So how has what we learned or have not learned affect our sexuality? The best way to help adolescents make responsible decisions about their sexual activity and health is to give them comprehensive sex education. This is a passion project of mine having worked with trafficked youth and also my work as a sexual assault nurse examiner. I have studied sex education and I am certified sex counselor as well as a healthcare provider. I am also a community sex educator not only in my private practice but on other platforms as well.
Although most of the teens I work with or treat are already sexually active, most have never had a proper sex ed course. Their information about sex comes usually comes from peers and from social media and sexually explicit content on the internet. The students I teach frequently express concern about their lack of basic knowledge and similar deficits in U.S. education about sexual health have been well documented in research studies.
Nearly 750,000 teenagers in the United States will become pregnant this year; and half of the 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases will be diagnosed in young people ages 15 to 24. The United States ranks first among developed nations in rates of teenage pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Only 38 of America’s 50 states have sex education laws, and 30 of those curricula promote the ideal of abstinence until marriage. Only eight include all components of a comprehensive sex education.
Research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that abstinence-only curricula did not result in positive outcomes for the sexual health of U.S. adolescents. Since 1996, over $1 billion in state and federal funding has been allocated for abstinence-only education, despite evidence showing this approach is ineffective. The sex education that U.S. students receive is often not evidence-based or values-neutral.
Comprehensive sex education, on the other hand, helps young people delay sexual intercourse, increases condom and contraceptive use, and reduces the number of partners. When teens do choose to become sexually active, this curriculum decreases the likelihood and frequency of unprotected sex. Furthermore, students who learn from a version of comprehensive sex ed that includes gay, lesbian, and transgender issues report a safer school environment with less bullying and harassment. Those topics include how to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships, information on how sexually transmitted infections are spread, and tips about ways partners can communicate to prevent pregnancies or infections.
Speaking of communication if we learned this skill earlier on how would that effect consent? How would it help communicate later in adulthood as partners navigate issues with their sexual health. If we knew how to communicate from a younger age around sex and not keep it such a taboo would this help couples talk about complex issues such as pleasure.
This blog is focusing on your sexual health. How you can get to know your body and get to know yourself and what is pleasurable for you. Every person deserves and is capable of a relationship with their body that is positive, fulfilling, authentic, and free of shame. September is Sexual Health Awareness Month, and no better time to have a better understanding of ourselves!! According to the American Sexual Health Association, sexual health must go beyond the outdated views of simply avoiding disease or unplanned pregnancy, and should include exploring pleasure and intimacy when desired, along with respecting the sexual rights we all share. As you think about what sexual health means for you, try to think about your own definitions of sex, how were you taught about sex or not taught about sex, and how that relates to your body. Much like general physical and mental health, sexual health is just as important to your overall well-being. Educating yourself on your body and knowing what you need and may even desire is important to being healthy. Your body, your mind, and your desires all matter when it comes to self-care. That is why at The SHOW Center we take a biopsychosocial approach.
Knowing and understanding sexual health means understanding what safer sex looks like. Some good questions to consider are:
- What does safer sex look like for diverse bodies?
- How can we make sure we’re being safe and taking care of ourselves?
- What are your needs and what are your desires?
Sexual health is multi-faceted and it involves more than being aware of just your body, it also involves encompassing your potential partners! Whatever your gender or sexual orientation may be, it’s important to embrace your sexuality, educate yourself on safer sex, and respect others’ boundaries. Talking about sexuality can be difficult but at The SHOW Center we are here to support and uplift all people! Please remember You have a right to sexual health and pleasure. At The SHOW Center we believe the treatment and care for your body’s most human and natural needs should be an empowering and deeply personal experience.
Let September jumpstart your journey into sexual health awareness and empowerment.
Shine brightly.
Dr. Heather