People seem to have a misconception that encouraging abstinence means a religious, stuffy, ultra-conservative viewpoint.
I don't think sex is a sin or immoral. I don't advocate waiting till marriage, but believe in individual choice when they choose to have sex. I don't think teenagers who have sex should be looked down upon or socially ostracized.
The fact though is teenagers are not adults. These are precious and formative years where they build skills and abilities that will help them become successful adults. Sex is fun and pleasurable, but it comes with risks physical, emotional and social. Sex with the wrong people can get you to have STDs or AIDS. Sex with the wrong people can leave you emotionally traumatized and damaged. Teenage sex also has been found to be a factor in social adjustment problems as adults. A teenage pregnancy can ruin your life. It takes away your college experience, your learning experience and your ability to build a successful career. A teenager is also not responsible enough to be a parent. Many adults do regret their teenage pregnancies as well as sexual experimentation.
Abstinence should be encouraged for the simple reason that teenagers are not adults. They are not wise enough to understand their priorities, choose the right partners, understand the implications. Waiting a few more years till one is a mature adult won't do harm.
That being said teenage years and one with raging hormones and temptations. Teenagers don't know better and are susceptible to peer pressure and social influences that sex is cool, everyone is doing it and they should too. They don't think long term and live in the heat of the moment. So adults also need to better understand teenagers, their inclination towards sex and brainstorm more effective solutions to curb teenage sex and pregnancy.
