Lisa Hallgarten on LinkedIn: Gonorrhoea cases reach record high in England (2024)

There's something ironic about not having time to write something substantial about these worrying new stats because I'm so busy writing and supporting others to write a response to the draft RSHE guidance which has a big focus on delaying information and not talking about sex until a point where many young people are already asking questions about it, watching it, researching it, and having it. The idea we shouldn't talk about sex until as late as possible because it's inappropriate or problematic, and warnings against 'explicit' discussion (whatever that is - I prefer accurate and specific) just reinforces the culture which makes it hard for people to recognise when they don't want sex, to say no to sex, to negotiate safer sex, to ask a partner to use a condom, to talk to a health care provider, to get a test, to notify a partner after a positive test....etc Sexual health stigma is harmful. Talking about sex doesn't make people have more sex, in fact when it comes to young people it helps them to delay sex, reduces the age difference between sexual partners and increases condom use. These statistics are really worrying. I see them and just know that we need to talk about sexual health more, not less, sooner, not later.

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