Abstinence is a voluntary forbearance from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol, or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical considerations.
Abstinence has diverse forms. In its oldest sense it is sexual, as in the practice of continence, chastity, and celibacy. Commonly it refers to a temporary or partial abstinence from food, as in fasting. Because the regimen is intended to be a conscious act, freely chosen to enhance life, abstinence is sometimes distinguished from the psychological mechanism of repression. The latter is an unconscious state, having unhealthy consequences. Freud termed the channelling of sexual energies into other more culturally or socially acceptable activities "sublimation".

Abstinence - Discussion of the advantages and possibly drawbacks of relying on sexual abstinence as a means of preventing pregnancy. By Dr. Hatcher of Emory University.
Meta Description: [ Emory University School of Medicine - GYN-OB Department - Family Planning Division ]
Abstinenceedu.com - Information on a program for teens and curriculums as well as reading material.
Meta Description: [ The Louisiana Governor's Program on Abstinence (GPA) is a health and education program which promotes the benefits of sexual abstinence until marriage. The five components of the GPA are curriculum, clubs, website, teacher certification, and community-based projects ]
Aim for Success - Through live presentations students are encouraged to develop strong, responsible character as they deal with sexual pressure. Promotes committing to be sexually abstinent until marriage.
Meta Description: [ Aim for Success is a educational organization that teaches abstinence education through self control, self respect, and self discipline. Educating teens on the importance of sexual abstinence. ]
Aware - Teens and Singles - Abstinence, wait-training and relationship education. Includes a place to ask questions about STDs, sexuality, and abstinence. Profiles teens that have chosen abstinence.
Best Friends Foundation - Operates programs nationwide for teenagers to promote self-respect and build character by providing skills and guidance to help them abstain from sex, drugs and alcohol.
Meta Description: [ Best Friends Foundation operates programs nationwide for teenage girls and boys to promote self-respect and build character by providing skills and guidance to help them abstain from sex, drugs and alcohol. ]
Campaign For Our Children - Includes information, FAQs and possible reasons.
Meta Description: [ What teens should know about sexually transmitted diseases and why abstinence can be an option. ]
Chastity, Abstinence and Dating - The purpose of this website is to teach chastity from the real life examples of young men and women who have chosen chastity.
Choose Today - Answers questions about sex, STDs, relationships, and pregnancy in a straight forward manner.
Choosing the Best - Abstinence based sex education program.
Meta Description: [ Over 1,500,000 students nationwide have made Choosing the Best a phenomenal success. Provides information about abstinence, teen sex and pregnancy, effects of premarital sex, why wait training, and abstinence education programs ]
Free Teens - A reality-based, abstinence-centered pregnancy prevention program used around the world.
Healthy Love: A Positive Approach to Abstinence - Questions and answers about abstinence for teens.
National Abstinence Clearinghouse - Promotes the appreciation for and practice of sexual abstinence until marriage. Research articles and age appropriate materials on abstinence available.
Meta Description: [ Abstinence Clearinghouse, Abstinence Africa - Global AIDS, Abstinence Education Resource Directory, Leslee Unruh, ]
Passion For Purity - How to get the best that God has to offer in a mate while using abstinence.
Meta Description: [ Teach young people to deny ungodliness, worldly lusts and find total peace and happiness in their season of ]
Peers Educating And Encouraging Responsible Sexuality - The PEERS Project is a program in which high school age mentors work with younger students to demonstrate the wisdom of saving sex for marriage.
Meta Description: [ The PEERS Project works with parents to make sure kids get to be kids-not young mothers, fathers or statistics. ]
Positive Approach to Teen Health - PATH promotes abstinence only education, curriculum resources, frequently asked questions about teen sexuality, and information on STDs, and teen pregnancy.
Project Pledge - Site provides information and support for teens choosing to abstain from premarital sex, alcohol, drugs and similar activities.
Meta Description: [ Project Pledge provides information and support for teens choosing to abstain from premarital sex, alcohol, drugs and other risky behaviors. ]
Project Reality - Web abstinence based education site. An assortment of articles, editorials, programs, products, and freebies designed to promote sexual abstinence.
Meta Description: [ Project Reality specializes in the development, teaching and evaluation of abstinence programs in the public schools. Project Reality will serve 100,000 Illinois students this year with the message of abstinence as the healthiest lifestyle. ]
Project Respect of Northwest Ohio - Information and resources about abstinence in a support group from Ohio, United States.
Meta Description: [ At Project Respect of Northwest Ohio, we believe it is our mission to provide every teen with the opportunity to hear the benefits of choosing to remain abstinent until marriage. ]
Respect Campaign - Encourages abstinence in order to combat sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Provides information, resources and FAQs.
Meta Description: [ Involving parents in supporting honest communication with teens about waiting for sex, PS-RESPECTs goal is to lower pregnancy rate and STD among teens. ]
Sex Respect - Abstinence Education Program for Teens - Abstinence education program, designed to encourage teens to choose not to have sex before marriage. Includes information on contraceptives and STDs relating to the failure rates for pregnancy and disease prevention.
Meta Description: [ Sex Respect is an Abstinence Education Program for Teens, Parents and Teachers by Respect Incorporated and Coleen Kelly Mast. We offer a selection of videos, workbooks and guides to help teach kids that it is OK to say No to sex and to wait for marriage before having sex. We believe "You are Wort... ]
Sexual Abstinence as Viewed by Students - Student oriented site in which students share their views on sexual abstinence. Poems, cartoons, and essays written by teens promoting sexual purity.
Meta Description: [ Students share their views on
sexual abstinence ]
Sexual Purity - Theory and practical approach to premarital sex, abstinence, and sexual purity.
Meta Description: [ Resources for theory and practical approach, plus tips and strategies, to premarital sexual abstinence and sexual purity. ]
SHARE - Teen Central - The SHARE Program (Sexuality, Health, and Relationship Education) offers sexual abstinence education.
Meta Description: [ The SHARE Program ( sexuality, health, and relationship education ) abstinence education - helping teens make healthy choices in their relationships ]
Silver Ring South Carolina - A South Carolina faith based sexual abstinence program for teens.
Meta Description: [ Silver Ring South Carolina ]
Steps Toward Premarital Sexual Abstinence - Practical pro-active steps and advice for those who have committed to premarital sexual abstinence.
Meta Description: [ Practical pro-active steps and advice for those who have committed to premarital sexual abstinence. This page has a lot of great information. ]
Teen Aware Project - Project works with middle and high school students in Washington State to produce their own media campaigns to promote abstinence.
Teen Awareness - Choices - Information on encouraging teens to consider life's sexual choices, including the rewards, risks, realities and responsibilities associated with sexual decision making.
Meta Description: [ CHOICES/Teen Awareness, Inc. is a non-profit organization (501C3) which provides educational presentations to schools and the community, that focus on the benefits of abstinence in an effort to eliminate teen pregnancy, HIV/Sexually Transmitted Diseases and the emotional consequences of having se... ]
Teen Straight Talk - Information on various aspects of the topic including quotes and music.
Teen Talk: Sex - From the U. S. Public Health Service about choosing abstinence.
Meta Description: [ WPRC provides positive alternatives to unplanned pregnancies, working to meet both the needs of the woman and her child at every level. Free services including on-site pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical care ultrasounds. ]
Teen-Aid - Promoting premarital abstinence in schools, through parent teen communication, and the Internet. Abstinence education program with goal setting, creative dating ideas.
Meta Description: [ Teen-Aid Abstinence and Character Education. The purpose of Teen-Aid is to promote character and abstinence-until-marriage by connecting children to their parents and teaching life skills. ]
Teenage Sexual Abstinence Videos - Award winning Videos for teens dealing with date rape, setting personal boundaries, and postponing sexual involvement.
Meta Description: [ Award winning videos for children on Child Abuse, AIDS, Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Personal Safety, Date Self Esteem, Conflict Resolution, Values ]
True Love Waits - Encourages waiting until marriage to have sex. Provides relevant scriptures from the Bible.
Meta Description: [ True Love Waits website is about keeping yourself sexually pure until you are married to that person God intended you to be with. ]
United Students for Abstinence - Provides information about and promotion of abstinence only education for teens. Partially funded by a grant from the state of Florida, Department of Health.
Who's In Charge? - Offers an abstinence-only AIDS/sex education and substance abuse prevention program for teens.
Meta Description: [ Who's in Charge? A teen age targeted program aimed at educating teens and promoting the lifestyle and practice of abstinence from drugs, alcohol, tobacco and pre-marital sex. Plan events and promotions, ask questions, get answers, make a pledge or get our curriculum. ]
WV Abstinence Only Education Project - Provides refusal skills and explains possible consequences of sexual activity, such as STDs. Also suggests approaches for parent-teen discussion.
Meta Description: [ Abstinence Only Education Project - The basic philosophy of the WV Abstinence Only Education Project can briefly be stated as follows: The proper placement for sexual activity is within the confines of a monogamous marriage. The only 100% effective protection from unwanted pregnancy and sexually ... ]
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