Dear singerdiva,

It's great that you want to take an active role in your education! There are generally two types of sexuality education that are taught in school — abstinence-based education and comprehensive sexuality education.

Abstinence is promoted as the only method of preventing pregnancy and infection in "abstinence-only, until marriage" sex education. Abstinence-based programs don't provide information about pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention methods, like condoms, because of the fear that teens will see this as "permission" and "encouragement" to have sex. If condoms and other safer-sex choices get any "play" at all in these programs, it's only to point out that they sometimes fail.

Comprehensive sexuality education is the other approach to sexuality education in schools. Comprehensive sexuality education programs teach students that abstinence offers the most protection against pregnancy and infection ... they just don't present abstinence as the only choice. These programs focus on empowering teens to make decisions about their own bodies that are based on facts.

The teens at "SEX, Etc." may be able to help you out! Check out their Web site for information about the Rutgers Roadmap program, which is designed to help teens advocate for comprehensive sex ed programs in their own schools.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.