Use of internet for sex education a worrying trend,say sexologists

“If the right information is disseminated through the internet it can work wonders. But there is no regulation,” said Dr Saroj Gumaste,consultant sexologist and diplomat of American board of sexology.

Dr Gumaste said that the more educated a person is the more difficult is it for them to talk about problems related to sex.

“In my consultations,most of the educated couples feel shy in talking about sexual problems even with their partner. Also people get married at a later age and develop an ego,” said Dr Gumaste adding,“Both partners face unexpected demands and men often take to smoking,drinking and drugs if they feel they have fared dismally. People need to be explained that intercourse is one of the smallest aspects of sexuality,” she said.

Doctors blamed the lack of sex education in schools and home to explain the use of internet to gain information on the subject.

“Sex education is a must in understanding a person’s own sexual organs,orientation and even urges. Sex education should also include the harmful effects of pornography,” said Dr Rajan Bhonsle,sex therapist and counsellor adding,“Normally men end up seeing pornography on internet in search for sex education,”

Another worrying trend pointed out by sexologists in the conference was the increase in pre-marital sex in rural areas.

“Not just cities even rural areas are reporting an increase in pre-marital sex. Half of my clients are from interiors of Vidarbha,Madhya Pradesh and even Chhattisgarh. Sex for them is both recreational and relational,” said Dr Sanjay Deshpande,secretary of CSEPI from Nagpur.

Dr Deshpande further said that young men in rural Maharashtra,including places like Vidarbha,often turn to commercial sex workers before marriage to know more about the act. “So much is the pressure on them that they go to commercial sex workers to appraise themselves before marriage with the least awareness about risk involved in unprotected sex and method of contraception. Instead of going to commercial sex workers to check on their competency they should report to a doctor,” said Dr Deshpande. He stressed that there is not much difference in rural and urban areas when it comes to sexual behaviour.