This review of sexual education in the United States broadly defines the two most common approaches in sexual education seen in this country today. I cover the status of certain sexual behaviors and risks amongst the teenage population in the U.S. and specifically cover reported sexual activity in high school students and overall data on teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This work specifically looks at Maine, California, Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, and New Mexico to highlight the variety of state policies concerning sexual education and the differences in teenage sexual behaviors that exist within each of those six states. A description of how cultural influences can affect a young person’s sexual behavior is also given. In the final discussion section of this paper I have emphasized the need for more comprehensive sexual education programs in the United States and the importance of providing culturally sensitive programs in order to continue the fight against teenage pregnancy and STI rates in adolescents
