A broad trajectory of multidisciplinary research has generated solid evidence that has enriched knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, their etiology, their consequences, and the available preventive and therapeutic measures. This scientific evidence, with social impact, has succeeded in saving countless lives.
Freedom, understood as the right to decide with full knowledge, constitutes an essential pillar of sexual health. Freedom implies having sufficient and truthful information that allows all those involved to choose, regardless of the type of relationship and its duration.
It is striking that, today, some young people show a level of knowledge about sexually transmitted infections that is not only limited but, in certain cases, even lower than that of previous generations.
There is a coercive discourse that fosters a conception of freedom as synonymous with ignorance, promoting the belief that sexual freedom is greater the less information one has about the consequences of our choices in our sexual lives. To be free means to be able to choose. In order to truly choose, it is necessary to have information about the options available to us. Without that knowledge, there is no real choice and, therefore, no freedom.
In educational settings, both in childhood and adolescence, sexual education programs are implemented. However, these programs are not always based on prior scientific evidence that has demonstrated their effectiveness in improving sexual health. For this reason, it is essential that these initiatives, generally aimed at young people, incorporate scientific findings with social impact in order to ensure real progress in sexual health.
Predoctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona