Often phrases like "abstinence-only," "comprehensive," "abstinence-plus" are tossed around to describe certain styles or philosophies of sexuality education programming and curricula. There is certainly some overlap between styles of curricula or programs, but there are also very clear differences that have an impact on the quality and tone of the education young people receive. Let's take a second to review some commonly used phrases describing sexuality education as described by Advocates for Youth.

Abstinence- Only Education
Teaches abstinence from all forms of sexual expression as the only morally correct option for young people. Usually omits information about contraception, condoms, and sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancies. (also known as Abstinence-Centered Education; Described by some as "Fear-Based Education" because of the tendency to use of fear, guilt, and shame to dissuade young people from engaging in sexual activity).

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education
Teaches that abstinence from all forms of sexual expression is the only morally acceptable option for unmarried young people. All programs using this philosophy funded under the 1996 Welfare Reform Act teach that sexual behavior outside of marriage will have negative consequences, abstinence is the only acceptable option for unmarried young people, teaches only one set of values, generally a specific set of religious values, censors topics like abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation, tends to use fear to stop young people from having sex, provides no information about contraception, emphasizes condoms only in discussion of their failure rates, suggests that sexually transmitted infections are a regular consequence of premarital sexual behavior, and teaches that the only morally acceptable option for pregnant teens is adoption.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Teaches about the importance of abstinence as the best method to avoid unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, but also presents information about condoms, contraception, and teaches young people interpersonal and communication skills necessary to identify their own values, options, and make the best decision. Comprehensive sexuality education also teaches skills that young people can use to help them make good decisions such as communication, negotiation, and refusal skills, how to find community resources, and how to evaluate cultural influences like the media and the Internet. (also referred to as Abstinence-Based Education, Abstinence-Plus Education, Medically Accurate Sexuality Education, Reality-Based Education; Describe by those who oppose Comprehensive Sex education as "Condom-Based Education").