The average age that young people are starting to have intercourse is 17 years old. After watching a John Oliver segment bashing the current state of sex-ed in America, I began to wonder what young people really knew on the matter. I created a survey with an array of questions about high school sex-ed and sent it out on social media, asking people to take it and share their thoughts.

A little background on the survey: results were reported anonymously, and answers to the questions of gender, location of high school, and grade were optional. Of the 70 who responded, 39 indicated they were female and 31 were male. The majority of those who took the survey were from Ohio, although different areas/schools were represented. In terms of grade level, there were 46 college freshman, 11 high school seniors, four college sophomores, three college juniors, two high school juniors, two college seniors, one high school sophomore, and one high school freshman.

Some of the results are startling and upsetting.

Only five answered above average. One rated exceptional.

Sexual health education. It's the questions kids feel awkward asking and the answers adults feel awkward explaining. But at the end of the day, it's the stuff that young people should have comprehensive, accurate knowledge of.

However, it seems that most people don't get much of a sexual education. The statistics are very troubling. According to the Guttmacher Institute, only thirteen states require that the information presented in sex and HIV education classes be medically accurate. 88% of schools let parents withhold their children from sexual health classes. Currently, only 22 states and the District of Columbia mandate both sex and HIV education.

In 2014, 72% of U.S. public and private high schools taught pregnancy prevention, 76% taught abstinence as the most successful way to avoid pregnancy and STIs, 61% taught about contraceptive effectiveness, and 35% taught students how to use a condom as part of required instruction. Congress provided $85 million for abstinence programs in 2016. However, research suggests that education promoting sex only within marriage while withholding information about contraceptives does not stop or even delay sexual activity. Additionally, abstinence-only programs can actually increase the risk of pregnancy and STIs in young people. No study of comprehensive programs has found evidence that educating youth on sexual and reproductive health causes increased sexual risk-taking.

Only eight students reported that their respective schools taught them how to put on a condom.

I also asked people knowledge-based questions. These results are also somewhat disappointing.

While less likely, there are conditions where it is possible for a woman to get pregnant while she is on her period.

The majority here answered true, which is good. HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B can all be spread through oral sex.

It is true that many STIs can be cured with antibiotics. But once they're cured, it is possible to get them again.

There were a few subjects that a strong majority felt knowledgeable about.

Seeing as the majority of those surveyed were female, I was very relieved to see the responses to those two questions.

I also polled in regards to how people view consent and the concept of virginity. There were a few points that the majority agreed on: 100% of participants agreed that verbal agreement constituted consent. Additionally, the majority of respondents said that having consensual vaginal sex constituted losing your virginity. On other concepts, people had varying opinions. In terms of other ways clear consent could be demonstrated, 8.6% counted undressing, 12.9% counted getting a condom, and 31.4% counted nodding in agreement.

The ways people think you can lose your virginity also vary: 60% included anal sex and 32.9% included oral sex as a way to lose the V-card. 15.7% also counted being sexually stimulated via handjob or fingering, and 2.9% included masturbation. But perhaps what was most fascinating about the results is throwing in consent as a factor. It appears as though many people view virginity as an emotional or mental state rather than strictly as a physical state. Even though almost everyone agreed that consensual vaginal sex counted, only 38.6% put that non-consensual vaginal sex counted. In the same vein, only 27.1% polled for non-consensual anal sex and 12.9% for non-consensual oral sex.

We need to set better standards for sexual health education in America. No one should have to doubt their ability to tell a partner whether or not he/she is ready for sex. 13 people out of 70 shouldn't be unsure of whether or not some STIs can be treated with antibiotics. If we expect young adults to be sexually responsible, we should be giving them a comprehensive education.