has multiple meanings (see Catholicism); the term Roman Catholic Church is used in this article to avoid... Roman Catholicism, Celibacy may refer either to being unmarried or to sexual abstinence. A vow of celibacy is a promise not to enter into marriage. Some writers prefer this usage of celibacy, while others use it interchangeably as a synonym for abstinence. The old meaning of this term was to have sexual... celibacy is required for Roman Catholic priest A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. Priests have been known since the earliest times and in the simplest societies (see shaman and oracle). There are priests... priests and/or A Roman Catholic monk A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person and can... monks.

Critics of abstinence on moral or religious grounds generally say that restrictions on sexual activity are emotionally or spiritually harmful. Some psychological theories hold that A sexual norm can be an individual norm or a social norm. Most cultures have social norms regarding sexuality. For example, many cultures define normal sexuality to consist only of heterosexual sex acts between married couples. Other cultures and groups (such as the Roman Catholic Church) are even more restrictive... sexual oppression leads to various behavioral problems. Additionally, as sexual skills are learned over time, there may be long term consequences to a practice that deprives people of experience they may need in order to form an understanding of their own feelings and their compatibility with others.

While there have been cultures which achieved total sexual abstinence, such as A number of religious cults have included castration as a central theme of their beliefs. These include: The cult of Cybele Hijra (India) Some followers of early Christianity such as Origen considered castration as an acceptable way to counter sinful desires of the flesh Skoptzy Heavens Gate (cult) Categories... castration cults, it is unlikely that any of them survived for a substantial period of time due to their lack of Reproduction is the creation of one thing as a copy of, product of, or replacement for a similar thing, e.g. photocopying and the making of replicas. It is perhaps most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction and sex: Sexual reproduction is a biological process by which organisms... reproduction. Regardless, the arrival of technology like In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized outside the mothers body in cases where conception is difficult or impossible through normal intercourse. In vitro is Latin for in glass, referring to the test tubes. The technique was developed in the United Kingdom by... in vitro fertilisation allows reproduction without sexual intercourse.

Abstinence as a lifestyle

Although many individuals abstain from sex for complex reasons such as religion or morality, for some individuals sexual abstinence is simply a lifestyle choice. Those individuals who fall into this category may have a dislike of sex, or are simply not interested in it. They may view sex as an unnecessary part of human life. As with other lifestyle choices, this attitude toward sex and relationships can vary greatly. Some who choose such a lifestyle still accept sex for reproduction, some engage in romantic relationships, and some engage in masturbation.

Chastity in the context of Paraphilia

Chastity, when redefined in the context of Paraphilia (in Greek para παρά = over and philia φιλία = friendship) is a mental health term recently used to indicate sexual arousal in response to sexual objects or situations that are not part of societally normative arousal/activity patterns, or which may interfere with... Paraphilia, is equated with Orgasm denial is a sexual practice where a person is kept in the plateau phase of the human sexual response cycle for an extended length of time. This is usually done as part of a BDSM game. Depending on the nature of the game, they may either be allowed an... orgasm denial or part of In BDSM, the term Power Exchange is associated with a submissive exchanging his/her authority to make decisions (whether just for a scene, or for his/her entire life), for the Dominants agreement to take responsibility for his/her happiness and health. On a psychological level, much BDSM play... total power exchange. These are an established part of A collar is a common symbol of BDSM. BDSM is a term which describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. The major subgroupings are described in the abbreviation BDSM itself: bondage & discipline (B&D) Domination & submission (D&S, Ds, D/s) sadism &... BDSM, in which a partner gives over their access to orgasm to another person. A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing that prevents the wearer from engaging in sexual intercourse and (sometimes) masturbation as well. Versions exist for both male and female. Chastity belts are surrounded by myths and actual usage in the past is likely to have been quite limited. The... Chastity belts can be used for denial of stimulation.

Religious views

Chastity is a Virtue (Greek αρετη; Latin virtus) is the habitual, well-established, readiness or diposition of mans powers directing them to some goodness of act. (1) Virtue is moral excellence of a man or a woman. The word αρετη is derived from the... virtue expected of the faithful of many religions, including This article is about the religious people known as Christians. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of... Christians and A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word Muslim means one who submits and implies complete submission to the will of God ( Allah). Muslims believe that nature is itself Islamic, since it follows natural laws placed by God. Thus, a Muslim strives to surrender to God... Muslims. This usually includes abstinence from sex for the unmarried, and faithfulness to a Marriage is a relationship that plays a key role in the definition of many families. Precise definitions vary historically and between and within cultures, but it has been an important concept as a socially sanctioned bond between people who (usually) are in a sexual relationship. Globally, societies that sanction polygyny... marriage partner. In many religions some groups of people are expected to practice celibacy — to abstain from sex completely, and remain unmarried. These groups include most A Roman Catholic monk A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person and can... monks and In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. The term nun is applicable to Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Buddhists, for example. The male equivalent of a... nuns in For other uses of the term Christian, see Christian (disambiguation). Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians are monotheistic, the one God is thought, by most Christians, to exist in... Christianity, and Roman Catholic priest A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. Priests have been known since the earliest times and in the simplest societies (see shaman and oracle). There are priests... priests in the The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. Members generally prefer the term Catholic Church, but this term has multiple meanings (see Catholicism); the term Roman Catholic Church is used in this article to avoid... Roman Catholic church. From the Roman Catholic perspective each life vocation is called to chastity be they married, single, or in a religious order. Chastity is a function of one's respect for the dignity of another especially in a sexual context. Sex with one's spouse in not against chastity so long as both remain open to the gift of children -- contraceptives violate true chastity.

In For other uses of the term Christian, see Christian (disambiguation). Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians are monotheistic, the one God is thought, by most Christians, to exist in... Christianity, sexual intercourse is described as "becoming one flesh" and is a sign of marriage; abstinence is therefore expected of unmarried people. But for married couples, the apostle A 19th century picture of Paul of Tarsus Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul of Tarsus) or Saint Paul the Apostle (fl. 1st century AD) is considered by many Christians to be the most important disciple of Jesus, and next to Jesus the most important figure in the development of Christianity... Paul wrote that they should not deprive each other except for a time for devotion to Prayer is an effort to communicate with a God, or to some deity or deities, either to offer praise to the deity, to make a request of the deity, or simply to express ones thoughts and emotions to the deity. There are a variety approaches to understanding prayer: The... prayer.

For a discussion of Jews as an ethnicity or ethnic group see the article on Jew. The Star of David, a common symbol of Jews and Judaism Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. It is also one of... Judaism forbids intercourse outside marriage (which is termed zenuth or promiscuity), but has no ideal of abstinence for particular clerical groups. In fact, it is practically expected of men in religious functions (e.g. See Semicha for article about ordination of rabbis. Rabbi ( Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) in Judaism, commonly refers to the spiritual leader of a Jewish synagogue. The term means teacher, or more literally... rabbis) to be married. Abstinence is practiced while a woman is The menstrual cycle is the periodic change in a womans body that occurs every month between puberty and menopause and that relates to reproduction. The average human menstrual cycle, regulated by hormones, takes 28 days, but it can range from 21 to 35 days. Generalities Menstruation, commonly called a... menstruating (in Islam also) and the week after cessation of flow (the law of In Judaism, niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew) is technically a state of minor exclusion when a woman is menstruating and for about a week later until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. Niddah is the main category of a group of laws and customs that... niddah), as well as a set period after Childbirth in a hospital. Photo by Ana Nascimento/ABr. Childbirth (also called labour, birth, or parturition) is the culmination of pregnancy, the emergence of a child from its mothers uterus. It is considered by many to be the beginning of a persons life, and hence the opposite of... childbirth.

Modern abstinence movements

Abstinence advocates recommend it as a way to avoid A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. It starts with conception, the process of fertilization to form a zygote, and ends in childbirth... pregnancy and Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. They were commonly known as venereal diseases (VD) until some time around 1990, when public health... venereal disease. Without sexual contact, it is virtually impossible to conceive a child other than through Artificial insemination (AI) is when sperm is placed into a females vagina, uterus or fallopian tubes using artificial means rather than by sexual intercourse. In humans artificial insemination is usually part of an infertility treatment; either the womans partners sperm (artificial insemination by husband, AIH) or donor... artificial insemination. By avoiding exposure of the sexual organs to other people, one will also avoid the sexual transmission of many diseases (STDs). Note, however, that many STDs, including AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, sometimes written Aids) is a human disease characterized by progressive destruction of the bodys immune system. It is widely accepted that AIDS results from infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), although this hypothesis is not without controversy. HIV infection is... AIDS, can also be transmitted non-sexually. Some STDs (including Genital warts or (or condyloma) is a very contagious sexually transmitted disease. Caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), it is spread during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner with genital warts will develop warts... genital warts due to Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus which affects humans. Some of its effects are classed as sexually transmitted disease (STD). Scientists have identified more than 100 types of HPV, most of which are harmless. About 30 types are spread through sexual contact. Some types of HPV that cause genital infections... human papillomavirus) are passed through skin-to-skin contact and are not prevented by using a A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such... condom.

Pregnancy can also be avoided (though with low reliability) through only periodic sexual abstinence. This method is generally known as Natural family planning (NFP), sometimes described as periodic abstinence, is a form of birth control that involves recognizing the natural signs in a womans fertility. Depending on their goals, couples may choose to time sexual intercourse so that it falls during the infertile phase (to avoid pregnancy) or the... natural family planning, and involves various methods of determining when a woman is fertile and abstaining during that time only.

Many critics of abstinence promotion programs claim that these programs are not an effective way to decrease the occurrence of diseases and unwanted pregnancies. While some teens may have weak sexual desire or few sexual opportunities and thus be able to maintain it successfully, others will have stronger desires, more opportunities or act under the influence of Many drugs are provided in tablet form. A drug is any substance that can be used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process or processes in the body. The word drug is etymologically derived from the Dutch/Low German word droog, which means dry, since... drugs, and will in these situations not be prepared to take precautions (using A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such... condoms or other contraceptives). Worse, they may consider the independent acquisition of information about precautionary measures shameful and avoid it altogether.

Organizations such as SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States is a United States organization dedicated to sexuality education, sexual health, and sexual rights. History SIECUS was formed in 1964 by a clergyman, a physician, a lawyer, a sociologist, a family life educator, and a public health educator. External... SIECUS have called abstinence-only programs "fear-based", "designed to control young people’s sexual behavior by instilling fear, shame, and guilt." [1]  (http://www.siecus.org/pubs/tsha_scaredchaste.pdf) Author Judith Levine has argued that there might be a natural tendency of abstinence educators to escalate their messages: "Like advertising, which must continually jack up its seduction just to stay visible as other advertising proliferates, abstinence education had to make sex scarier and scarier and, at the same time, chastity sweeter." ( Harmful to Minors Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex (ISBN 0816640068) is a book by Judith Levine that was published in 2002 with a foreword by former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. In the book, Levine lambasts US laws concerning child pornography, statutory rape, and... Harmful to Minors, p.108)

In spite of these criticisms, abstinence has become the de facto focus of Sex education is education about sexual reproduction in human beings, sexual intercourse and other aspects of sexual behaviour. Overview Education on reproduction typically describes the process of a new human being coming into existence in stages including conception, the development of the embryo and foetus, and the birth of the... sex education in the The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America¹, the States, or (archaically) Columbia — is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii... United States, so that opponents frequently adopt the line that abstinence education is acceptable only if it is combined with other methods, such as instruction in the use of condoms and easy availability thereof. Most nations of Western Europe is distinguished from Central Europe and Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. However, these boundaries of Europe are subject to considerable overlap and fluctuation, which makes differentiation difficult. Thus the concept of Western Europe is associated with liberal democracy; and its countries... Western Europe use more comprehensive measures, and in sharp contrast to the heated discussion in the US, abstinence is hardly discussed as an educational measure.

Popularity and effectiveness

The advent of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, sometimes written Aids) is a human disease characterized by progressive destruction of the bodys immune system. It is widely accepted that AIDS results from infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), although this hypothesis is not without controversy. HIV infection is... AIDS helped restore the momentum of the favourable view of abstinence. But currently there are issues as to what abstinence means: is it an abstinence from sexual intercourse or from sexual behaviour? Movements such as Categories: Stub | Sexual abstinence ... True Love Waits in The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America¹, the States, or (archaically) Columbia — is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii... America which asks A separate article is about the punk band called The Adolescents. Adolescence is the transitional stage of development between childhood and full adulthood, representing the period of time during which a person is biologically adult but emotionally not at full maturity. The ages which are considered to be part of... teenagers to refrain from sex before marriage are heavily subscribed but surveys of sexual behaviour indicate an increase in the popularity of Oral sex consists of all those sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, tongue, etc., to stimulate the sex organs. Terms Most people usually use euphemisms or slang terms when talking about oral sex. The term fellatio comes from the Latin term fellare which means to suck. A... oral sex. Oral sex is not perceived as being "real sex." Teenage girls are able to indulge in sexual practices while claiming the traditional virtues of the virgin in cultures that admire it.

The effectiveness of abstinence programs and movements remains doubtful. The study "Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and First Intercourse" by Peter Bearman and Hanna Brückner examined the relationship between Virginity pledges have been undertaken by over 2.5 million youths. In these pledges children and teenagers promise not to take part in sexual intercourse before marriage. Various religious groups promote virginity pledges, including the Southern Baptist Convention. Advocates of virginity pledges claim that they are an effective way of... virginity pledges and first sexual intercourse. From the abstract [1]:

Since 1993, in response to a movement sponsored by the Southern Baptist Church, over 2.5 million adolescents have taken public virginity pledges, in which they promise to abstain from sex until marriage. This paper explores the effect of those pledges on the transition to first intercourse. Adolescents who pledge are much less likely to have intercourse than adolescents who do not pledge. The delay effect is substantial. On the other hand, the pledge does not work for adolescents at all ages. Second, pledging delays intercourse only in contexts where there are some, but not too many, pledgers. The pledge works because it is embedded in an identity movement. Consequently, the pledge identity is meaningful only in contexts where it is at least partially nonnormative. Consequences of pledging are explored for those who break their promise. Promise breakers are less likely than others to use contraception at first intercourse.

The effects observed in this study (and a followup [2] (http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/29/424928352fe31) study) could be explained as mere correlations: Adolescents who feel the desire to take part in the virginity movement are more likely to remain abstinent for a variety of reasons, and less likely to have knowledge about contraception. Some studies have found that school-based abstinence programs actually increase the incidence of pregnancies (see Sex education is education about sexual reproduction in human beings, sexual intercourse and other aspects of sexual behaviour. Overview Education on reproduction typically describes the process of a new human being coming into existence in stages including conception, the development of the embryo and foetus, and the birth of the... sex education).

See also

• Asexuality is a designation or self-designation for people who lack feelings of sexual attraction and/or sexual desire. There is debate as to whether this is a sexual dysfunction or an actual sexual orientation; furthermore, there is disagreement over the exact definition of the word. The term is also... asexuality
• A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing that prevents the wearer from engaging in sexual intercourse and (sometimes) masturbation as well. Versions exist for both male and female. Chastity belts are surrounded by myths and actual usage in the past is likely to have been quite limited. The... chastity belt
• Harmful to Minors Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex (ISBN 0816640068) is a book by Judith Levine that was published in 2002 with a foreword by former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. In the book, Levine lambasts US laws concerning child pornography, statutory rape, and... Harmful to Minors, a book by Judith Levine which deals with This article is primarily about religious attitudes to sexual morality. For an overview of cultural attitudes to sex, see Sexual norm. Sexual morality refers to the beliefs and practices by which a culture, group, faith, etc. regulates their members behaviour in matter of sexual activities. Introduction Many cultures and religions... sexual morality in the United States and also discusses the issue of abstinence education
• The Lent challenge refers to the endeavor, undertaken mainly by men, to abstain from induced orgasm (from masturbation, oral sex, or sexual intercourse) throughout the 47 days of Lent. Categories: Stub ... Lent challenge
• Masturbation is the manual excitation of the sexual organs, most often to the point of orgasm. It can refer to excitation either by oneself or by another (see mutual masturbation), but most commonly it is restricted to such activities performed alone. It is part of a larger set of activities... Masturbation
• The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th Century by Marsilio Ficino, as a synonym for amor socraticus, referring to the affection between Socrates and his pupils. The English term dates back as far as Sir William Davenants Platonic Lovers (1636). It is derived from the... Platonic love
• Promiscuity is the practice of making relatively unselective, casual and indiscriminate choices. It is most commonly applied to sexual behavior where it means sex that is not in the framework of a steady sexual relationship (instead of that or in addition to that), or occurs in multiple, simultaneous sexual relationships... promiscuity
• In virtually all religions, marriage is a long-term union between two people and is established with ceremonies and rituals. The two people are most commonly a man and a woman, though many societies have permitted polygamous marriages, and same-sex marriage is now acknowledged in some places. Many religions... Religious aspects of marriage
• The refusal skills approach of teen celibacy advocates focuses on coaching unmarried high school students how to decline, in a way that promotes self-respect, sexual proposals by others. It attempts to minimize hurt feelings on the part of the other, while firmly respecting the right of the refuser not... Refusal skills
• For the drawing or cutting tool, see Straightedge. Straight Edge Tattoo Primarily centered in the United States, Straight edge is a lifestyle and subculture that advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and the usage of recreational drugs. Some (but not all) straight-edgers also make a commitment to abstain from promiscuous... Straight edge
• Teenage pregnancy refers to the controversial social issue of teenage girls getting pregnant. In developing countries teenage pregnancy is quite usual since many women are expected to be married and with children before they are 20. The perceived problem with teenage pregnancies is that teenagers are not ready, emotionally and... teenage pregnancy

Reference

1. Peter S. Bearman and Hannah Brückner: Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and First Intercourse. American Journal of Sociology, Volume 106, Number 4 (January 2001), pp. 859-912.

External Links

• Chastity  (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03637d.htm) in Catholic Encyclopedia - a Christian view on chastity
• James W. Prescott, "Body pleasure and the origins of violence", The Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists, November 1975, pp. 10-20 online copy (http://www.violence.de/prescott/bulletin/article.html). Claims that somatosensory (including sexual) deprivation as minors causes violent behaviour of grown-ups.
• No New Money for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs (http://www.nonewmoney.org/) advocacy website
• Silver Ring Thing (http://www.silverringthing.com/) (well-known abstinence pledge program)

Effectiveness of abstinence

• Jill Colvin, Columbia Spectator March 29, 2005, "Abstinence Study Finds Pledges Fail To Protect" (http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/03/29/424928352fe31)
• Sabin Russell, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 February 2005, "Uganda's HIV rate drops, but not from abstinence: Study concludes basis of Bush policy apparently irrelevant" (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/24/MNG2PBG3VF1.DTL)
• United States poll shows parents favoring abstinence-based education (http://www.family.org/welcome/press/a0024656.cfm) ( Focus on the Family is a US Evangelical Christian group founded by Dr. James Dobson and based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The organization is a major component of the American Christian right and is highly active in promoting the election of Christian conservative politicians, especially members of the US Republican... Focus on the Family press release)
• Study finds abstinence programs haven't influenced TX teens (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/state/013105_APstate_abstinence.html)
• Texas A&M study shows abstinence works: Students more likely to abstain (http://www.abstinence.net/library/index.php?entryid=1814)