The importance of virginity in 1972.

I would like to emplhasize for the medlical profession the public and private healtlh benefits resultinig from sexual continence. In this age of apparent moral clhaos an(d sexual lil)eration, the virgin and the open advocacy of virginity for young people seem to have become undesirable anachronisms, in part because the mnedical and biological search for sexual truths that shall make us free has been eminiently productive. The increasing acceptance of sex as a deep-rooted, instinctual drive is refreshing and reassuring. The efficacy and simplicity of modern contraception is surely one of the most gratifying, and reassuring, breakthrouglhs of medical and biological research: "tlhe pill" has dispelled the disabling fear of pregnancy anid enriched our sexual lives. Studies of human sexual belhavior and responses lhave enlarged our knowledge of anatomy and physiology and serve as clear guideposts for successful sexual techniques. The medical profession can be laude(d for its efforts to remove the demons, dogmas, and misconceptions of the past. However, anatomy, physiology, and contraception tell us nothing about modesty, shame or pride. Facts without guidance or rules of belhavior are not sufficient. Freedom from the fear of pregnanicy and sexual inadequacy are surely desirable but in no way imply freedomn to indlulge in sexual license. Yet, this is an equation that some physicians inadvertently present to a hlormonally chaotic, impulsive, and sensually arousedl adolescent market. Moreover, freedom from fear of pregnancy and freedom from crippling ignorance of sexual teclhnique produce the expectation of gratifyinig sexuality: normality has come to mean sexuial competence and orgasm from sexual intercourse has become the new standarcl of normality. The mytlhs proscribing masturbation are now being applied to virginity and a wlhole new set of Ol Doctor's Tales is in the making: if you don't have coitus or enoughi coitus you'll go crazy. A recent best-selling manual(l) is illustrative: