It will also be important to expose students to information on other consequences of engaging in sexual activity before marriage.

Engage students in a discussion about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and pregnancy through provision of Handout #9: “STDs: Questions and Answers.” Ask students to give several examples of the consequences of having premarital sex. Write them on the board.

Not only AIDS, but other sexually transmitted diseases are also dangerous. They are spread through sexual intercourse, oral sex, or heavy petting (touching genitals) with someone who is infected. They can cause permanent damage to our bodies, such as heart problems, arthritis, hair loss, blindness, paralysis, infertility, birth defects, brain damage, liver disease, cancer and death.

Bacterial forms of sexually transmitted diseases can be cured. However, damage done by some of these diseases cannot be corrected. There are no cures for viral diseases such as Herpes II, AIDS, Hepatitis B, and others.

Tell students that it is to their advantage to learn more about this topic so they can protect themselves and others. It took years to
get the word out about cigarettes causing lung cancer, and it took about as long to get the word that sexual intercourse with an infected partner causes HIV/AIDS. We still need to do much more about getting the word out on other sexually transmitted diseases and the message that the only guaranteed protection against these diseases is practicing abstinence.

REMEMBER:
If you have sexual relations with only one person, the person you are married to, the person you have saved yourself for and the person who has saved him or herself for you, then you are truly protected from sexually transmitted diseases. This is the ONLY guaranteed way to avoid these diseases.