Sexuality education goes by a lot of names. Most teens know it as "sex ed," "health class," or "life skills." But it's also called "family life education." Basically, it is a course that teaches you about your sexuality. There are generally three different types of sex ed programs:

Abstinence-Only or Abstinence-Until-Marriage. This type of sex ed program generally teaches students that premarital sex can be dangerous to their physical and psychological health. Most people who support abstinence-only education believe that if you teach teens about birth control and safer sex, it will confuse them and send them the message that "sex is OK." Instead, abstinence-only programs provide students with inaccurate and misleading information about contraception; in short, that condoms don't work. These programs also treat topics like homosexuality and masturbation as unacceptable behaviors.

Abstinence-First. This type of sex ed program can be a mixture of things. In general, it stresses abstinence as the best way to protect oneself from pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but also accepts that many students are already having sex or will have sex. In this case, abstinence-first programs tell students about how to use condoms, birth control, and other safer sex practices, and how to get these methods, too. Homosexuality and masturbation may be mentioned in classes, but their treatment can vary widely.

Comprehensive. This type of sex ed program provides a positive view of sexuality as a natural part of human development. It teaches about sexual abstinence as well as pregnancy and disease protection, and provides teens with skills to ensure they are able to take care of their sexual health and make healthy, responsible decisions. It gives teens accurate information about condoms and birth control, STDs, including HIV/AIDS, and also includes gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual issues. Comprehensive sex ed considers homosexuality and masturbation to be normal aspects of human sexuality. Sex, Etc. is a good example of comprehensive sexuality education.

Each state makes its own decision about whether or not to teach sexuality education and STD/HIV education. From there, local school districts decide what kind of sex ed program to teach.

If you want to find out what kind of sexuality education program is being taught at your school, ask your health teacher, your priniciple, or use this document to evaluate your sex ed class.

As you compare and contrast the different kinds of sex ed programs, think about what kind of program you would want at your school. Some questions that will help you are:

• Do you think teens at your school need to know about contraception, such as condoms, the Pill or emergency contraception?
• Do you think teens should have the opportunity to talk about the issues that are most pressing for them?
• Do you think teens should have the opportunity to learn about abortion, sexual orientation, and sexual abuse in an atmosphere that doesn't involve stigmas and shame?
• Do you think abstinence should be taught as one of many choices a person could make for themselves before marriage?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then the sex ed course you had in mind would be either abstinence-first, or comprehensive.

If you answered "yes" to all of these questions, then the program you have in mind is comprehensive.

At this point you may have decided that you need to change the current sex ed program at your school. If so, then click here to download our Roadmap: A Teen Guide to Changing Your School's Sex Ed.

Editors' Note: What is the sex ed program like in your school, and do you think it's effective? Click here to talk to us and get published on our Web site.