The public have a worrying lack of knowledge and understanding about sex, a survey suggests. A poll of 495 people by the Family Planning Association found some thought exercise or urinating after intercourse could prevent pregnancy. The FPA said better sex education was needed, with researchers at Coventry University calling for lessons to be tailored to pupils’ sexual experience.
The government said it was up to teachers to decide on sex education. All secondary schools are required to include sex education as part of their teaching programmed, but there are no rules over the content, leading to complaints that lessons are too biological. The FPA survey, published to coincide with the start of Contraceptive Awareness Week, found that half of people did not know when the most fertile point of a woman’s menstrual cycle was. A third thought exercise, douching or urinating after sex could stop fertilization and 89% did not realize sperm could live inside a woman’s body for up to seven days.
On sex education, only 4% said their experience at school was excellent, 38% described it as poor and 18% said they did not get any. Anne Weyman, chief executive of the FPA, said: “This survey exposes how far the current system of providing sex education is failing and also that people are acutely aware that it is letting them down. Reproductive biology is the only statutory part of the national curriculum and even this isn’t achieving acceptable standards. The FPA also said that better access to sexual health clinics could help improve adults’ knowledge
Bureau Report
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