Love, Sex and Relationships

By: Khalid A-H Ansari .. June 13, 2005

London: A booklet, aimed at 13-16 year olds, giving details of oral sex, how teenagers can tell when they are ready to have sex and how to obtain contraception in confidence, has created a storm here.

Called ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’, the booklet published by the fpa , formerly the Family Planning Association, has been produced for use in schools. The legal age of consent in the UK is 16.

According to a London evening compact (tabloid) newspaper, the booklet includes sections on:

• Oral sex, orgasms, being good at sex, contraception and the law.

• Body image, describing cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast enlargement and liposuction.

• Sexual orientation, homophobia and advice about bullying.

• Sexual attraction, with a compatibility quiz and information about hormones and their effects.

• How to tell the difference between love and a crush, how to tell someone you are not interested or that you find them attractive, and handling rejection.

•June 13, 2005rape, how to say no, how to use a condom correctly and emergency contraception.

The chief executive of fpa, Anne Weyman, is reported as saying. “The booklet gives impartial, clear advice that young teens are asking for.

“Young people tell us the sex and relationships education they receive is too biological and they want more information about emotions, sexuality and relationships.”

“They are exposed daily to a range of extraordinary messages about sex and they need clear guidance to make sense of it all.

“Both parents have a role to play in helping young people cope with the realities of relationships and to develop a positive attitude towards their sexual health.”

However, Norman Wells, director of Family Youth Concern is not impressed. He believes a more radical approach was needed to address the issue of under-age sex.

“Publications like these are normalising under-age sexual activity. Over recent decades there has been a tremendous amount of emphasis on providing sex education and making contraception more readily available to young people.

“In that time there has been no change in the under-16 conception rate and spiralling rates of sexually transmitted infections”.

Good sex guide for 13-year-olds