Sexuality Education

December 12, 2024

When a Lancaster County high school student approached Kayla Cook for assistance in providing free period products to her classmates, she asked the right person.

Cook, a patient safety and Just Culture coordinator at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, is the founder of the community nonprofit Warwick United, which plays an important role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and providing small acts of service to a local school district.

The student had taken it upon herself to put a variety of free period products in school bathrooms. She was hopeful that Cook could assist her in growing her anonymous acts of kindness into a program that supports young people who are menstruating.  Read More

August 29, 2024

This is putting young people at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions and unplanned pregnancies.

The new data was published as part of the multi-part Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, which surveyed over 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries in Europe, central Asia, and Canada from 2014 to 2022.

The UN health agency said the data showed that “it is clear that the decrease in condom use is pervasive, spanning multiple countries and regions”.  Read More

July 16, 2024

A necessary read for the girls, gays and theys and our allies as we navigate a rapidly changing, culturally fraught, complicated country where our bodies are constantly being legislated. Sign up for Honey today!

TDLR: In the years following the Dobbs decision, conservatives have sought to influence other aspects of reproductive and sexual wellness at both the Supreme Court and state levels. This year alone, over 50 bills have been introduced in 28 states attempting to block students’ access to comprehensive sex education. Meanwhile, experts say comprehensive sex ed is vital for students.  Read More

June 20, 2024

Philadelphia ranks No. 1 among U.S. cities for new sexually transmitted infections – STIs – according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is up from fifth place in 2023 and puts Philadelphia ahead of four cities that previously rated higher: Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans and St. Louis.

Among 15- to 24-year-olds in Philadelphia, syphilis cases have shot up 30% since 2019, while cases of gonorrhea increased 18%. Chlamydia cases are down 13% from pre-pandemic numbers among this age group, but remain high.  Read More

June 17, 2024

Children across the United States who identify as LGBTQ+ say the sexual health education curricula they receive is leaving them without essential information to make informed decisions about their sexual health—which could force them to seek potentially dangerous advice elsewhere.

The results of a new national survey show that these young people—aged 13 to 17—believe crucial topics surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity are being omitted from sexual health education programs.

Experts who led the study—published in The Journal of Sex Research, as people around the world celebrate Pride month—say the addition of key items in the curricula could be “life-saving.”  Read More

April 29, 2024

Recent data shows that kids are interested in and participating in sexual behavior. According to the CDC’s 2023 “Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” 30% of high school students reported being sexually active. Among younger students, a 2020 study reports that half of 11-to-13 year-olds have viewed pornography. Another 2021 study shows that 34.8% of 13-to-18 year-olds have received a sext.

May is #SexEdforAll Month, an annual initiative to encourage accessible sex education for young people. While research has consistently shown strong support for sex education among parents and educators, the U.S. currently does not have a national sex education program, leaving programs to vary significantly state by state in terms of funding and accessibility. Read More

April 17, 2024

Most teenagers dread talking about sex with their parents. Their parents feel the same way. In some societies it’s considered taboo to even broach the subject. And, even where sexuality education is taught at schools, research has shown that effective communication between young people and teachers is hindered because of age differences and, in some places, because of the societal taboos.

How might technology improve the situation?

Adolescents spend a lot of time on their electronic devices. A study in the US found that teens were using their phones, tablets or laptops for social media, gaming and texting for about 8½ hours every day; tweens (ages 8 to 12) rack up about 5½ hours daily.  Read More

May 9, 2024

Kids are so curious! As their bodies change and they try to understand aspects of themselves and the world, more questions about this time will come in. It’s important to have a range of books that address their curiosity as well as resources with modern and age-appropriate responses. Kids today are also exposed to a different degree of body questions around gender and identity, as well as common questions around puberty and sexuality.

Below, we are sharing a range of books that address everything from where babies come from and understanding the body to teens’ learning of sexuality and sexual health. Featuring modern language and illustrations, these books are designed to be read with your kids to help them navigate this time and provide you with tools and responses to navigate these conversations in a less “cringy” manner. Happy reading! Read More

April 17, 2024

There’s a deeply rooted misconception that if youth are educated about sex, they’re more likely to engage in it—yet research shows that when young people are empowered with knowledge about reproductive health, pregnancy rates go down.

In a new study published in PLOS One, a team of University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health researchers found that the benefits don’t end there. In fact, comprehensive sexuality education has the potential to strengthen young peoples’ families, schools and communities as well. Read More

April 12, 2024

More research is needed to address the impact of harmful masculinities on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), according to a new priority research agenda drawing on a global survey of researchers that was published today in The Lancet Global Health.  Read More

With guidance from religious extremists, a Republican-majority school board in Bucks County, Penn. is on course to achieve a trifecta in anti-LGBTQ+ policies. The board of directors of the Central Bucks School District has proposed a ban transgender student-athletes from competing according to their gender identity.

Central Bucks has already been accused of discriminating against LGBTQ+ students by introducing policies banning Pride flags in classrooms and prohibiting library books with what the board considered “sexualized content.” Read More

January 17, 2024

Bucks County’s got some alarming statistics to deal with of late. Teen pregnancy and STD rates complicate the lives of young people in the region.

According to the Bucks County Department of Health, the number of young people infected with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea has skyrocketed and is climbing. Read More

March 30, 2023
With the recent overture of Roe v. Wade, reproductive issues have been frequently circulating in the media. Yet while access to abortion is still being protected in Pennsylvania, adequate education about sexual health is paradoxically not. Read More

July 11, 2022
On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, removing constitutional protections for abortion, and all but ensuring that the procedure will become illegal in over half of states.” Read More