Topic: Pre-marital sex

Thesis Statement: Pre- marital sex can affect Filipinos physically and socially.

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Lead in: Statistics, Quick background on the issue

1.2 Thesis- Position/ stand

2.0 Premarital sex has become socially accepted over time

2.1 Prevalence and consideration of being normal

3.0 Premarital sex may lead to a more stable marriage

3.1 Compatibility- emotional, physical and sexual

4.0 Premarital sex can offer good physical conditions

4.1 Health benefits

5.0 Premarital sex tend to increase the risk of having physical problems

5.1 Physical Appearance

5.2 Effects of birth control

5.3Risk of getting STDs

6.0 Premarital sex may lead to unwanted pregnancy

6.1 Abortion

6.2 Lower economic prospect for mothers

7.0 Premarital sex can negatively affects Filipinos socially

7.2 Insecurities

7.3 Social issues- poverty and inequality

8.0 Conclusion

Philippines deal with premarital sex as a prevalent social issue with the concerns of the
effects that it may lead to. Studies by the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS)
showed that one third of Filipinos aged 15-25 have engaged in premarital sex. This shows
that about 6.2 million Filipino youth has practiced sexual intercourse before marriage.
(Aquino, 2014) As more Filipinos engage in this activity, the effects and situations that it
leads to have become a concern in our society. Consequently, premarital sex may
negatively affect Filipinos in their physical wellbeing and in their societal position.

Premarital sex has become socially accepted over time and is now considered to be normal
in most culture. (Filipovic, 2014) In the present generation, people have become more
liberated and have learned to accept this issue in a carefree manner. The corresponding
changes in dating practices have caused premarital to become more prevalent and the stigma
of being unacceptable is slowly diminishing. In fact, it was found that 95% of 40,000
Americans surveyed had premarital sex. (Fili[povic, 2014) Individual views on this issue still
may vary especially in our society. The religious Filipinos view premarital sex as a sin and
encourage the youth not to be sexual before marriage. Although this belief is continuing in
most conservative families, the idea of premarital sex is slowly being accepted and is
beginning to outweigh this thought since there is an increasing number of people who start
to practice it. Premarital sex being socially accepted can lessen the chances of having bad
reputations that leads to insecurities for people who practice it.

Premarital sex may lead to a more stable marriage as it is a great indicator of a couple’s
compatibility. Engaging in pre-marital sex can test your compatibility emotionally, physically
and sexually. Marriage is a big commitment which often needs an assurance that it will lead
to a great outcome such as having a balance sexual intimacy with partners. According to the
booklet entitled Pleasure created by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS)
“Antiquated views that lead people to believe that there is such a thing as sexual purity can
also lead to a messed up post marital relationship with sex”. (Guardian, 2014) Premarital sex
is a great factor to consider especially to those who are not yet ready for a strong commitment
such as marriage. It is advised to know the compatibility of a couple and check whether it is
enough to produce a stable relationship. (Ryan, 2012)

Recent studies have concluded that health benefits can be gained through premarital sex.
It is considered to be an advantage as psychological studies show that premarital sex can be
conducive to health. People will normally have sexual desires that if not satisfied can affect a
person’s physical state. It also considered that sex can relieve stress, boost one’s immune
system, burn calories and even improve the quality of sleep. The practice of safe sex like
using of contraceptives wisely and having only one sexual partner at a time may offers a small
downside to premarital sex.

Although health benefits can be acquired, there are more risks of getting physical problems
through premarital sex. First, a change in appearance can be noticed on women who regularly
engage in sex. They tend to look old and worn.(Dechabert, 2007) Weight gain is also one
possible change that may occur. Aside from affecting physical appearance, premarital sex can
affect our health. The risk of acquiring Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) is higher. Some
people having premarital sex often have different partners. This is a great factor on why STDs
are starting to spread in our society. STDs affect the Filipinos as they give infections that
cause burning, itching, oozing and sores on the genitals. Some of it are incurable such as HIV
AIDS. As a matter of fact, the Philippines is one out of the nine countries where the rate of
HIV is growing. Most of the victims are teenagers as young as 15 who engage in premarital
sex. Another physical effect of premarital sex is the side effects of the use of birth control
pills. People who practice premarital sex usually use birth control pills to avoid unplanned
pregnancy. Some of the side effects are headaches, dizziness and nausea. (Hutcherson,
2013). This suggest that premarital sex gives more chances of acquiring negative health
effects rather than its benefits.

Premarital sex usually leads to unplanned pregnancy. Women who get pregnant and does
not want to continue childbirth usually leads to abortion. Teenage childbirth has doubled over
the past decade. 13.6 % of Filipinas aged 15-19 are already mothers (Punongbayan, 2014) .
Some women often resort to the tragic decision of ending an innocent child’s life. Abortion is
considered to be morally wrong and can negatively affect women physically. Abortion also
affects not only the women but also the child. Even though a woman decides to continue
pregnancy, children with unmarried parents are most likely to have physical and emotional
problems. These shows that premarital sex may cause unstable marriage to some. In the
Philippines these kind of incidents are common. Some couples are forced to get married due
to an unexpected child. Moreover, there is also a lower economic aspect for the mother when
teenage pregnancy happens. Instead of continuing school and having jobs, teenagers who
get pregnant have lesser economic opportunities. (Punongbayan, 2014)

Premarital sex may negatively affect Filipinos socially. In our society, people who are
known engaging in this activity become object of rumours and are usually marked with bad
reputation that leads to insecurities. In a community mainly composed of Christians we one
is considered to be more conservative. In the Christian community premarital sex is
considered to be morally wrong and a sin. It is believed that sex is a blessing given upon
marriage. People who are associated with premarital sex often experience insecurities as their
image or reputation are considered to be wrong in our society.(Decherbert, 2007) It
negatively affects Filipinos socially as it creates an insecurity due to the stereotype created to
the people. Furthermore, premarital sex also affects larger social issues such as poverty and
inequality due to the rising of teenage pregnancy.(Punongbayan, 2014) Unexpected
pregnancy due to premarital sex may greatly affect the lives of a man and a woman. Instead
of doing what the society expects to be done like working or studying, unexpected pregnancies
changes the flow. Due to these situations more economic deprivation may be prevalent.

Filipinos are greatly affected due to premarital sex. There are more physical downsides to
premarital sex rather than its health benefits and socially it creates effects that causes
negative consequences rather than being just socially accepted. The physical consequence of
premarital sex creates a great impact to one’s life. It will most likely overweigh the benefits
gained from it. Engaging in premarital sex can highly increase the risk to acquire negative
health conditions. Socially, it leads to negative views on a person considering the conservative
society we have in our country. Premarital sex may also negatively affect Filipinos socially
that may cause economic deprivation due to the effects that it have led to. Since premarital
sex can affect Filipinos negatively, it is advised that considerations on the possible
consequences must be considered. The Philippines should take action such as creating
counselling programs to lessen the rate of premarital sex that may cause negative outcomes
for the Filipino people.

REFERENCE LIST

Aquino, T. (2014, February 6).1 in every Filipina has engage in premarital sex – survey [Web
log post]
Retrieved Dec 1, 2010. http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80226/1-in-3-
filipino- youth-aged-15-24-has-engaged-in-premarital-sex—survey
Decherbert C. (2007). Purity under pressure.

Retrieved from purityunderpressure.wordpress.com/purity-under-pressure-book/

Retrieved from www. Health.com/m/0,,20408202

Retrieved from www.academia.edu/Effects_students

Retrieved from www.rappler.com/move-ph/teenage-pregnancy

Retrieved from http://www.Jezebel.com/premaritalsex-is-good-for-both-you-and-the-