What if the pediatrician provided sexuality education during the office visit? These are the benefits for teens.

The Spanish Association of Pediatrics ( AEP ) recently held its 71st National Congress , where, among other issues, the importance of incorporating key messages about sexuality as part of pediatric care from an early age was addressed.

"Pediatricians have a golden opportunity to provide sexuality education in the office, in a natural and respectful way, from the time children can understand," said psychologist Ana Lombardía during her speech at the conference, where she presented the paper "Let's Talk About Sex: Affection and Sexuality in Pediatric Practices."

The Spanish National Education Association (AEP) echoes the scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of comprehensive sexual education in reducing risky sexual behaviors , such as early initiation of sexual relations, a high number of sexual partners , and unprotected sex . It also focuses on the dangers of accessing pornography as the primary source of sexual information among adolescents. According to data from the Youth Institute, in Spain the average age at which sexual relations begin is 16.2 years , while masturbation begins around age 12 and oral sex at age 14.2.

Despite the prejudices that still exist, the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and various scientific studies emphasize that sexual education does not encourage premature sexual behavior , but rather allows for informed and responsible decision-making.

One of the studies cited at the conference, Three Decades of Research: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education , published in the Journal of Adolescent Health , offers an exhaustive analysis of research conducted over the last 30 years on comprehensive sex education and concludes that the implementation of such programs at various educational levels contributes to reducing risky sexual behaviors , such as early initiation of sexual activity and the number of sexual partners, and encourages the use of contraceptive methods.

The study also reaffirms the hypothesis that comprehensive sex education at an early age establishes a solid foundation of knowledge and healthy attitudes before young people face decisions related to sexuality. The pediatrician's office setting, as these specialists maintain, offers a trusting context for introducing some key messages. " Sex education isn't just about giving talks : sometimes actions are already used to educate, such as referring to genitals by their names, without diminutives or epithets that suggest taboos ; or asking permission to be palpated during checkups, making them feel comfortable at all times and implying that they are the sole owners of their bodies," adds the sexology specialist.

Given the limited time available during pediatric consultations, Lombardía proposes offering this education in a cross-disciplinary manner with brochures, book recommendations, and basic questions: "It's always better for them to receive quality, verified information than to search for it on their own on the internet or through pornography ."

Along these same lines, the Spanish Association of Public Health (AEP) has warned of the negative impact of regular pornography consumption on adolescents . According to the study "Sexual Consent in Adolescence: Influence of the Consumption of "New Pornography" on Decision-Making," published this year in the Annals of Pediatrics, the Spanish Association of Public Health (AEP), adolescents who regularly consume pornography are at greater risk of developing a sexual script based on inequality and degrading treatment, of having unprotected sex, and of becoming victims of cyberbullying and sexual violence.

In the words of its author, Ester Barrios Miras , member of the Bioethics Committee of the AEP, "the lack of comprehensive affective sexual education, focused on identity and sexual orientation, values ​​and respect for others; together with early exposure to pornography, which normalizes offensive, humiliating treatment with absent consent, puts children and adolescents at risk, who acquire knowledge and develop inappropriate sexual behavior." For the expert, " educating is providing a person with a critical spirit . Silence also educates."

The document includes a set of recommendations developed by its authors, pediatricians and bioethics experts, with measures to improve the sexual health of children and adolescents:

-Sexual freedom is a fundamental right that must be fostered and educated from childhood.

-Affective-sexual education should not be limited to knowledge of biology and disease , but should extend to include knowledge, attitudes, values ​​and sexual behaviors in individuals.

-During compulsory education, affective-sexual education must be a continuous and compulsory process and must be explicitly included in the curriculum.

-He Silence also educates,sexuality cannot be a taboo subject for children.

-The pediatrician should advise parents to talk about sexuality with their children, using correct terms and avoiding euphemisms that could confuse the child.

-There are risk factors in adolescence related to the addictive use of pornography, which the pediatrician should focus on to prevent problematic use.

-Access control mechanisms for pornography should be more restrictive; merely declaring oneself of legal age should not be a sufficient condition.

-Autonomy is encouraged from childhood ; active participation in decision-making is the path to a mature child.

-Pornographic literacy should be encouraged ; critical viewing of explicit sexual images in close environments (family, classroom) can contribute to a better understanding of the risks arising from them.

-Measures are needed to help people discuss sexuality openly and respectfully in close settings, so that adolescents can freely and maturely engage in sexual relations , understanding that only those who wish to do so can consent.