Sex Education: Still Not Given Enough Attention and Importance

[angelfromsky]

Why are people so hesitant to talk about sex? Why don't they think it's one of the most important pieces of knowledge that each and everyone should have once they're about to reach puberty and even after that...?

My school had a sex education class once. I remember my teachers were talking about 'it' with no s** word. Hardly anybody from my class understood at that time what teachers were talking about. At the end of the class all girls were given a pack of sanitary napkins, to which all girls were feeling a little uncomfortable in front of guys and hardly any of my guy friends understood what that was.

I think every guy and girl has a right to know what's happening with their bodies once they hit puberty.

Both guys and girls should know what precautions to take to avoid unwanted pregnancy - oral contraception, all external means.

Not only when you hit puberty but also when you're an adult; everyone should be up to date with the technological advances. There should be open discussion around the topic.

Not all of my girl friends keep track of their period cycle, they've never been told to keep the track of the cycle. Some of them don't even know when they reach ovulation in the cycle.

Just for those who don't know, in a period cycle of 28 days, considering day of period and first day, a woman/girl reaches ovulation which is releasing eggs from ovary happens around 14th day. Ovulation lasts for about a day or two. Sperm can live in female reproductive track for about 5 to 7 days. So the days -7 before the ovulation day and +7 after the ovulation are fertile days. The number of days in a cycle may vary from girl to girl and all external factors like food, environment, stress factor may change the cycle date.

All the mood changes in a girl are pretty much aligned with this cycle. A girl will feel extremely good around her day of ovulation, but once she gets close to her period she starts getting angry as some of the most important nutrients are getting extracted from her body to form a layer of dead eggs around the uterus wall (PMS - premenstrual syndrome), which is released out of the body during period - it's a lot of pain, guys.

Every guy and girl has an urge for sex. It's one of the basic needs of human beings.

Being a woman, something I still don't understand:

1. Why not sell all birth controls are over the counter?

You need a fancy prescription to control your own body!

2. Why aren't all birth controls made available at a reasonable price?

Not every insurance covers birth control - 100% cost. And even though they are covered, people have to pay a lot for the insurance. Not all people can even afford the insurance cost. Why are options like Plan B (it's a emergency contraception, a backup method) so super expensive? Only expensive stuff like this is available over the counter?

3. Why does every oral contraceptive have side effects?

A lot of women gain wait, go through unbearable mood swings, fatigue. Why is there no drug invented to date that does not make women suffer or go through side effects?

4. Why is there no contraception that guarantees 100% prevention?

PS: English is my third language. So pardon me if there're any grammatical mistakes. I've tried my best to convey my feelings in this article.

[mermaidrocketship]

I might be alone in this, but I feel like sex is everywhere and anyone who didn't eventually piece it together was living under a rock. I never knew exactly how sex happened until I was 14, but I knew it involved the penis/vagina, that condoms and birth control prevented pregnancy, and you could get an std. And I never learned from school or my parents. It was one of those teen girl websites that gave all the technical terms.
Let's be real about your questions, though.
1) Birth control affects your hormones. That needs to be observed by a doctor, and if you're getting it over the counter, you can do yourself some serious harm.
2) Plan B is an EMERGENCY contraceptive. If it was super cheap, many people would use it in place of birth control pills. And, birth control is a medication. Most insurances don't even fully cover allergy medicine.
3) Every single medication has some sort of side effect. My mom went to the ER for a serious reaction to prescription-grade Tylenol. Birth control isn't alone in this.
4) I'm taking an antidepressant for anxiety, and I'm still anxious. The only way to 100% prevention is to not have sex. But, if you choose to have sex, you have to be responsible and prevent pregnancy until you're ready to become a parent.

[uknaked]

Sex education including all aspects, without reservation, should be taught as a normal subject in school.
Treating it as something shamefull is the most damage you can do to a childs mind, obviously the dangers, pifalls, emotions, diseases and birth control should be part of it.
Over a number of years, from quite young, it would become more acceptable and kids would not feel embarrassed to talk about sex fun.
What it can do to reproduce the human race, and the pleasure aspects of a loving committed relationship.

[SunDevil11]

I agree that we need better sex education in schools and sex should be a more talked about subject so that everyone understands what is going on a little better at a younger age

[somebodysaycheese]

My siblings have had sex ed every year since 5th grade. They have move to three different states and three different schools in that time all are on the east coast. You can teach people whatever you want but they will still do what they want. Everyone knows to wear a condom yet unwanted pregnancies are happening, we have millions of abortions every year and STD are sky rocketing and HIV in the lgbt community is higher now then in the 80's more than half of the community will have it in their life time. People are stupid

Now regarding birth control. Sex ed would have to tell you what oxford says is the side effects in pronlonged use. Which is cancer, infertility, weight gain, thyroid problems.. etc Why would they tell you something so important they wouldn't. Condoms or male birth control will be the best option in my opinion for anyone

[JRICHARDS1996]

The problem is that by advocating sex education, you are conceding that children are in a position to make decisions of a sexual nature, a premise that I do not agree with in the slightest. They can hardly remember to do their homework even after constant badgering from their parents and teachers; what makes you think that they will remember to be safe and responsible when it comes to sex? You can teach them all you want, but in no way does that mean that they will actually obey your teachings. Children are like that. Hence I do not believe they should be having sex at least until they are 18 years old, thus while I agree with sexual education and believe that parents need to be more involved, I do not agree with the liberal assumption that kids are going to have sex and we have to accept that.

[FakeName123]

It is a parents duty and not a schools. Yes, ideally schools do that job, but the key should be that parents educate their children on sex and sexuality.

So while it is easy to make schools the scapegoat, should rather ask ourselves why so many people and (potential) parents - including you - expect the school to pretty much do the child-raising.

[NightOwl8801]

Pretty good article , good point.
We do need sex ed in schools

[Anonymous]

Regarding your questions:
4: they would love to make one. Researchers are trying their best!
3: drug makers would love to have no side effects. Researchers are trying their best!!
2: I think they're pretty cheap, as far as medications go. That doesn't mean free - someone has to make them with high quality control, and pharmacies charge to dispense drugs. If you want -better- birth controls, they would need to cost -more- to fund research into them.
1: I don't have a view on if this is necessary or not, but generally, its because of the risk of other drug interactions and side effects and so on. Someone (i. e. the pharmacist) should be aware of it.