NHS leaflet tells children they have ‘right’ to sex

BY ED WEST
AN NHS LEAFLET is telling children they have a “right” to an enjoyable sex life and that regular intercourse and masturbation can be good for their cardiovascular health.
The document, called Pleasure, advises parents, teachers and youth workers to tell pupils about the benefits of sexual pleasure. Its authors say that sex education has focused too much on “safe sex” and loving relationships rather than focusing on thrills.
Alongside the slogan “an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away”, it says: “Health promotion experts advocate five portions of fruit and veg a day and 30 minutes’ physical activity three times a week. What about sex or masturbation twice a week?” Steve Slack, director of the Centre for HIV and Sexual Health at NHS Sheffield, who is one of the authors, said that as long as teenagers were fully informed about sex and were making their decisions free from peer pressure and as part of a caring relationship, they have as much right as an adult to a good sex life.
However, he said it was not supposed to encourage promiscuity but rather could encourage young people to delay losing their virginity until they are sure they will enjoy the experience.
Dr Trevor Stammers of Family and Youth Concern said: “It is unbelievable that this is being sent to schools. I’d like to know what scientific evidence there is to back this up. There are an awful lot of overpaid and under-occupied health promotion officers around who are obsessed with sex.” Encouraging underage sex was “nothing less than encouraging child abuse”, he said.
The guidance came the same week it was announced that a multi-million pound Government pilot scheme to reduce teenage pregnancies ended up with a doubling in the conception rate.
The Young Peoples Development Programme, which was created at a cost of £2,500 per girl, aimed to persuade teenage girls not to fall preg nant by giving them condoms and teaching them about safe sex.
However, a report commissioned by the Department of Health and published in the British Medical Journal found that girls in the scheme were “significantly” more likely to fall pregnant than those who were not given contraception and sex advice.
Mary Kenny: Page 13