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Too few know the facts of life14 February 2007 Better sex education is needed to improve sexual health in society according to the fpa, formerly known as the Family Planning Association. The charity is campaigning for sex and relationships education to be a statutory subject in the national curriculum. What is the problem?The fpa reported findings from a survey of 495 adults across Great Britain, highlighting the scale of confusion about sex amongst adults. What did the survey ask?The survey was designed around common questions asked by callers to fpa's national helpline. Respondents were given a number of possible answers to choose from. Gaps in knowledgeThe survey revealed significant gaps in knowledge. For example, people were asked when a woman's most fertile time is (the time in her menstrual cycle when she is able to get pregnant) and half of respondents gave the wrong answer or didn't know. A staggering 89 percent of respondents gave an incorrect answer or didn't know that it is possible for sperm to live inside a woman's body for up to seven days. Myths were also found to add fuel to the confusion. When asked what would stop a woman from becoming pregnant if she did it immediately after sex, some respondents thought that short bursts of vigorous exercise would do the trick. Others thought douching or urinating would prevent fertilisation. The respondents fared better when asked if a man's pre-ejaculate (the fluid a man produces before he ejaculates) contains sperm - although 24 percent of people didn't know or thought it didn't contain sperm. Back to schoolRespondents were also asked to rate the sex education they received at school. Only four percent of people said it was excellent. Most respondents answered negatively and an alarming 18 percent of people said they had not received any sex education at school. Online Poll Using WebSurveyorIs sex education in the national curriculum?No, sex education is not a compulsory part of the curriculum. Some elements of sex education currently form part of the science curriculum as reproductive biology. This covers animals, plants and human reproduction and children are taught hormonal methods of birth control. Most of the core sex education falls under the guidelines for 'personal, social and health education (PSHE)' which is not statutory and not examinable. Rebecca Findlay, spokesperson for the fpa noted that there are examples of schools doing amazing work but the provision is "patchy and very hit and miss. It isn't consistent across all schools and it really isn't good enough," stated Rebecca. Where do people get information about sex?People get information from various sources such as the media, friends and family, which can lead to inconsistency. According to Rebecca, "If people don't have a good foundation it all becomes a real mess". Does sex education have an impact on contraception use?Despite the nation's poor knowledge, almost three-quarters of women aged 16-49 use at least one form of contraception according to National Statistics. The contraceptive pill continues to reign as the most common method of contraception - it was used by a quarter of women in 2004/2005. The second most popular method is the male condom. Rebecca agrees that despite the lack of knowledge about the facts people do still use contraception. "People know about condoms and the pill but people have to take the information they have and act upon it. They might be making the wrong decision for them if they do not have all the facts." There are also implications for sexually transmitted infections. "Any myths or misinformation can be dangerous as people take risks based on the information they have", said Rebecca. Where can I get advice about sex and contraception?Confidential advice and support is available through your GP or sexual health clinic. Further information
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