Sex education to young girls key for their health: Experts

Nagpur: The sexual and reproductive health of women is hardly ever part of their discussions with doctors. However, experts believe that if certain issues are discussed with girls in their young age, several problems like unwanted pregnancies, infertility, etc can be averted. Awareness of how their bodies function can also help girls make choices that can improve their long-term health and well being.
This topic was discussed on the sidelines of an international conference called Masterclass Infertility that is currently underway in the city. Organized by Shrikhande IVF & Surrogacy Centre in association with Femicare Foundation, the conference was inaugurated on Saturday by Dr Neil Johnson, the president elect of World Endometriosis Society in the presence of Mumbai-based Jaydeep Tank.
“As doctors, we have failed to convey to the people that infertility is an important problem associated with ageing. In fact, in today’s times, it is no less than an epidemic which has gradually been growing. Even now, a huge number of miscarriages happen around the world due to many preventable causes,” said Samuel dos Santos Ribeiro, a clinical fellow in reproductive medicine at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussels, Belgium. Treating these problems retrospectively is not a one-time fix and can take a lot of time, he said.
Dubai-based Dr Ruma Chakraborty agreed. “The number of questions and concerns that young girls have in this regard are apparent during the sex education classes we take. We tell them facts like women who smoke reach menopause five years earlier than those who don’t. When we tell the girls how obesity, smoking or consuming alcohol can have adverse effect on their reproductive health, they are more likely to follow the advice then when those things are connected to morality or habits,” she said.
Dr Tank believes that being aware of their reproductive health is the only way to help them maintain it. “The problem in our country is that sex education is often linked with lack of morality, when the reality is the exact opposite. Girls who are given proper sex education delay having intercourse as the whole mystery and curiosity around the subject is dealt with in a scientific manner. These girls also avoid falling prey to unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse and sexually transmitted diseases,” he added.
‘10% women suffer from endometriosis’
Ten per cent of all women in the world, or 117 million, suffer from conditions like endometriosis, said Dr Neil Johnson, adding, yet, not many women know about them. “They don’t realize that their egg reserves start depleting by the age of 30, and by 42 most would not be able to conceive a child. Symptoms like painful periods, pain during intercourse or bowel movement should not be ignored and be discussed with doctors,” he said.