The NHS’s page covers topics like the effectiveness of different contraception methods and making contraception part of your daily routine - nhs.uk
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)
Developments in Contraception
On this page
According to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the UK has traditionally had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe. However, there has been a particularly rapid decline in teenage pregnancy across the UK over the last two decades, with Northern Ireland experiencing a significant decline.
This highlights the positive impact that effective RSE can have on young people’s sexual behaviour. Ideally, young people would feel comfortable discussing sex and contraception with their parents, but they are often too embarrassed to do so.
Comprehensive school-based information can encourage young people to avoid looking for facts about sex from potentially unreliable sources like pornography or their peers.
These sources are unlikely to give young people the information they need to prevent unplanned pregnancy or protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections.
This area of the RSE Hub signposts to resources and guidance information that can help teachers, parents/carers and young people explore contemporary advances in contraception and the different options available. It also signposts to local organisations that can offer confidential advice, treatment and support to young people.
Teachers must not give personal medical advice to individual pupils. You should advise pupils to seek advice from parents/carers, the school health team or medical practitioners.
Key Stage 3
As they progress through Key Stage 3, young people should be taught about:
- using contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy;
- the current contraception options available; and
- how barrier contraceptives, such as the condom, can offer some protection against the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Key Stage 4
Building on the learning from Key Stage 3, young people in Key Stage 4 should be taught about the different contraception options available and how to access them. They should also understand that:
- they should make an informed choice about the contraception method that is most appropriate for them, depending on their health, lifestyle and preferences; and
- different contraception methods can vary in effectiveness and have associated risks.
Post-Primary Units
Unit 1: What is Contraception and How do I Make the Right Choice?
In this unit, pupils learn to understand what contraception means and explore the range of contraceptive methods currently available, including their advantages, disadvantages and risks.
Pupils will also learn about:
- how to make an informed choice in relation to the most suitable contraceptive method;
- how choices around the use of contraception are based on a person's values and beliefs; and
- the importance of protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Unit 2: Taking Control of My Sexual Health and Wellbeing
In this unit, pupils learn to consider the use of contraception in line with their personal, cultural and/or religious values. They will learn how to make informed decisions about safe and effective contraception by reviewing the risks that sexually active young people take when they do not use contraception.
Pupils will also:
- explore why young people do not always use contraception;
- understand how important it is for sexually active young people to be responsible about contraception; and
- learn about the importance of protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the protection given by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Unit 3: What is the Future of Contraception?
In this unit, pupils learn that no method of contraception is 100% reliable, and that abstaining from sexual intercourse is 100% reliable in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They will also learn that deciding to have sexual intercourse will always involve a risk of pregnancy or STIs, even if that risk is very low. They will explore recent developments in contraception and the implications of these, with the understanding that different opinions and beliefs on when life begins may affect choices around the use of some contraceptives.
Links
Here are some links that we think are particularly useful for this topic:
This activity in our resource features a quiz and a matching exercise that can help to clarify pupils’ misunderstandings around conception and contraception - nicurriculum.org.uk