Sex Education and Sexual Health
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 6 years of experience
Talking about sex education is still considered taboo. However, it is necessary for everyone to know about sexual health. Sex education teaches a person about responsibilities, sexual activity, correct age, fertility, birth control, sex abstinence, etc. Nowadays, people are getting awareness about sexual health through schools and public programs.
If we talk about the earlier times, these things were not given much attention at that time. Also, no one liked to talk about it before marriage. If anyone wanted to talk about this, he was considered wrong by society. There was a lot of controversy about sex education. But today, everyone has become responsible for their health, so they keep themselves aware. Women and men of villages and cities are being educated about sexual health so that sexual diseases and infections, like HIV-AIDS, etc. can be prevented. Children and teenagers should receive sex education to prevent the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and any unwanted pregnancy.
In this article, we will be discussing in detail Sex Education and Sexual Health.
What is Sexual Health?
Sexual health is a state of mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being concerning one’s sexuality. It does not indicate just the absence of a disease or disorder. Good sexual health needs a responsible and positive approach to one’s sexuality, as well as one’s sexual relationships, and also to have safe and pleasant sexual experiences without any violence or discrimination.
This can be further explained under the following sub-headings-
- Women’s Sexual Health
Women need to be educated about their sexual health, and they must also be aware of their sexual organs.
- Vagina – The vagina is the inner part of the women’s genitalia. It remains attached to the uterus and intercourse takes place here. Menstruation and childbirth occur from this place.
( Know more about- What is Vaginoplasty? )
- Breast – The breast is the main part of the women’s chest. It contains fatty tissues and nipples. Women’s breasts develop during adolescence and lactate after childbirth. As compared to a woman, a man’s chest is less developed.
- Uterus – The uterus lies in the lower abdomen region of the woman. It has the shape of a pear and the size of a closed fist. It is attached to the end of the vagina and the fallopian tube. The embryo develops in this place. Apart from this, the menstrual layer is formed in the uterus and the blood flows out every month during the menstrual cycle.
( Know more about- What is C section Delivery? )
- Clitoris – It is an external organ of the female reproductive system. The clitoris is shaped like the lips and is present on the genitals which help to lubricate the vagina.
- Hymen – Hymen is like a membrane within the vagina of women. This membrane contracts the vaginal passage of women. Sometimes, this membrane is broken in women by having sex.
- Ovaries – Ovaries are a part of the female reproductive system that is responsible for the formation of an egg. When this egg gets fertilized by a sperm (from a man’s body during intercourse) it results in pregnancy.
( Know more about- What is Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery? )
- Men’s Sexual Health
The information related to sexual organs and diseases in males is as follows.
- Penis – The reproductive organ of a male is called the penis. This organ is made up of soft tissues. When this tissue is excited, blood gets filled in it. Urine, fluid, and semen are all passed from the penis.
- Excitation in male genitalia – Due to the excitation in the genitals of a man, the penis becomes enlarged and blood gets filled in it.
- Ejaculation – The process of semen release after sexual activity is known as ejaculation.
( Know more about- What is Painful Ejaculation? )
- Circumcision – The upper skin of a man’s penis is removed completely. This is a practice performed due to some religious beliefs for many years. This procedure lowers the chances of urinary tract infections.
( Know more about- What is Circumcision Surgery? )
- Semen – It is a white-colored fluid that comes out of the male’s genitalia. It contains sperm and fluid. This substance comes out of the prostate gland of the male. This substance is released on the stimulation of the male. According to some scientists, the average sperm count in a male is 15 to 200 million per milliliter of semen ejaculation.
- Testicles – The testicles are a major part of the genitalia of men. Testicles are present below the penis, one on either side of the penis. It is also called the scrotal sac, which produces the male hormones. The testicles are connected to many small nerves. The testicles produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone.
( Know more about- What is Vasectomy? )
- Testicular cancer – Cancer of the testicle is called testicular cancer. This cancer is seen in men after the age of 40 but is a rare condition.
( Know more about- What is Testes Cancer Treatment? )
How to prevent sexual diseases in women?
Some of the commonly provided suggestions by gynecologists to prevent sexual diseases are:
- Breast examination: In case of any pain or discomfort in the breast, the gynecologist will get your breasts examined to prevent the risk of breast cancer.
- Pap Smear test: This test is advised to diagnose uterus or cervical cancer.
( Know more about- What is Colposcopy? )
- General hygiene: A doctor must be consulted before washing the vagina and anus with any foreign product to avoid the risk of infections.
- Mammogram: To diagnose breast cancer, the doctor performs the procedure of a mammogram.
( Know more about- What Are the Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases ?)
How to prevent sexual diseases in men?
Some of the commonly provided suggestions by the doctor to prevent sexual diseases in men include:
- Use of condoms: Men should practice safe sex by using condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
( Know more about- What is Condom? )
- General hygiene: The genital area should be kept clean to prevent the chances of infection.
( Know more about- What is Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)? )
Sex Education in Schools
Sex education in schools is generally offered to children from the 7th to 12th grade.
Many laws have been enacted on how sex education should be taught. In most areas of India, schools ask for parental consent about their child’s participation in classes organized for sex education. Most families realize the importance of sex education in children and support the idea of having sex education programs in schools.
Sex Education Programs in schools should include the following aspects-
- Sex Education should be taught by well-trained teachers and staff. The school may even call sex counselors to conduct sex education classes.
- The topic of sex education should be discussed in an age-appropriate and engaging manner for the children.
- The program should include question-answer sessions to solve all the sex-related queries of the students.
- The program should include details about people with different sexual orientations like gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
- Students should be provided with contact details and links to connect with healthcare providers and healthcare services providing them guidance on sexual health and activity.
- The program should include factual details about the reproductive organs and general sexual health.
- The program should include topics such as fertility, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual orientation, HIV / AIDS, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, and adoption.
- The primary focus of sex education in schools is to make the child aware of sexual health issues such as teenage pregnancy and STDs.
- It is important to conduct such programs in collaboration with parents, teachers, and counselors.
( Know more about- What is Myomectomy? )
What are the advantages of providing Sexual Health Education to students?
Sexual health education programs in school benefit the students in the following ways-
- Such programs help in delaying the age of first sexual intercourse.
- Sex education help students in gaining knowledge about the disadvantages of unprotected sex, and encourages safe sexual encounters.
- There is a high possibility of an individual having lesser sex partners after being a part of a sex education program.
- Such programs encourage the use of protection during sexual activities, such as the use of condoms.
- Lastly, sexual health programs help in solving several questions in the inquisitive minds of young students, and may even improve their overall development and academic growth.
( Know more about- What is Prostate Surgery? )
What is the role of the family in Sex Education?
It is extremely important for a child to get correct information about sexual health at an early age.
Some of the important advantages of getting sex education at home are-
- The right kind of sex education at home will encourage the child to clear all their queries, rather than gathering wrong information from outside through their friends, random people, or the internet.
- It is an incorrect notion that sex education by parents can lead to awkwardness with the children. On the contrary, an open discussion about the same will only strengthen the bond between the parents and the child.
- Every child has a certain level of inquisitiveness about their sexuality and sexual encounters. Providing the correct information about the same at an early age at home would help in preventing unwanted pregnancies, and the risk of developing Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like HIV, AIDS, herpes, etc. in the future.
Parents can use age-appropriate and child-friendly language to make the child understand the reproductive system and sexual health in general.
It is highly recommended for all parents to educate their children about sex at an early age at home, which is the first step towards a child’s education.
We hope we could answer your questions about Sexual Health and Sexual Education through this article.
If you would like to get more information about Sexual Health and Sex Education, contact a Gynecologist.
Our only aim is to provide you with information through this article and we do not recommend any medication, treatment, or home remedies. Only a qualified doctor can give you the correct advice and treatment plan.
