“At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners’ among teenagers,” according to a study released by the nonpartisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

The study found that while abstinence-only efforts appear to have little positive impact, more comprehensive sex education programs were having “positive outcomes” including teenagers “delaying the initiation of sex, reducing the frequency of sex, reducing the number of sexual partners and increasing condom or contraceptive use.”

The study also sought to debunk “myths propagated by abstinence-only advocates,” including that comprehensive sex education promotes promiscuity, hastens the initiative of sex or increases its frequency, and sends a confusing message to adolescents; instead, the study insists, such programs improved teens’ knowledge about the risks and consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and gave them greater “confidence in their ability to say ‘no’ to unwanted sex.”