Testimony from Henry Waxman's Abstinence-Only Testimony April 23, 2008.

Part One: Max Siegel. Mr. Siegel, 23 years old now, contracted HIV as a teenager, from unprotected sex. He states that he was taught "abstinence-only" sex ed. which lacks basic information about how to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Four new studies have concluded that federally fund "Abstinence-only" sexual education programs have led to a slight increase in teenage STD rates. The United States has one of the highest STD rates in the developed world.

Here's a snapshot, from a 2000 study, on how US STD rates compare to those of European countries, which generally teach comprehensive sexual education, including the use of barrier-method contraception, to teenagers:

"In the United States, the estimated HIV prevalence rate in young men ages 15 to 24 is over five times higher than the rate in Germany, nearly three times higher than the rate in the Netherlands, and about 1 1⁄2 times higher than that in France... In the United States, the estimated HIV prevalence rate in young women ages 15 to 24 is six times higher than the rate in Germany, nearly three times higher than the rate in the Netherlands, and is the same as that in France... In the United States, the teen syphilis rate is over six times higher than that of the Netherlands, over five times higher than the rate in former West Germany, and nearly three times higher than that in former East Germany. Data are not available for France... In the United States, the teen gonorrhea rate is over 74 times higher than that in the Netherlands and France, over 66 times higher than the rate in former West Germany, and over 38 times higher than that in former East Germany... In the United States, the teen chlamydia rate is over 20 times higher than that in France. Data are not available for Germany or the Netherlands.

SOURCE

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsest.htm#6

approximate date of study : 2000