7,690
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Sex and fertility education in England: an analysis of biology curricula and students’ experiences

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon

References

  • Albury, K. 2014. “Porn and Sex Education, Porn as Sex Education.” Porn Studies 1 (1–2): 172–181. doi:10.1080/23268743.2013.863654.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2005. “The Importance of Preconception Care in the Continuum of Women’s Health Care. Committee Opinion No. 313.” Obstetrics and Gynecology 106 (3): 665–666. doi:10.1097/00006250-200509000-00052.
  • Barker, M., S. U. Dombrowski, T. Colbourn, C. H. D. Fall, N. M. Kriznik, W. T. Lawrence, S. A. Norris, et al. 2018. “Intervention Strategies to Improve Nutrition and Health Behaviours before Conception.” The Lancet 391 (10132): 1853–1864. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30313-1.
  • Barrense-Dias, Y., C. Akre, J.-C. Surís, A. Berchtold, D. Morselli, C. Jacot-Descombes, and B. Leeners. 2020. “Does the Primary Resource of Sex Education Matter? A Swiss National Study.” The Journal of Sex Research 57 (2): 166–176. doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1626331.
  • Bishop, M. D., A. B. Mallory, M. Gessner, D. M. Frost, and S. T. Russell. 2021. “School-based Sexuality Education Experiences across Three Generations of Sexual Minority People.” The Journal of Sex Research 58 (5): 648–658. doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1767024.
  • Bragg, S., R. Ponsford, R. Meiksin, L. Emmerson, and C. Bonell. 2021. “Dilemmas of School-based Relationships and Sexuality Education for and about Consent.” Sex Education 21 (3): 269–283. doi:10.1080/14681811.2020.1788528.
  • Breuner, C. C., G. Mattson, C. C. Breuner, W. P. Adelman, E. M. Alderman, R. Garofalo, and A. V. Marcell. 2016. “Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health 138 (2): e20161348. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1348.
  • Bunting, L., I. Tsibulsky, and J. Boivin. 2013. “Fertility Knowledge and Beliefs about Fertility Treatment: Findings from the International Fertility Decision-making Study.” Human Reproduction 28 (2): 385–397. doi:10.1093/humrep/des402.
  • Cense, M., S. de Grauw, and M. Vermeulen. 2020. “‘Sex Is Not Just about Ovaries’. Youth Participatory Research on Sexuality Education in the Netherlands.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (22): 8587. doi:10.3390/ijerph17228587.
  • Daniluk, J. C., and E. Koert. 2015. “Fertility Awareness Online: The Efficacy of a Fertility Education Website in Increasing Knowledge and Changing Fertility Beliefs.” Human Reproduction 30 (2): 353–363. doi:10.1093/humrep/deu328.
  • Department for Education. 2017. “Changes to Teaching of Sex and Relationship Education, and PSHE.” https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-teaching-of-sex-and-relationship-education-and-pshe%0Ahttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-teaching-of-sex-and-relationship-education-and-pshe%0Ahttps://www.gov.uk/government/consult
  • Department for Education. 2021. “Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education.” https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1019542/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf
  • Department for Education and Employment. 2000. “Sex and Relationship Education Guidance.” http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/dfee/2000-sex-education.pdf
  • Elia, J. P., J. Tokunaga, P. Venka Simovska, and D. Ros Kane. 2015. “Sexuality Education: Implications for Health, Equity, and Social Justice in the United States.” Health Education 115 (1): 105–120. doi:10.1108/HE-01-2014-0001.
  • European Expert Group on Sexuality Education. 2016. “Sexuality Education – What Is It?” Sex Education 16 (4): 427–431. doi:10.1080/14681811.2015.1100599.
  • Fleming, T. P., A. J. Watkins, M. A. Velazquez, J. C. Mathers, A. M. Prentice, J. Stephenson, M. Barker, et al. 2018. “Origins of Lifetime Health around the Time of Conception: Causes and Consequences.” The Lancet 391 (10132): 1842–1852. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30312-X.
  • Gluckman, M., H. A. Vlach, and C. M. Sandhofer. 2014. “Spacing Simultaneously Promotes Multiple Forms of Learning in Children’s Science Curriculum.” Applied Cognitive Psychology 28 (2): 266–273. doi:10.1002/acp.2997.
  • Goldman, J. D. G. 2012. “A Critical Analysis of UNESCO’s International Technical Guidance on School-Based Education for Puberty and Sexuality.” Sex Education 12 (2): 199–218.
  • Goldstein, A. 2020. “Beyond Porn Literacy: Drawing on Young People’s Pornography Narratives to Expand Sex Education Pedagogies.” Sex Education 20 (1): 59–74. doi:10.1080/14681811.2019.1621826.
  • Government, U. K. 2017. “Children and Social Work Act 2017.” https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/1774
  • Green, J., and N. Thorogood. 2004. Qualitative Methods for Health Research. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.
  • Hadjichambis, A. C., Y. Georgiou, D. Paraskeva-Hadjichambi, E. A. Kyza, and D. Mappouras. 2016. “Investigating the Effectiveness of an Inquiry-based Intervention on Human Reproduction in Relation to Students’ Gender, Prior Knowledge and Motivation for Learning in Biology.” Journal of Biological Education 50 (3): 261–274. doi:10.1080/00219266.2015.1067241.
  • Hampton, K., and D. Mazza. 2015. “Fertility-awareness Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Women Attending General Practice.” Australian Family Physician 44 (11): 840–845.
  • Harper, J. C., J. Hepburn, G. Vautier, E. Callander, T. Glasgow, A. Balen, and J. Boivin. 2021. “Feasibility and Acceptability of Theatrical and Visual Art to Deliver Fertility Education to Young Adults.” Human Fertility 24 (2): 129–135.
  • Harper, J., J. Boivin, H. C. O’Neill, K. Brian, J. Dhingra, G. Dugdale, G. Edwards et al. 2017. “The need to improve fertility awareness.” Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online 4: 18–20.
  • Hubach, R. D., C. R. Story, J. M. Currin, A. Woods, A. Jayne, and C. Jayne. 2019. “’What Should Sex Look Like?’ Students’ Desires for Expanding University Sexual Assault Prevention Programs to Include Comprehensive Sex Education.” Qualitative Health Research 29 (13): 1967–1977. doi:10.1177/1049732319844502.
  • Jozkowski, K. N. 2015. “Beyond the Dyad: An Assessment of Sexual Assault Prevention Education Focused on Social Determinants of Sexual Assault among College Students.” Violence Against Women 21 (7): 848–874. doi:10.1177/1077801215584069.
  • Kantor, L. M., and L. Lindberg. 2020. “Pleasure and Sex Education: The Need for Broadening Both Content and Measurement.” American Journal of Public Health 110 (2): 145–148. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305320.
  • Kubicek, K., W. J. Beyer, G. Weiss, E. Iverson, and M. D. Kipke. 2010. “In the Dark: Young Men’s Stories of Sexual Initiation in the Absence of Relevant Sexual Health Information.” Health Education & Behavior 37 (2): 243–263. doi:10.1177/1090198109339993.
  • Kudesia, R., E. Chernyak, and B. McAvey. 2017. “Low Fertility Awareness in United States rRproductive-aged Women and Medical Trainees: Creation and Validation of the Fertility & Infertility Treatment Knowledge Score (FIT-KS).” Fertility and Sterility 108 (4): 711–717. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.07.1158.
  • Lauritsen, M. P., J. G. Bentzen, A. Pinborg, A. Loft, J. L. Forman, L. L. Thuesen, A. Cohen, D. M. Hougaard, and A. N. Andersen. 2014. “The Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in a Normal Population according to the Rotterdam Criteria versus Revised Criteria Including Anti-Müllerian Hormone.” Human Reproduction 29 (4): 791–801. doi:10.1093/humrep/det469.
  • Littleton, F. K. 2012. “Fertility, the Reproductive Lifespan and the Formal Curriculum in England: A Case for Reassessment.” Sex Education 12 (5): 483–497. doi:10.1080/14681811.2011.627724.
  • Lundsberg, L. S., L. Pal, A. M. Gariepy, X. Xu, M. C. Chu, and J. L. Illuzzi. 2014. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Conception and Fertility: A Population-based Survey among Reproductive-age United States Women.” Fertility and Sterility 101 (3): 767–774. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.12.006.
  • Macdowall, W., K. G. Jones, C. Tanton, S. Clifton, A. J. Copas, C. H. Mercer, M. J. Palmer, et al. 2015. “Associations between Source of Information about Sex and Sexual Health Outcomes in Britain: Findings from the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3).” BMJ Open 5 (3): e007837. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007837.
  • Mason‐Jones, A. J., D. Sinclair, C. Mathews, A. Kagee, A. Hillman, and C. Lombard. 2016. “School‐based Interventions for Preventing HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Pregnancy in Adolescents.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 11 (11): CD006417. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006417.pub3.
  • Mogilevkina, I., J. Stern, D. Melnik, E. Getsko, and T. Tydén. 2016. “Ukrainian Medical Students’ Attitudes to Parenthood and Knowledge of Fertility.” The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care 21 (2): 189–194. doi:10.3109/13625187.2015.1130221.
  • NICE. 2019. “Ectopic Pregnancy and Miscarriage: Diagnosis and Initial Management NICE Guideline [NG126].” https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng126
  • Ofsted. 2013. “Not yet Good Enough: Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education in Schools.” https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/413178/Not_yet_good_enough_personal__social__health_and_economic_education_in_schools.pdf
  • Oringanje, C., M. M. Meremikwu, H. Eko, E. Esu, A. Meremikwu, and J. E. Ehiri. 2016. “Interventions for Preventing Unintended Pregnancies among Adolescents.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2: CD005215. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005215.pub3.
  • Ponsford, R., E. Allen, R. Campbell, D. Elbourne, A. Hadley, M. Lohan, G. J. Melendez-Torres, et al. 2018. “Study Protocol for the Optimisation, Feasibility Testing and Pilot Cluster Randomised Trial of Positive Choices: A School-based Social Marketing Intervention to Promote Sexual Health, Prevent Unintended Teenage Pregnancies and Address Health Inequalities in England.” Pilot and Feasibility Studies 4 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1186/s40814-017-0145-8.
  • Pound, P., S. Denford, J. Shucksmith, C. Tanton, A. M. Johnson, J. Owen, R. Hutten, et al. 2017. “What Is Best Practice in Sex and Relationship Education? A Synthesis of Evidence, Including Stakeholders’ Views.” BMJ Open 7 (5): e014791. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014791.
  • Rabbitte, M., and M. Enriquez. 2019. “The Role of Policy on Sexual Health Education in Schools.” The Journal of School Nursing 35 (1): 27–38. doi:10.1177/1059840518789240.
  • Rao, M., K. S. Broughton, and M. J. LeMieux. 2020. “Cross-sectional Study on the Knowledge and Prevalence of PCOS at a Multiethnic University.” Progress in Preventive Medicine 5 (2): e0028. doi:10.1097/pp9.0000000000000028.
  • Reiss, M. J. 2018. Reproduction and sex education. In: K. Kampourakis, and M. J. Reiss (Eds) Teaching Biology in Schools: Global Research, Issues, and Trends (pp. 87–98). New York: Routledge.
  • Rogers, P. A. W., T. M. D’Hooghe, A. Fazleabas, C. E. Gargett, L. C. Giudice, G. W. Montgomery, L. Rombauts, L. A. Salamonsen, and K. T. Zondervan. 2009. “Priorities for Endometriosis Research: Recommendations from an International Consensus Workshop.” Reproductive Sciences 16 (4): 335–346. doi:10.1177/1933719108330568.
  • Roseman, M. J., and A. M. Miller. 2011. “Normalizing Sex and Its Discontents: Establishing Sexual Rights in International Law.” Harvard Journal of Law & Gender 34 (2): iii–376.
  • Rovei, V., G. Gennarelli, T. Lantieri, S. Casano, A. Revelli, and M. Massobrio. 2010. “Family Planning, Fertility Awareness and Knowledge about Italian Legislation on Assisted Reproduction among Italian Academic Students.” Reproductive Biomedicine Online 20 (7): 873–879. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.03.024.
  • Smith, C. D., and D. Scarf. 2017. “Spacing Repetitions over Long Timescales: A Review and A Reconsolidation Explanation.” Frontiers in Psychology 8: 962. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00962.
  • Stephenson, J., N. Heslehurst, J. Hall, D. A. J. M. Schoenaker, J. Hutchinson, J. E. Cade, L. Poston, et al. 2018. “Before the Beginning: Nutrition and Lifestyle in the Preconception Period and Its Importance for Future Health.” The Lancet 391 (10132): 1830–1841. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30311-8.
  • Sydsjö, G., K. E. Selling, K. Nyström, C. Oscarsson, and S. Kjellberg. 2006. “Knowledge of Reproduction in Teenagers and Young Adults in Sweden.” The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care 11 (2): 117–125. doi:10.1080/13625180600557589.
  • Tanton, C., K. G. Jones, W. Macdowall, S. Clifton, K. R. Mitchell, J. Datta, R. Lewis, et al. 2015. “Patterns and Trends in Sources of Information about Sex among Young People in Britain: Evidence from Three National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.” BMJ Open 5 (3): e007834. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007834.
  • UNESCO. 2018. “International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence-informed Approach for Schools.” Revised edition. https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/ITGSE.pdf
  • Welch, J., and F. Mason. 2007. “Rape and Sexual Assault.” British Medical Journal 334 (7604): 1154–1158. doi:10.1136/bmj.39211.403970.BE.
  • WHO (World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe and BZgA). 2010. Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe: A Framework for Policy Makers, Educational and Health Authorities and Specialists. Cologne: World Health Organization.
  • Wojcieszek, A. M., and R. Thompson. 2013. “Conceiving of Change: A Brief Intervention Increases Young Adults’ Knowledge of Fertility and the Effectiveness of in Vitro Fertilization.” Fertility and Sterility 100 (2): 523–529. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.050.