Beyond Symptom Awareness: Why Comprehensive Sex Education Must Include STI Disclosure and Relationships
A sex education classroom that advocates for “safer sex” but neglects conversations around disclosing and navigating STIs with partners is not comprehensive. Here’s why:
In 2018, the CDC reported 26 million new sexually transmitted infections. Roughly half of these infections occurred between people ages 15-24 (CDC, 2021).
While age-appropriate sex ed is available for all ages, adolescents and young adults are likely the most targeted for general sex ed classes and materials.
Typically, class material include information about STI symptoms and methods to reduce transmission. But the rising rates of STIs proves that this isn’t enough (CDC, 2021; KFF, 2020).
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)defines comprehensive sex ed through seven (7) essential components: 1) gender; 2) sexual and reproductive health and HIV; 3) sexual rights and citizenship; 4) pleasure; 5) violence; 6) diversity; and 7) relationships (IPPF, 2010).
While classrooms satisfy some of the requirements for Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV, conversations around STIs are rarely interwoven with the other six components (IPPF, 2010).
For example: How do you navigate a relationship with someone living with an STI? How do you experience pleasure post-STI diagnosis with self and others when society says otherwise? How do you disclose an STI status (positive or negative) with sexual partners?
The foregoing are just a few questions that STI symptoms and transmission reduction strategies will not answer.
From this perspective, solely educating around STI symptoms, transmission statistics, and STI reduction does little to address stigma and may further perpetuate its existence and place in society.