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== Criticism ==

== Criticism ==

Abstinence education is often criticized by [[liberal]] groups such as the American Psychological Association,<ref>[http://www.apa.org/releases/sexeducation.html Comprehensive Sex Education is More Effective at Stopping the Spread of HIV Infection<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the American Medical Association,<ref name=%26quot%3Bama%26quot%3B%26gt%3B[http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eama-assn%2Eorg%2Fama1%2Fpub%2Fupload%2Fmm%2F15%2Fph_sexual_health_ed%2Epdf American Medical Association – Issue Brief: Adolescent Sexual Health Education]</ref> the National Association of School Psychologists,<ref>[http://nasponline.org/about_nasp/pospaper_sexed.aspx NASP Position Statement on Sexuality Education<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the Society for Adolescent Medicine,<ref name=%26quot%3BAdolescent Health">{{cite web | url = http://www.adolescenthealth.org/PositionPaper_Abstinence_only_edu_policies_and_programs.pdf | title = Abstinence only education policies and programs}}</ref> the American College Health Association,<ref name=%26quot%3BAdolescent Health"/> the American Academy of Pediatrics,<ref name=%26quot%3Baap%26quot%3B%26gt%3B[http%3A%2F%2Fpediatrics%2Eaappublications%2Eorg%2Fcgi%2Freprint%2F108%2F2%2F498 Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents - Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health and Committee on Adolescence 108 (2): 498 - Pediatrics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the American Public Health Association.<ref>[http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/default.htm?id=1334 APHA: Policy Statement Database<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  

Abstinence education is often criticized by groups such as the American Psychological Association,<ref>[http://www.apa.org/releases/sexeducation.html Comprehensive Sex Education is More Effective at Stopping the Spread of HIV Infection<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the American Medical Association, the National Association of School Psychologists,<ref>[http://nasponline.org/about_nasp/pospaper_sexed.aspx NASP Position Statement on Sexuality Education<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the Society for Adolescent Medicine,<ref name=%2526quot%253BAdolescent Health">{{cite web | url = http://www.adolescenthealth.org/PositionPaper_Abstinence_only_edu_policies_and_programs.pdf | title = Abstinence only education policies and programs}}</ref> the American College Health Association,<ref name=%2526quot%253BAdolescent Health"/> the American Academy of Pediatrics,<ref name=%2526quot%253Baap%2526quot%253B%2526gt%253B[http%253A%252F%252Fpediatrics%252Eaappublications%252Eorg%252Fcgi%252Freprint%252F108%252F2%252F498 Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents - Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health and Committee on Adolescence 108 (2): 498 - Pediatrics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the American Public Health Association.<ref>[http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/default.htm?id=1334 APHA: Policy Statement Database<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  

States that teach abstinence education, such as Texas and Mississippi, are shown to have a much higher teen birth rate than states that teach regular sex education. This is because abstinence only education teaches nothing about condoms or birth control as a means of preventing conception.

States that teach abstinence education, such as Texas and Mississippi, are shown to have a much higher teen birth rate than states that teach regular sex education. This is because abstinence only education teaches nothing about condoms or birth control as a means of preventing conception.