Why is sex education important for youngsters?

RIGHT DIRECTION: Teens need help to learn to make the right choices, say experts.

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New Delhi: The CBSE may be shying away from explicit diagrams in adolescent manuals, but are we actually harming our teenagers by not telling them the facts of life straight off?

“I have an elder sister, three years elder, when she was in the 8th standard, our school had introduced a concept of sex education. By the time I’d reached class 8, they had stopped it,” says a student Vibhuti Sharma.

Just because you stop talking about sex, doesn't mean teenagers stop thinking about it.

In fact, the fewer adults explain about sex and the inherent dangers, the more convoluted things can get for adolescents.

Says child and adolescent psychiatrist, “There are no boundaries really, young people can get drunk, use drugs, the limits of behaviour do not exist at all. We have known of people who have had four to five sexual partners the same night, or young boys of 15 or 16 who pretend to be much older, go to parties with the sole purpose of having a one night sexual stand.”

The pitfalls of adolescence aren't included the sudden spurt of hormones, discovering the other sex, and even peer pressure, which is why teens might need help to learn to make the right choices.

“When it comes to metros like Delhi, teenagers are very well-versed with sex. They think it's hip and happening. I keep meeting girls who are desperate for a boyfriend, “says gynaecologist, Apollo Hospital, Geeta Chandra.

So what does sex education have to do with that?

“Research shows proper sex education actually empowers them to know their boundaries, it postpones the initiation of sexual activity, reduces teenage pregnancy and STDs,” says Dr Sen.

It might help to keep in mind, for every teenager seemingly in the know when it comes to sex, there's one waiting in the wings, slightly more curious, slightly unsure, and unaware of the power that comes with the choice to just say no, Is that a gamble we're willing to take?