CNN tells us that one in four teenage girls is infected with a sexually transmitted disease, the most common being the one that can cause cervical cancer.

Two thoughts on this: P. D. James's dystopic vision of a world in which humans are no longer capable of reproduction seems increasingly likely--or, at least, a world in which huge numbers of people are unable to reproduce because they've acquired multiple viruses that damage their fertility, leading to a huge rise in the kidnapping of infants, and enormous fees being paid to women to have babies for infertile couples.

Second thought: How blind, or stubborn, or stupid does the medical community have to be to recommend for this health crisis "screening, vaccination, and other prevention strategies for sexually active women" instead of, or in addition to (as William F. Buckley might have put it), standing athwart the sexual revolution yelling "STOP!"

When it is going to be socially acceptable to tell teens, "Wait until you're married"? After every single one of them is too diseased to reproduce?

Comments

[TD Monk]

You make it sound like it would be okay to copulate once you turn 20
(no longer a teen) but a sin is a sin whether you are 14 or 44,
it makes no difference what your age is.

Sex is always a sin (the ultimate sin) whether you are young or old
married or single, even though it somewhat lessens the severity
of the sin if you married, it is still a sin, you are giving in
to temptation, temptation of the flesh, lust.

No amount of rationalization can change those basic facts.

[anne morse]

Huh?

[Jason Taylor]

What about "be fruitful and multiply?"

[Steve (SBK)]

"No amount of rationalization can change those basic facts. "
... said the Gnostic to the Christian.

[Gina Dalfonzo]

Jason, I don't quite see how that's applicable here.

[Steve (SBK)]

I think Jason was responding to TD Monk.

[Jason Taylor]

Quite, it was a response to TD Monk. I didn't think that needed clarification as the only comment in between was the interrogative, "huh".

[Gina Dalfonzo]

Okay, I see. I thought you were responding to the original post. My mistake.

[Steve]

Since you asked about the medical profession, I suppose I should say something.

There's no one answer. But a few random thoughts:

Most docs are specialized so only pediatricians, family practitioners, and OB/GYNS are directly involved with this issue. A lot of Christians gravitate toward family practice, and it tends to be more conservative.

CMDA, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, does speak out, but do you think anyone is listening?

The vaccination against HPV is controversial even among Christians, but it would prevent a lot of deaths from cervical cancer.

Medical students come out of the same culture as every one else, so physicians' social views tend to mirror those of society.

Peer pressure is the greatest human motivator. People don't want to be labeled a moralist or prude in this society, even if it's the correct position.

Probably a lot just think it's futile to advocate abstinence/monogamy even if they know it's the right thing. Physicians, on average, probably are more cynical about human nature and weaknesses than the general populace, because of what we see.

[Gina Dalfonzo]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, Steve. I did an interview with Dr. Meg Meeker, a physician who's written some books about her experience treating sexually active teens, a while back. If I ever scrape together a few minutes to get it written up and published on the site (sigh), she's got some interesting points to share as well.

[anne morse]

Steve:
The vaccine againstHPV may not save nearly as many lives as you think. Read this piece from the Weekly Standard to find out why:

http://fumento.com/disease/hpv.html

[Steve]

The Christian Medical Associate has a few brief articles up on the HPV vaccine. For the most part, it has been strongly supportive:

http://www.cmda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Sexuality

[Steve]

The Christian Medical Association has a few brief articles up on the HPV vaccine. For the most part, it has been strongly supportive:

http://www.cmda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Sexuality

ATTN: mistyped CMA name in the prior submission