Teenage sexual health services

[Lil-woowoo]

Hey girlies
At the moment i am working on a presentation for uni, and my choosen subject is teen sexual health services. I just wanna know what your opinons where on them? Do u have one near you that caters for teens? Are you happy going to a family planning clinic? What sorta education re sexual health did u have at school? Sorry for all the questions here.

What i was looking into for my presentation was the idea of drop in clinics at schools, having nurses specially trained to work with teens, give out free contraception, advice, morning after pill, STI/Pregnancy testing. Just wondering if you feel this is a good or bad idea or even if some schools have this in place already.

Thank you for taking the time to read i appreciate all feedback and suggestions x x

 

[trashit]

I don't know of one near me here, but there was the brook in Manchester. I went in there once for a pregnancy test and i thought the people were really lovely and helpful
Education wise i was tought about all the different types of protection, about pregnancies wanted and unwanted, we were shown videos of teen parents and how difficult it was, shown how to use a condom, this was when i was 15 i think.x

EDIT- I don't think one in school would be good either, i honestly don't think it would be used much. Its seen as a taboo thing amongst school children to have sexy time, everyone would be too embarrassed to have everyone know!!
And i know there's somewhere in town to get condoms but i never dare, i've always bought them lol.

 

[leoniebabey]

Hello
there isnt a specific teen one in the area, i think this would be a good idea and also more flexible times as the one here is a hospital GUM clinic and the drop in times are during school hours.

I dont think having one in the school would be good as i think at school age teens would be too embarrased to be seen going in there but a one which was local would definately be a good idea ! I'd be much happier to see people who were specially there to help teens and also as it would be free, i think that would help teens as they may not be able to afford pregnancy tests/contraception.

At school the sex education was shocking, as there was only one teacher willing to do this (the other were i presume embarrased to talk about sex) each class only had 3 lessons at the most per year!
in those 3 lessons we sat and watched a very pointless video which featured a member of mcfly acting out that he had aids (which we of course all found rather funny)
if it wasnt a video we watched then it was information about periods ect which everyone basically knew already

hope this helps

 

[05wilkesm]

we have somewhere to get condoms/pregnancy tests etc in our town, But i think if there was one in school mot many people would go well i wouldnt anyway and i doubt any of my friends would cos i'd feel paranoid about teachers/students talking about it, i prefered to go to the one in town cos atleast then i could go and not have the whole school know about it, But even saying that when i thought i was pregnant i got my own test instead of going there but i always went there for morning after pilss etc, Sorry if i havent been much help lol xx

 

[maceycat]

Well im 17 from Northern Ireland and in school we were only taught that abortion was evil and that it wasnt an option. (catholic school). Our school never had sex talks or gave out condoms. They never showed us how to use condoms. It was all common knowledge. Plus my mothers a nurse so she briefed me.
There are no family planning clinics anywhere near me. When i went to my doctor when i found out I was pregnant he told me that I was stupid and should have used condoms. And at the local hospital, the nurses treated me like complete shit. I had to wait hours to see a nurse and then she gave me weird looks and would barely talk to me.
Really hated it.

It would be completely amazing if schools around me had more sexual education classes, or had a proper school nurse to go to and get condoms or pregnancy tests from. Like in my cousins schools in holland and san francisco... Also, nurses catering to teenage mothers and teenage mothers to be would be great! There were girls at my old school who got pregnant and the teachers made their lives hell. and one girl was 8 months pregnant STILL AT SCHOOL. and they made her wear uniform.. i think thats unfair.

 

[Youngling]

I used to use our local walk in centre when i was younger which i found very good. I went there for a pregnancy test and also got the morning after pill a couple of times from there, haha bet i sound like a right dirt saying that! But they would give free condoms everytime i went with loads of leaflets and would talk to me about contraception.
When i was at college there was also some1 u could go and see, they gave free chlamydia tests, i never went but i did know of people who did.
Sex ed at school was awful, it was done by our teachers and cuz every1s hormonal and just wanted to go out and hump everything in site no1 paid attention and just treat it as a joke
xx

 

[Lil-woowoo]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. It has defo been a great help known what sorta services there are and you have been too. Also thanks for being honest about the clinic at the school, i am now looking at other ideas away from the school but also easily accessable. Goodluck girls with your babies and pregnancy i was also in your shoes a couple of years ago, now have a beautiful 5 year old and finishing off my degree in 4 months. It can be done x x

 

[Torz]

I'm a little older than most of the girls here so my info maybe a bit outdated, but talking to my kid brothers & my 15y/o nephew friends things in the area havent really changed.

I went to a catholic school in Sheffield, we didnt really have sex ed. We had a one hour class when we were 16, about a month before leaving school. We talked about sex, STI's & contriception & the right & wrongs of sex. It was too little too late.

I remember also, when i was about 12, we had two women come in (from where i dont know) to talk to the girls about periods & what sanitary protection was availiable etc.

The only other education we got about sex was reproduction in Biology.

Sheffield has free family planning. There is the main place in the city that is open every day & you dont need to make an apointment for. There was a seperate teen clinic for under 21's which i went to where you can get free contriception of any kind, pregnancy test, morning after pill, counciling, advise, anything really. The nurses there were amazing & didnt judge at all.

There are also other family planning clinics around Sheffield that were only open on certain days.

As someone else said, i dont think having a dedicated clinic in school would be used that often. I know its not somewhere where i would have gone for info & advise due to my peers finding out & been afraid of the school telling my parents. Also, what with going to a catholic school, i dont think they would alow a sex clinic there.

What would have been more useful & i think schools should defo do is provide students with information on where to get free contriception advise. Just something as simple as posters in every class room & corridor detailing where the family planning clinics are, what time they are open & what services they offer would be good. That way information is always there, the kids can go in their own time without feeling embarassed. The only way i found out about our family planning was because my close friends mum had just got a job there. I was 16 at the time which for some teens is too late.