Why Adolescents Should Be Encouraged to Get Sex Education

Sex education is a topic that has been fiercely debated in schools and communities across the globe. Particularly, certain individuals and groups concur that sex education is not appropriate for children and potentially results in negative consequences. According to Raine et al. (2020), several parents and religious organizations assumed that sex education promotes promiscuity and undermines traditional values. These communities may be convinced that discussing sex and contraception encourages sexual activity, which is perceived as immoral or hazardous. However, although numerous people perpetuate this stereotype, there is a lack of clear evidence to support their beliefs. In fact, comprehensive sex education (CSE) has demonstrated its efficacy in encouraging healthy sexual practices and diminishing risky behaviors among adolescents. Teaching sexual health at home or school is indispensable for children and their development (Martinez et al., 2010). Sex education is a trusted source of information and guidance for young people as it can improve mental health, decrease early pregnancy rates, and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
One of the primary benefits of sex education is that it can enhance mental well-being. First, sex education can considerably reduce anxiety and stress related to sexuality and sexual health by providing young people with accurate information and skills to make informed decisions. The provision of decent sex education to adolescents may lead to increased comfort with their bodies and boost their self-esteem, which can decrease sexual anxiety and other mental problems related to those topics. For instance, some teenage girls have concerns about their genital abnormal appearance and color, which may cause great emotional stress. However, in the study “Genital Body Image Education in Young Adolescent Girls: A Proof of Concept Pilot Study” (2023), after watching a video that explains female sexual anatomy, 13–15-year-old girls begin to have positive attitudes towards their genital appearance and body image. The development in adolescent girls’ mindset could be associated more broadly with increased self-esteem and lowered anxiousness. Second, sex education can lessen stigma and shame since it provides factual information about sexual health and behavior, which can dispel false beliefs and inaccuracies. Specifically, it is assumed by certain individuals that the act of engaging in sexual activity is an embarrassment, especially for teenagers. Nevertheless, sex education showed that sex is a basic human need, as long as we know how to protect ourselves. For example, when analyzing the survey responses of participants who had learned about sex education and were able to speak freely about their sexual experiences, the result indicated that clarifying misconceptions about sex humiliation and expanding knowledge about sex education could accelerate the recovery progress from sexual shame (Clark & Noel, The Etiology and Phenomenology of Sexual Shame: A Grounded Theory Study, 2017). Therefore, having a correct view of sex has made adolescents feel less anxious.

An additional advantage of sex education is that it can effectively lower early pregnancy rates among teenagers. Initially, comprehensive sex education offers instruction and guidelines about contraception and safe sex practices, equipping young individuals with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual behavior and decrease the likelihood of unintended pregnancy. This program can teach young people about different methods of contraception, how to use them effectively, and their pros and cons. Hence, by obtaining precise information, teenagers are more likely to use it consistently and correctly, which can help to prevent unpredicted pregnancies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) "Access to and consistent use of effective contraception can reduce unintended pregnancy rates among young people.” Secondly, sex education can help the young develop practical skills to make judicious decisions about their sexual well-being, such as setting boundaries, negotiating safer sex practices, and seảching for sexual health services. This can lead to more positive sexual experiences and reduce the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors that could result in unplanned pregnancy. A study by Guttmacher Institute (2019) showed that sex education programs can help young people to develop a deeper understanding of their own and others' needs and desires, and can also provide opportunities for young people to learn about consent and how to negotiate sexual encounters. By learning how to communicate effectively with their partners and make informed decisions, young people could acquire adequate comprehension of sexual education to avoid early gestation.