Who Ever Said Sex Wasn't Fun?

Britain's National Health Service has a new health booklet out aimed at teens.

The message? Sex can be fun.

I'm not sure what they're driving at here, but I don't think anyone ever claimed that it wasn't.

I believe that the fact that sex is fun is the biggest part of the problem in discouraging it.

Or am I not remembering it right?

The AP report on the NSH booklet makes it sounds as if the Brits want to reimage their sex education programs into something Hugh Hefner would approve. Has anyone seen Hef lately? Maybe he's over in Britain.

LONDON (AP) - Britain's National Health Service has a message for teens: Sex can be fun.

Health officials are trying to change the tone of sex education by urging teachers to emphasize that sexual relations can be healthy and pleasurable instead of simply explaining the mechanics of sex and warning about diseases.

The new pamphlet, called "Pleasure," has sparked some opposition from those who believe it encourages promiscuity among teens in a country that already has high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The National Health Service in the city of Sheffield produced the booklet, which has a section called "an orgasm a day" that encourages educators to tell teens about the positive physical and emotional effects of sex and masturbation, which is described as an easy way for people to explore their bodies and feel good. Like more traditional sex education guides, it encourages demonstrations about how to use condoms and other contraceptives.

Naw, this wouldn't promote promiscuity, would it?

Steve Slack, who helped produce the leaflet as Director of the Center for HIV & Sexual Health in Sheffield, said one goal is to help young people learn to resist peer pressure and delay having sex until they are emotionally ready.

"Far from promoting teenage sex, it is designed to encourage young people to delay losing their virginity until they are sure they will enjoy the experience," he said.

Slack said some of the ideas in the booklet came from the Netherlands, which is well known in Europe for its liberal attitude toward sexual behavior.

If I were looking for ideas to discourage teen sex, going to the Netherlands isn't exactly the first place that pops into mind.

What does occur to me is that government sex education, no matter where it is, inevitably focuses on mechanics and pleasure, rarely ever touching on morality or consequences.