Use it or Lose it?

Those who have sex later, particularly men, seem to experience more sexual dysfunction, according to a new study (Hat tip: Larry):

While past research has linked early sexual activity to health problems, a new study suggests that waiting too long to start having sex carries risks of its own.

Those who lose their virginity at a later age -- around 21 to 23 years of age -- tend to be more likely to experience sexual dysfunction problems later, say researchers at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute's HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies.

The article points out that psychological factors are likely to play a part in this sexual dsyfunction:

From a clinical standpoint, there are often dynamics other than the desire to be abstinent until marriage, such as fear of intimacy, body image problems, alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual dysfunction," he said. He adds that these factors "might influence the delay of sexual debut as a means of avoiding sexual issues."

Okay, so if you want to know the real reason for this study, it seems to be apparent by the end of the article:

The researchers say this preliminary evidence may point up detrimental effects of abstinence-only education.

The authors write that the study "lends credence to research showing that abstinence-only education may actually increase health risks," adding that other approaches may better equip young people to avoid both short- and long-term sexual health consequences.

I am not a fan of abstinence-only education, but I wonder how much of this particular research is driven by a desire to find fault with providing these programs in schools?