Healthy Youth Act - Medical accuracy

Is comprehensive sex ed "medically accurate"? Not as far as I have found. The biggest inaccuracy is statements that pregnancy can occur with every act of sexual intercourse. It cannot. But when I have questioned that, the responder usually ends up inferring its a little white lie so kids think the odds are against them. I have learned to quip back---and more likely to get on birth control. Nice sales technique!

Comprehensive sex education also fails to include important information on neurochemicals such as oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine and endomorphines which are activated with sex. Oxytocin/vasopressin are the "sexual glues" meant to bond sexual partners. It is why humans are meant to remain together to parent their offspring. The neurochemicals are powerful forces at play during and after sex that cause emotional reactions if bonding is broken. Failing to recognize brain functions is ignoring that the sexual act naturally triggers commitment. Seems like a pretty significant piece of information kids might need to know to help them decide to delay sex. It is especially important if they hope to marry someday so they don't harm that bonding potential through promiscuous sex. That would seem to be important for a bill that claims its neccessary to teach 10 year olds how to manage their sexual health for a lifetime.

"Medical accuracy" is sex ed code for 'must include contraception in a positive way only'. If pregnancy prevention relies on contraception then it must be presented as the salvation for all. But it would seem to be medically sound to explain the risks, side effects and applicability of any method of birth control to any female after her gynecological exam, medical history and frank discussion of her ability to manage the regimen are considered. That is done in a doctor-patient consultation, not in generalities in a classroom. There are many factors to consider besides the effectiveness rates for each method.

Young teens are being put on the pill without a gynecological exam, without STI testing, without a medical history offered by a parent according to Planned Parenthood at a Milwaukee seminar. The emphasis is placed on pregnancy prevention so the medical side of the process is deferred...if the girl returns. I asked just last month at the Milwaukee Teen Pregnancy Prevention meeting if girls are advised to "choose" any particular birth control method. I asked because some methods are more teen "friendly", less risky, but more expensive. The Planned Parenthood rep did not know, but promised to let me know. I'm still waiting!

With the incredible rate of change and studies in contraceptive methods, I don't think any layperson should be covering prescription medicines or procedures. Doctors at least have the experience within their own practice of the success and failures of given methods and outcomes for various users. A classroom teacher offers outdated information the curriculum publisher filters, none of which includes data on complications unless it is a laundry list of possible side effects this bill demands.

All in medicine is not black and white. The medical associations mentioned in this bill differ from others representing the same specialties. The weight of evidence in one medical journal may result from refusal to print any research that is contrary to what it does print. Quality research is being done around the world, presented at esteemed conferences and printed in highly regarded journals. The three qualifiers in this bill defining medical accuracy are overly restrictive. Drop the last one thus making foreign research admissable.