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Thursday, 28 March 2024

Half of American women feel their sexual education was inadequate

Credit: SWNS STUDIO
Duration: 00:52s 0 shares 2 views

Half of American women feel their sexual education was inadequate
Half of American women feel their sexual education was inadequate

Over half of women (56%) feel they were not given an adequate education when it comes to different types of birth control methods.A new study of 2,000 women ages 18-50 examined the overall attitudes and emotions associated with sexual education and found that one in two felt they were improperly taught about sexual health. Forty-six percent revealed they never had a "sex talk" with either of their parents, and of those that did (38%), the average age was 12 years old. The survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Paragard® IUD found that 54% of those who had a parental sex talk, were given a book about bodily functions. A third (34%) of women who had a sex talk with their parents were shown an awkward video, while 46% said their parents used euphemisms to explain sex.When it came to talk content, it varied.

Three in five (61%) said their parents told them what sex was, but less than half (47%) were taught about birth control. Results also found sexual education in school was uneven seeing as 40% said a lack of education in school was a top contributor to their lack of sexual education. The average respondent had a sexual education class in ninth grade.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they felt the awkward topic contributed to inadequacies in their education.Other elements that played a role in sexual education gaps included religious reasons (42%), shame (36%), not knowing all the available options (34%). The knowledge rift in sexual education only seems to widen around birth control.

Women 41-50 were 33% more likely to be taught about birth control by their parents than respondents 18-25.Nearly one in five (19%) said they never learned about birth control at all, while only 16% said they were taught by their parents and 14% learned in school. The average respondent has changed birth control three times. Forty-one percent admitted they changed methods after receiving a recommendation from a friend, whereas only 38% took a recommendation from their doctor.

A third even did their own research about available birth control forms. In spite of women starting to take charge of their sexual health, 69% did not know there is such a thing as prescription birth control that's hormone free. Hormone-free birth control is something women seem open to exploring seeing as 58% would like to learn more. 

Over half of women (56%) feel they were not given an adequate education when it comes to different types of birth control methods.A new study of 2,000 women ages 18-50 examined the overall attitudes and emotions associated with sexual education and found that one in two felt they were improperly taught about sexual health.

Forty-six percent revealed they never had a "sex talk" with either of their parents, and of those that did (38%), the average age was 12 years old.

The survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Paragard® IUD found that 54% of those who had a parental sex talk, were given a book about bodily functions.

A third (34%) of women who had a sex talk with their parents were shown an awkward video, while 46% said their parents used euphemisms to explain sex.When it came to talk content, it varied.

Three in five (61%) said their parents told them what sex was, but less than half (47%) were taught about birth control.

Results also found sexual education in school was uneven seeing as 40% said a lack of education in school was a top contributor to their lack of sexual education.

The average respondent had a sexual education class in ninth grade.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they felt the awkward topic contributed to inadequacies in their education.Other elements that played a role in sexual education gaps included religious reasons (42%), shame (36%), not knowing all the available options (34%).

The knowledge rift in sexual education only seems to widen around birth control.

Women 41-50 were 33% more likely to be taught about birth control by their parents than respondents 18-25.Nearly one in five (19%) said they never learned about birth control at all, while only 16% said they were taught by their parents and 14% learned in school.

The average respondent has changed birth control three times.

Forty-one percent admitted they changed methods after receiving a recommendation from a friend, whereas only 38% took a recommendation from their doctor.

A third even did their own research about available birth control forms. In spite of women starting to take charge of their sexual health, 69% did not know there is such a thing as prescription birth control that's hormone free.

Hormone-free birth control is something women seem open to exploring seeing as 58% would like to learn more.

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