Empowering Young People: Rethinking Sex Education and Fertility Awareness
When it comes to fertility, we were never really given the full story in school. In fact, the conversation barely scratched the surface - and honestly, that’s left way too many people in the dark about how their own bodies actually work. That’s why in this post, we’re handing the mic over to Dr. Ed Coats, Medical Director at The Evewell West London.
With years of experience helping people understand and protect their reproductive health, Ed’s here to break down the facts we should’ve been taught from the start - and to empower you to take charge of your fertility, whatever your future looks like.
"In school, we were only ever taught how not to get pregnant," Ed told us. "This simplistic approach to sex education has left many young people ill-equipped to understand their own fertility and make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
We totally agree. But what effect does this have as we grow older?
"As a fertility and gynaecological specialist, I see the consequences of this lack of education every day," Ed explained, "with women in their late 30s and early 40s wishing to start their fertility journey, not understanding the impact their age will have on the outcome. It's time to flip the concept of "family planning" on its head and empower young people with the knowledge they need to take control of their reproductive futures."
Early Understanding of Your Fertility is Key to Feeling Empowered
But do we really need to know much about fertility when we're young, carefree and not exactly planning a family any time soon? Over to Ed:
"Family planning isn't just about avoiding unwanted pregnancies; it's about having the knowledge to make choices that align with your life goals.
"First and foremost, it's essential for young people to feel empowered about their fertility. Sex education shouldn't solely focus on the basics of how a baby is made and contraception (and in my day: how to put a condom on a banana…). It needs to go a lot deeper.
"We owe young people an education, so they feel in control of their reproductive health, covering topics such as; the relationship between age and fertility, how lifestyle affects both male and female fertility, the role of hormones, how to track your menstrual cycles, recognising the signs of ovulation, what a fertility test is (and when you should start thinking about having one), explaining what fertility preservation is, and options for building families in the LGBTQ+ community.
"Armed with this knowledge, young people can make informed decisions not only about when and how they want to start a family, but they’ll also have a better understanding of the changes their bodies go through throughout the month, how they can be more in control of their fertility and the most important aspect; how long they can leave it before starting a family."
Navigating Relationships with Consent, Respect and Agency
So how can we advocate for ourselves in our relationships as we grow older?
"It's crucial to emphasise the importance of being in control and understanding consent in sexual relationships," Ed told us. "Sex education should not only cover the mechanics of reproduction but also address issues of consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships.
"With pornography so accessible via smartphones, children are being exposed to sexual content way earlier than ever before, giving them a distorted view of intimacy and relationships.
"By promoting a culture of respect and empowerment, we can help young people navigate sexual encounters with confidence and agency, so when they’re ready, individuals can engage in intimate interactions willingly, fostering healthy relationships built on mutual respect and understanding."
Understanding the long-term impact of STIs
So hang on, why don't they teach us much about STIs in school? Should we really be left to figure this all out by ourselves? According to Ed, this is another area where our traditional sex-ed could have been better...
"Another critical aspect of sex education that often gets overlooked is the discussion of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their impact on future reproductive health. Many STIs can affect fertility, yet this is rarely addressed in traditional sex education curricula, with a focus more on treatment, without explaining the long-term impact.
"Untreated gonorrhoea and chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which if left untreated, can cause scarring and damage to the fallopian tubes, which can result in infertility or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.HPV is a common viral STI that can lead to genital warts and, in some cases, cervical abnormalities that may require treatment and could potentially impact fertility.
"By educating young people about the risks of STIs and the importance of safe sex practices, we can help prevent long-term reproductive consequences."
Male Fertility: Half the Picture, Often Overlooked
And so what about the men? How much are boys taught about fertility and family planning?
"Male fertility is often not spoken about, but it takes both sperm and an egg to make a baby, and a staggering 50% of cases I see at The Evewell fertility clinic involving difficulties conceiving, are due to male infertility." Ed points out.
"There are common lifestyle factors that affect sperm health and will impact fertility, that I don’t think a lot of men even consider. Lifestyle choices such as: smoking and vaping have been proven to cause decreased sperm count, drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels and cause sperm production to decrease, taking steroids can lead to low sperm count, taking recreational drugs negatively affects sperm quality, and even being overweight or obese can affect the quality and quantity of sperm.
"By including discussions about male fertility in sex education and explaining that small lifestyle changes can make significant positive impacts to male fertility, we can hopefully avoid the need for expensive treatments further down the line."
Information is Power
"As Medical Director at The Evewell fertility clinic, I often see patients who struggle with infertility and need IVF to conceive. While these treatments can be life-changing for those who need them, our ultimate goals as fertility specialists, is to prevent infertility whenever possible.
"Empowering young people with knowledge about their fertility isn't just about preventing unwanted pregnancies; it's about giving them the tools they need to plan their futures on their own terms.
"By flipping the script on traditional sex education and embracing a more holistic approach to family planning, we can ensure that future generations are equipped to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and complete their families when the time is right.
"By providing comprehensive sex education that covers everything I’ve talked about in this blog, we can empower young people to take proactive steps to protect their fertility, and so hopefully the only patients I’d get to see would be those interested in a fertility test, earlier in their reproductive life, rather than those requiring several rounds of IVF to complete their families."
Find Ed on Instagram at @edthefertilitydoctor.
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