'That it's OK for women to want it too': People reveal the things they REALLY wish they’d been taught about sex

  • A Reddit thread asks what people wish they'd been taught about sex
  • Popular answers were about having sex for pleasure and birth control
  • One person was taught you could get pregnant lying clothed next to a man

By Alice Johnston For Mailonline

Published: 01:47 EST, 26 October 2016 | Updated: 18:38 EST, 26 October 2016

If you had to name the school subject that was most awkward, sex education would probably be right at the top of most people's list. 

But as embarrassing as sitting through a class about genitals and puberty was, the lessons are essential to teach children about such an important area of life as soon as possible.

While sex education has improved in recent years with relationships and consent now a standard part of the syllabus, it didn't used to be so. 

A Reddit thread titled 'what do you wish your sex ed classes had actually taught you?' which received over 2,900 comments, revealed what people wish they had been taught at school

Some answers given on the Reddit thread were surprising in that a lot of people were taught very little at school

A Reddit thread titled 'what do you wish your sex ed classes had actually taught you?' which received over 2,900 comments, revealed what people wish they had been taught at school.

Some of the answers were surprising, with some not learning even the absolute basics of procreation.

Others were only taught about the mechanics of sex, rather than anything to do with feelings, respect and pleasure. 

HonoraryCassowary wrote that they would have liked to have been told: 'How genitalia functions on a day-to-day basis, what is normal vs abnormal.'

Some were only taught about the mechanics of sex, rather than anything to do with feelings, respect and pleasure

MysticFlareon took it upon themselves to explain to their friends that sex was supposed to be pleasurable, as no-one apart from them had been told that.

AMHousewife posted a surprising list of things they weren't allowed to be taught in Utah in the early 90s, writing: '1. Sex. 2. Birth control (they still can't). 3. Homosexuality (they still can't). 4. The symptoms of STDs. 5) The body parts of the opposite sex except in a very general way.

Some of the answers were surprising, with some people not learning even the absolute basics of procreation. Others were only taught about the mechanics of sex, rather than anything to do with feelings, respect and pleasure (stock photo)

Some commenters were angry about what they had been taught, as with hindsight it clearly wasn't true

RAGE-RAGE-RAGE was very candid about the fact that they weren't taught even the basics of human relationships, saying: 'That gay sex exists. That women can receive oral. That it is okay to say no at any point when anything you don't like is happened. That it's okay as a girl to want sex.'

Some commenters wished they'd been told more practical things in class, such as what to do if you're allergic to latex and can't use ordinary condoms

Saru-Rosco wishes they'd been taught 'that not everyone likes sex and not every wants/has to date someone in order to have sex.'

They were also told facts that were completely wrong, saying: 'They also told us it was possible to get pregnant by laying in bed with a guy. Just laying there. Completely clothed.'

Some commenters wished they'd been told more practical things in class. 

Some commenters said that they were shown how to put a condom on by the teacher demonstrating on a banana (stock photo)

GenericPenName said that it would have been helpful for them to know that 'latex allergies are common, and what the symptoms are'.  

A hugely important fact was mentioned by numerous commenters, but said most succinctly by Tampoonie: 'That you should always pee after sex, to help avoid getting a UTI. I still can't believe this was never mentioned.'

Sex ed lessons are essential to teach children about such an important area of life as soon as possible

And then there were the inevitable posts from people who wish their sex ed lessons in school had taught them how to have sex that they actually enjoyed. 

It's funny but it's true: At the time the lessons at school are given, many teenagers can't imagine ever getting to a stage where they'll have someone to have sex with

VeganBuzzard421 wished that they'd been told 'that 2/3 of women do not orgasm from penetration alone'.  

And tiger1296 voiced what many teenagers sitting in sex ed classes have thought.

They wanted to know 'how to get to that stage' in the first place.

To which one commenter said was the 'most important and overlooked part'.

Comments (331)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now