Final answer:
Abstinence is a method of preventing STIs and unwanted pregnancies by avoiding sexual activity. However, there are certain statements about abstinence that are not true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abstinence is a method of preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies by avoiding sexual activity. However, there are certain statements regarding abstinence that are not true.
- Abstinence is 100 percent effective at preventing STIs: While abstinence greatly reduces the risk of STIs, it does not provide complete protection against infections transmitted through other means, such as blood or other body fluids.
- One obstacle to abstinence is alcohol or drug use: Substance use can impair judgment and increase the likelihood of engaging in sexual activity, which goes against the principle of abstinence.
- There is no need to discuss sexual abstinence with a dating partner: Open and honest communication about sexual preferences and boundaries is important in any relationship, including discussions about abstinence.
Refusal skills, which involve assertively saying no to sexual advances, are indeed a key part of practicing abstinence.