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weird. What's more, not all kids have great relationships with their parents and for many, talking about sex with mum and dad just aint kool. If you think parent's will do a good job of providing the objective and accurate information that kids need, you're out of touch with reality.

The other barrier is the age thing. The average age for loss of virginity is now 16 years old, so education really needs to start in primary school. Yet the idea of young children being taught about sex doesn't sit well with some adults.

Some have got it into their heads that teaching kids how to take care of themselves will promote and encourage sex. So ask those people how their approach is going. What's the current silence doing for society? Kids are still having sex, they're still having it at young ages, but they're stuffing it up and putting their lives at risk. Proper sex education that includes advice about relationships, pregnancy and STIs may actually increase the average age of first time sexual experience.

Pragmatism and values aside, isn't this a moral question? Our kids are in danger and we can give them information on how to protect themselves. Who are we to decide what a generation does and doesn't need to know.

Then there are those (some of whom run schools) that object passionately to the whole condom thing because of religious reasons. They believe in teaching abstinence and only abstinence, that is, no sex before marriage'.

This attitude is a big problem because condoms are recognised by doctors as being the most effective way of stopping the transmission of STIs and preventing unwanted pregnancies. Studies show that teaching abstinence just doesn't work and actually leads to kids have sex younger with less protection. Surprise surprise, we want what we're told we can't have. Again, such arguments are morally reprehensible, our utmost concern should be saving the lives of young adults.

Let's talk about sex!

The silence isn't working, things are just getting worse. This is not just an education issue; it's a health issue with lives at stake. We should be given complete information about our options so that we can make our own decisions. We should also have a say in what's going to be taught.

If you're interested in having better sex education on the national agenda, e-mail a politician and let them know. In the meantime, educate yourself and speak to a doctor or check out sexual health websites. Take charge of your health and get tested, it's free and confidential. Above all, take sex out of the bedroom and discuss the issues, because the silence is literally killing us.

Learn more about this author, Ben Winsor.
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