A new study has shown that young people are at risk of leaving school without knowing the most basic reproductive knowledge needed for late life
University College London(UCL) researchers looked at what UK schools were expected to teach children aged between 14 and 18 using curriculum guidelines and exam board specifications.
It found that there were serious gaps in what pupils were taught about sexual and reproductive health.
Senior author of the study, Dr Joyce Harper, said the findings leave children with gaps in their understanding and learning needed for their reproductive health.
She said: “We have found significant variation and gaps in the current UK science and biology curricula for children aged between 14 and 18 years old as they relate to sexual health: there is a potential for better alignment of science, and relationships and sex education teaching.£
The research team found that most pupils were expected to learn about sexually transmitted diseases, hormonal aspects of conception, contraception, and the menstrual cycle, but important aspects such as fertility, endometriosis, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause were missing from the curriculum and science assessments.
Professor Harper, who hosts the podcast, Why didn’t anyone tell me this? Said better reproductive health education is crucial for young people.
She said: “Government departments, teachers, parents and others should all play a role in deciding what to include in the curriculum.
“Poor fertility education at school is a major reason for people being unable to have children when they want them.
“Improvements in education could also help address unrealistic media portrayals of fertility and the relatively low success of procedures such as IVF.”
Scotland was found to have the most comprehensive coverage in its curriculum.
The research team is planning to start work on further studies and will work with five schools to see how they use a teachers’ resource which they have created with the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration, which Dr Harper founded and chairs.
The study’s findings were recently published in the Human Fertility Journal.
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