What does sex education involve?

Sex is still, for some people and in some environments, a taboo subject. Both in schools, where sex education is rarely talked about, and in the family. It’s a sensitive subject, not easy to talk about, and some parents avoid or delay discussing it. Children become teenagers, however, and the interest in sex becomes natural. Good information about sexual health is therefore necessary and it is good to do it early, gradually, with age-appropriate information.

The Internet and the media cannot replace the involvement of a parent, a psychologist or a medical professional specialised in this field. In the media we often encounter sexuality, but far too rarely sex education. There is therefore a need to educate the young public about the responsibilities that sex entails and how intimate relationships can be approached harmoniously and healthily.

Young people need to be prepared for the start of their sexual life, to know the risks they can be exposed to and how they can protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and not only, but also from unplanned pregnancies.

According to the World Health Organization, sexuality education includes learning about the cognitive, emotional, social, interactive and physical aspects of sexuality. At the same time, sex education must be age-appropriate and scientifically accurate, aiming to equip children and young people with information, skills and positive values related to their sexuality. More than that, they need to understand what a healthy relationship means, respect for their sexual health and that of others.

Thus, in order for young people to really enjoy their life as a couple and, implicitly, their sex life, they need to have knowledge about sexuality, about how the reproductive system works in each sex (in addition to the information from biology and anatomy classes) and learn how to take care of their intimate hygiene.

These notions must, however, be complemented by knowledge about sexual behaviour and sexual relationships. In adolescence, like personality, sexual identity is in the making, and what a young person knows about sex and how they relate to sex are the things that will shape their future adulthood and how they approach relationships with the opposite sex and even family life. The fact that each person may perceive sexual pleasure differently may, for example, be one of the topics that could help young people to have a broader perspective on sex as a need and part of the couple relationship.