Does offering access to contraception undermine the message to abstain?
Medical providers and health educators always encourage risk reduction, with abstinence at the top of the list and use science-based strategies to teach students. Some of these strategies include delaying sexual involvement, having fewer partners and possible use of a hormonal method (e.g. the pill, depo shot or patch) in combination with consistent and correct condom use. Students are able to understand medical facts including both the abstinence message and information on how to reduce risk if they do become sexually active.
