Can we learn about more in health class?

*Submitted offline by Delaney 

When it comes to learning about sex, I know that I want to learn everything there possibly is to know. And while that statement may seem unspecific, it also says a lot.

While many kids and young adults alike feel very uncomfortable discussing such things, I can honestly say that that is far from the truth as far as I’m concerned. I feel that there is nothing worse than finally being in a sexual situation and not knowing the proper questions to ask or even a comfortable way to say ‘no’. And not only that, but if you are completely and utterly sexually unaware, it affects your response to others things as well; even being attracted to your own gender. It may sound silly to talk about, but what if you’re ever caught in such a situation? I know I have found myself almost on the brink of anxiety because of not knowing how to act towards something like this. And I’m sure many others have as well.

In my case, the things I have found myself most concerned about is the mere peer pressures of losing your virginity, and, if done, the best ways to protect yourself against pregnancy and STD’s. It’s practically terrifying in my mind. I want to know alt there is to know about STD symptoms, and birth control methods, and any other possible ways at all to prevent such things from happening.

In Health, it feels as if students are only taught ‘schematics’ of sex; what goes on inside the body, what sperm is, how ovaries fertilize, etc. But what about what knowing HOW to do it? Even including positions, orgasms (what are THOSE?), can girls touch themselves too, and other things of that nature. An argument to such topics would be ‘talking about these things might provoke kids to engage in sex’. And while Health teachers might know all these things, students might be afraid to ASK about them. So there’s a lack of comfort involved too.

In Health today, we probably talk about a whole lot more than they used to in earlier years. But we still have a long way to go to learn more than just how a sperm combines with an egg.