#fertilityeducation

A group of young volunteers from Brook recently attended a Fertility Health Summit organised by the British Fertility Society, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Laura, one of the volunteers who attended the summit has produced two blogs based on the discussions on the day…

I attended the ‘Fertility Health Summit: Choice not Chance’ in April with Brook. We had the opportunity to represent youth and presented some of our experiences of fertility education to the summit. So, I thought that it would be appropriate to feedback some of what I thought about the summit to other young people - and anyone else who might be interested!

The Fertility Summit was titled: ChoicenotChance.

• Getting pregnant can be prevented through contraception and family planning #choicenotchance

• Getting pregnant can be difficult, and factors such as reproductive health issues and declining fertility with age can be a part of this #choicenotchance

The only way we can have a choice is if we are educated on topics of sexual health and fertility. The earlier we learn, the longer we have to make these choices which will have an impact on the rest of our lives. Don’t leave the next generation’s future to chance.

Fertility education is crucial as it enables young people to make informed choices, and it should be taught in schools as part of a comprehensive sex and relationships education programme. In preparation for the summit I read an article suggesting that a woman’s declining fertility should be taught to 11 year olds. This headline was plucked from something Adam Balen, a fertility expert and facilitator of the summit had said. Do I think that this should be taught in primary schools? Maybe not. In a follow up article titled 'fertility lessons for 11 year olds: why badgering our babies about having babies is plain wrong’ the suggestion was highly criticized. (http://goo.gl/JtWThs)

Indeed, this is not the time to be worrying about your ever impending infertility. It could have a negative impact, putting worry into the minds of young children or encourage the need to find a partner. You don’t need to worry about having children when you are still a child yourself. However, this article was missing the crucial point. That is what is meant by fertility education. The articles main focus is fertility education -  telling primary school children that waiting hit 35 it could be 'too late’. But, doesn’t education on what our body parts do and where babies come from fit into the sector of fertility education?

Puberty hits around the time of the end of primary school towards the beginning of secondary. Bringing with it strange new things - from periods to deepening voices and new emotions. Shouldn’t children be prepared and understand what is happening to their bodies and why? So in this respect, of course fertility should be taught in schools from a young age, but it should be age appropriate getting more in depth as time goes on. Fertility education it should be encompassed within lessons of sexual health. Not as a stand-alone topic. In terms of messages about declining fertility, this should be done at an age where you will have the mind-set and maturity to think 'okay, this is information that I know and may have to think about if I choose to have kids later in life’ but being given the knowledge at school is very important. Firstly, because not all parents will know this information themselves. If, we aren’t taught, how will we be expected to teach our children? Secondly, because if it isn’t given at school then when else will you find this out- maybe at 35 having to use IVF? (Because when you leave school fertility lessons aren’t typically commonplace) Thirdly, because knowledge is power- and I reiterate it is our right to know about our bodies and how they work so that we can make informed choices. Particularly in regards to something that will directly impact our future such as fertility- if we can, when we want to and if we decide to have kids.

Schools are there to educate and prepare us for the real world. And education about fertility is part of this. Withholding information in order to 'protect’ young people is neglectful. Evidence shows that early education on sex and contraception actually delays the age of first sexual encounters.

Some may say sexual health education shouldn’t be taught because it promotes promiscuity. However, a comprehensive sex and relationships education (SRE) programme would include the exploration of when the time is right, avoiding pressures if not ready, and if you think you might want to have sex, how to do so safely. It explores much more that sex, teaching understanding and respect of different genders or sexual orientations (maybe this will help young people understand how they are feeling). It teaches about personal well-being and safety, and in terms of fertility education- rather than promoting sex and teenage pregnancy, it allows the exploration of when the time may be right for an individual to think about having children, and if they want any at all.

Pretending sex doesn’t exist by avoiding the topic will only result in more first-times where a person is ill educated to understand sex and its impacts, or even result in higher rates of coerced sex. Neglecting sex and relationships education could lead to life-long effects like untreated STIs resulting in infertility and a lack of knowledge about contraception resulting in unwanted pregnancies.

By Laura