should infertility be taught in Sex Ed?

[Kimiw]

Hi ladies, so what do you think about infertility being taught in sex ed? I got to thinking about my youth, when I was in 6th grade sitting in sex ed and learning all about the birds and the bees. Is it just me, or did they make it seem like getting pregnant was as easy as not using a condom? I know that they were probably trying to prevent teen pregnancy by scaring us but honestly is that fair? I didn't know much about infertility until I experienced it myself. I always thought having sex without a condom meant you were going to be pregnant but boy, was I ever wrong.

If I had known that there were such things out there such as PCOS (which is what I have) I would have looked into this much earlier in my adulthood or late teen years so that I would be better prepared for my future. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2009, which was 3 years after me and DH had started ttc. I think that the schools need to educate people more about it especially now that childhood obesity is becoming a problem, and PCOS is linked to obesity (not in all cases) and PCOS is also linked to other serious health concerns.

What do ladies think? Do you think that our youth should be educated about infertility? After all, it is very real.

 

[tribble]

I agree completely!

Except when I start thinking about having horny teenagers of my own someday... I want them to think holding hands will get them pregnant LOL!

 

[tamithomas]

I did a thread about the same topic a couple of months ago and I agree, at least a hint of it should be thrown in. After all, why hide the reality when sadly Infertility is at a record high at the moment? You know, not teach them that everyone is infertile so everyone its okay to have sex but, at least throw in that yes it can happen so it's not such a big lead on for when you actually start trying.

 

[Kimiw]

I did a thread about the same topic a couple of months ago and I agree, at least a hint of it should be thrown in. After all, why hide the reality when sadly Infertility is at a record high at the moment? You know, not teach them that everyone is infertile so everyone its okay to have sex but, at least throw in that yes it can happen so it's not such a big lead on for when you actually start trying.

I agree with that. Like I said, I know that they are trying to scare teens so they don't get pregnant, but I think it is still important to throw it in the mix by explaining that it DOES exsist so they are more aware that they or somebody they know may deal with it and they will have a better idea about how to respond. I think that the lack of education is why so many people are quick to ask questions such as, "when are you having kids, why don't you have kids, shouldn't you have a few kids by now?" I didn't realize how common it was until I was one of them. I thought that infertlity was very rare and I would not be one of them, but I was very wrong. Like I said about childhood obesity and PCOS, I think it is especially important for these young women to know about, and not just from the fertility aspect but from the different medical problems that are linked to it. Such as heart desease, diabetes, hypertention,facial hair, balding, and more. I wish I had known about this a long time ago, it would have explained a lot of things that were going on with me that I didn't realize came from PCOS.

 

[tamithomas]

luckily for my friend, she was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 14 but that was the only because the cysts were so painful she needed to go to the ER. Some women don't show symptoms until later on in life sadly. That's another reason I find it so sad that kids pick on each other in high school..not all overweight people are lazy and eat junk food, many medical factors can be involved including PCOS.

 

[Kimiw]

luckily for my friend, she was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 14 but that was the only because the cysts were so painful she needed to go to the ER. Some women don't show symptoms until later on in life sadly. That's another reason I find it so sad that kids pick on each other in high school..not all overweight people are lazy and eat junk food, many medical factors can be involved including PCOS.

Your are very right. I think it is sad too that kids pick on eachother. Not all overweight people are lazy and eat like pigs! PCOS is an aweful desease that contributes to weight problems. As my doctor put it, an adverge person could eat nothing but cheese burgers for a week and gain a pound or two, a PCOS patient will gain like 10. NOT that he was saying one should do it, it was just an example lol.

 

[AndyD]

i'm so glad i'm not the only one who feels this way about it! i was always a late bloomer in every aspect of life and i so wish i had known how difficult it could be to conceive the older you get. i was so busy enjoying life in my twenties, didn't even think twice i might be wasting precious time. the point is, because we're not educated on infertility as teenagers, many of us are completely unaware of the prolific number of women who struggle! i always took care of my body etc and it just seemed like such a one in a million issue to me until i ended up here myself!

 

[wristwatch24]

I have thought about this a lot! On one hand, it should be talked about so girls can be prepared for it in the future. On the other, we don't want to mention that infertility is on the rise because then the whole "it won't happen to me" thing would have yet another reason.

I am a high school teacher, and I'm really not sure how these kids would handle it. I wish I had known more about it in school (particularly about how your fertility declines as you get older), but I was also the kid who barely even kissed, let alone had sex, lol!

It's definitely a tough thing!

 

[dodgercpkl]

I think that sex ed should incorporate teaching kids the need to understand their own bodies. Realize that things like irregular periods and pain during your period can very much mean that there is a bigger problem. I VERY much think that schools should pull the focus AWAY from birth control pills. Until they start doing mandatory testing for clotting factors before giving out BCP... AND start educating people that BCP can cause serious issues even in people who don't have clotting issues because it suppresses your bodies processing of folate, B6 and B12, BCP should truly be a last resort and not a first one like it is today.

 

[wonderstars]

I think school can provide some teaching but it hits a difficult area because different parents want different things. Different schools also teach in different ways. I think a healthcare professional, such as a nurse, should be providing this information but with the lack of funding from schools, sometimes it puts a teacher in an uncomfortable position to teach something they weren't expecting to.

I do think a focus should be placed on paediatricians and family doctors taking the responsibility to incorporate this in their annual physicals and teaching. This is where I think school can become involved. It doesn't take a healthcare professional to teach about taking proper care of yourself, ensuring you get annual physicals, eating healthy, exercise etc....

Infertility is becoming more common but there are so many more aspects to it. Teaching about preventing pregnancy can just start with ... wear a condom at the very least. I do agree about someone mentioning BCP. Again, I don't think schools should be teaching about that but the family doctor/paediatrician need to start incorporating this teaching as part of their practice.

Heck, I'm a neurology nurse and I still teach my 18 year old patients about the basics! Makes me wonder how much they're getting from Sex-Ed anyway...

 

[CanadianMaple]

I think it should come with the older sex ed classes, and just touched upon. I would like them to be aware, but not worry and not think they should go TTC right away, just in case they face IF when they are older.

But in all honestly, I wish they would teach the fertility signs like cervical fluid changes. I used to think I had something wrong with me when I would see all that EWCM. They could also talk a lot about irregular periods, STIs causing IF later, etc...

 

[wristwatch24]

I think it should come with the older sex ed classes, and just touched upon. I would like them to be aware, but not worry and not think they should go TTC right away, just in case they face IF when they are older.

But in all honestly, I wish they would teach the fertility signs like cervical fluid changes. I used to think I had something wrong with me when I would see all that EWCM. They could also talk a lot about irregular periods, STIs causing IF later, etc...

I TOTALLY AGREE! I think TCOYF would be a good book to read out of for health classes!

 

[tommyg]

TBH I don't think they should.

They are trying to drum into kids heads that pregnancy can happen the very first time you have sex and reduce the number of teenage pregnancys. We all know kids have the "it won't happen to me" attidute these things only happen to other people and to think they have a 1 in 5 chance of having trouble conceiving then they might be tempted to take the risk.

Maybe we should all speak about TTC more and prevent it being the taboo subject that it is. Maybe I have always known about infertiliy as neither of my grans sisters were able to have a family of their own and were like extra sets of grandparents to me. So when it came to me TTC I was ready prepared that it might not happen that easily.

 

[tamithomas]

TBH I don't think they should.

They are trying to drum into kids heads that pregnancy can happen the very first time you have sex and reduce the number of teenage pregnancys. We all know kids have the "it won't happen to me" attidute these things only happen to other people and to think they have a 1 in 5 chance of having trouble conceiving then they might be tempted to take the risk.

Maybe we should all speak about TTC more and prevent it being the taboo subject that it is. Maybe I have always known about infertiliy as neither of my grans sisters were able to have a family of their own and were like extra sets of grandparents to me. So when it came to me TTC I was ready prepared that it might not happen that easily.

You were only the few lucky ones who knew about it. Most of us got brought up and brainwashed with the "it's as easy as one two three" mentality which set us up for major dissapointment. A dissapointment that could've been a bit easier to deal with hadn't we been spoon fed loads and loads of bull. I can understand where the schools are coming from trying to prevent Teen pregnancy but instead of brainwashing to kids with bull, how about just encouraging them to use protection and instead of wasting time telling kids everyone is perfect and no one has problems reproducing, spend that time teaching them that yes it does happen pregnancy for the most is very easy so in that case use protection or don't have sex. But, also mention about PCOS and actually encourage kids to get themselves checked out in the gynecology department. I'm not saying have the boys go get SA and the girls get their folicles counted for, but just get over all exams.