In December 2000, the Public Health Laboratory Service report on known cases of sexually transmitted disease was published. This showed a dramatic increase over a 5 year period particularly in teenagers.  Gonorrhoea has increased by 55%, syphilis by 54% and chlamydia by 76%. Chlamydia often causes no symptoms as it causes damage leading to ectopic pregnancies and infertility so the actual incidence is much higher. Nottingham is a sexual disease blackspot with twice the national average rate for gonorrhoea. 1 in 8 teenage girls carry chlamydia compared to 1 in 25 nationally. One clinic has been treating girls as young as 11 for sexually transmitted diseases.

The provision of emergency contraception over a pharmacy counter is expected to lead to a further rise. Girls currently refusing unprotected sex by saying "No because I might get pregnant" will come under greater pressure as the boy can now counter this argument more easily.

Holland has a teenage pregnancy rate 7 times lower than Britain and start sex education earlier. The conclusion for many years has been that improving sex education here will solve the problem. The fact that this strategy is not working has led to a closer look at Holland. Ask parents in the UK who is responsible for sex education and the majority say SCHOOL. In Holland the majority say WE ARE, i.e. parents. The school service is additional. A further survey in the UK showed that the vast majority of parents (92%) thought that they should talk to their children about sex but half of them had never ever done so as they were too embarrassed to do so.  

Parental education is difficult but resources are being made available to help. We do not refer to waiting until age 15 and then handing over a Health Authority booklet about sex! The fact is that each child develops at a different rate so that lectures to a class of children are providing a single service to address a variety of needs. Sexual matters can be addressed from an early age without giving 5 year olds sexual knowledge beyond their years. Small children’s questions can usually be answered simply without detail. Addressing issues as they arise develops a home environment that is supportive and allows improved communication.  

A team at Southampton University analysed how parental attitudes influenced the age at which children have sex. Those whose parents talked to them about sex, which usually emphasised social values and respect for other people, tended to become sexually active later. Those whose parents had a laissez-faire attitude to sex education were sexually active youngest.  

The conclusion is clear. If parents take responsibility for their children’s sex education now, they will protect their child from some of the risks of sex. This should produce a move towards a more responsible generation with even further gains as your children educate your grandchildren.

This site is useful http://www.ncb.org.uk/  (search for sex education forum) and the Family Planning Association has a video "Talking to your kids about sex" http://www.fpa.org.uk .