Abstract
This study looks at the impact of non-inclusive sex education on STI and teen pregnancy rates and the mental and emotional health of young people in the United States. By highlighting the complicated history of sex education, and the assumptions that underly how Americans perceive sex and innocence, one can begin to understand the state of sex education in the United States. Through interviews with 15 former high school students from three different states (Arizona, Texas, and Massachusetts), and an analysis of the geographic distribution of STI and teen pregnancy rates in the United States, the correlation between comprehensive/non-comprehensive sex education and the sexual health of adolescents is strongly suggested. As a solution, this study proposes a standardized curriculum, informed by the voices of students, to be implemented nationwide. To further the research conducted for this study, the author encourages other researchers to expand on his work, interviewing more students from more states.