Question

supporting others in making healthy sexual choices

nicole and anthony have been together for about six months. nicole has decided she wants to remain abstinent until she gets married. anthony has not vowed to stay abstinent, but he supports nicole’s decision and does not pressure her to have sexual intercourse. recently though, anthony has been hinting to nicole that they should engage in other sexual activities. nicole is considering this because she would still maintain her virginity. she also believes it might make their relationship stronger.

gina is a friend of nicole’s. what advice should gina give nicole? check all that apply.

• “you can still contract stds even if you’re not engaging in sexual intercourse.”
• “is this something you’ve discussed with anthony and are ready to do?”
• “anthony won’t respect you if you don’t eventually have sex with him.”
• “if you think it’s a good idea, go for it.”
• “being abstinent means avoiding all sexual activities, not just sex.”

Explanation:

1. "You can still contract STDs even if you're not engaging in sexual intercourse." - This is correct as some STDs can be transmitted through other sexual activities, so it's important information for Nicole to consider.
2. "Is this something you've discussed with Anthony and are ready to do?" - This is good advice as Nicole should communicate with Anthony and be sure of her own readiness before making a decision.
3. "Anthony won't respect you if you don't eventually have sex with him." - This is incorrect as it's a coercive and untrue statement; Anthony has already supported her abstinence decision.
4. "If you think it's a good idea, go for it." - This is not good advice as it doesn't consider the potential risks (like STDs) or the true meaning of abstinence.
5. "Being abstinent means avoiding all sexual activities, not just sex." - This is correct as abstinence typically includes all sexual activities, so Nicole should be aware of this if she wants to remain abstinent until marriage.

Answer:

• "You can still contract STDs even if you're not engaging in sexual intercourse."
• "Is this something you've discussed with Anthony and are ready to do?"
• "Being abstinent means avoiding all sexual activities, not just sex."