The International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE) states “Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. It aims to equip children and young people with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will empower them to: realise their health, well-being and dignity; develop respectful social and sexual relationships; consider how their choices affect their own well-being and that of others; and, understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives.”
The ITGSE states ‘Sexuality’ may thus be understood as a core dimension of being human which includes: the understanding of, and relationship to, the human body; emotional attachment and love; sex; gender; gender identity; sexual orientation; sexual intimacy; pleasure and reproduction. Sexuality is complex and includes biological, social, psychological, spiritual, religious, political, legal, historic, ethical and cultural dimensions that evolve over a lifespan.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education is
- Evidence-based i.e. scientifically accurate
- Incremental where there is a continuous process of learning starting from an early age and where new information adds up to previous learning.
- Age and developmentally appropriate where the needs and capabilities of children and young people are addressed in the content.
- Curriculum-based where it is written and structured to guide educators to support students’ learning both in in-school or out-of-school settings.
- Comprehensive as it covers a complete range of important topics for learners to know.
- Centred on the human rights approach and promotes understanding of human rights, raises awareness among young people about their own rights, respects the rights of others and advocates for those people whose rights have been violated.
- Based on gender equality
- Culturally relevant and context-appropriate
- Transformative where young people have the opportunities to explore values and attitudes that are positive towards Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and build skills that enable them to respect and accept others irrespective of their identities.
- Oriented towards developing life skills required for making healthy choices.
The ITGSE mentions eight key concepts that constitute CSE.
- Relationships
- Values, Rights, Culture and Sexuality
- Understanding Gender
- Violence and Staying Safe
- Skills for Health and Well-being
- The Human Body and Development
- The Human Body and Development
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
Puberty usually begins between the ages of 8 and 13 years in females while for males it starts between 9 to 14 years. For some, puberty onsets earlier than others which is influenced by factors such as genes, nutrition, physical activity and illness.
The major changes girls go through during puberty are:
- Breasts start to develop
- Ovulation and menstruation begin
- Widening of hips
- Daily vaginal discharge
- Change in voice
- Pimples start appearing
The major changes boys go through during puberty are:
- Facial and chest hair develops
- Deepening of voice, broadening of shoulders
- Nocturnal emission initiates, sperm starts being produced and ejaculation happens.
- Erection tends to happen for no reason
- Pimples start appearing
Individuals with a female reproductive system experience a process of bleeding from the vagina that occurs every month known as menstruation, which begins with menarche and continues until menarche. On average a menstrual cycle is 28 days. However, healthy menstrual cycles may expand from 21 days to 37 days.
Menarche is the first menstruation or the onset of menstruation.
It is a complete halt in menstruation, usually taking place between 45 to 55 years of age.
You should change your pad at least every 4 to 6 hours.
The best way to clean the vulva is to just wash the outside with mild soap and water. But soap or any other cleaning products should never be used inside your vagina. You don't need to clean the inside of your vagina — it already cleans itself!
During puberty, the penis grows in size. For adults, the average size of the penis is about 2.5 to 5 inches when flaccid (soft). Many people stress about the penis and its size. It is nothing to be worried about as there really isn't one “normal” size. And the myth that “bigger is always better” is just not true.
Masturbation is a healthy and natural process of enjoying sexual pleasure by moving or playing with your genitals. It is completely okay to masturbate. There should be no shame attached to masturbation and it is completely healthy.
There is no certain count within which people masturbate. Some people frequently masturbate while some don’t at all. Masturbation is completely a personal decision. Some people masturbate every day, more than once a day while some once every week or once every few weeks while some never. And these are absolutely normal. However, masturbating should not be addictive to the extent that it affects normal life, studies or work.
There are many reasons why people including men, women and individuals of Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM) masturbate. The foremost reason is people want to pleasure themselves, while masturbating can also help them relax and understand their bodies better. Any person despite their relationship status masturbates.
The best way to practice safe sex is by using barriers such as condoms, internal condoms and dental dams every time one has sex including oral, anal, vaginal and even while sharing sex toys.
