Pharmacy Role in Sexuality Education

Tips from Relationship & Sexuality Educators, to Pharmacists

Written by John Halloran and Shauna Monaghan, Education Facilitators, Sexual Health West

We get asked a lot of questions in our line of work, and often we have to pause for thought. Dealing with young people, they can often blindside you with a question. So, take a breath and remember at the root of every question is an unknown. Here are 5 qualities we try to lean into in our workshops.

1. Time

Although hard to come by when working in a pharmacy, it is important that the time you can give is dedicated to this person.

In this case quality of the time, matters just as much as quantity.

This person may be in an anxious state asking about STI’s, because they feel they are at risk and a pharmacist is easier to access than their family GP.

(If is a more serious issue- i.e. sexual violence, then each pharmacy should have a protocol to follow in contacting the Gardaí and the SATU).

2. Patience

Routine questions are only routine to the professionals.

A young person may not understand what questions they

are being asked- what to ask the pharmacist- or how to ease their own concerns or anxieties.

Honour their enquiry and understand that the question may be rooted in a concern much deeper.

3. Support

Listen and try to understand the root of their concerns. Their knowledge of sex and sexual acts may be limited, and sometimes, they might have the complete wrong information.

Myths, gossip and tall tales from school can always influence people’s thoughts, and mixed with the shame and stigma that can be held around sex in Ireland, it can lead them to believe they have done something wrong.

As long as it was freely consenting sex, by in large, there should be no guilt associated with it.

4. Guidance

Part of your role is to give options, give appropriate information and allow them to make an educated decision.

Through patience, time and support you can explain how sexual health checks are carried out, what happens next, what if they are positive? / How do they access treatment?

In this moment, try and place yourself in their shoes, think about the myths and untruths you held as fact when you were young. Understand this young person needs; clear language, a supportive yet not dismissive attitude, a realistic approach (yes, some STI’s are lifelong, yes some require treatment, yes you might have to have difficult conversations), they need you to speak in a way they can understand.

As medical professionals, often the comfort zone of patient interactions can be to drift into the medicine and the science of things, but, in this instance, if you can remove those blocks and speak person to person

your interaction will be helpful, impactful and affirming for the person seeking care

5. Openness

How are we asking questions?So! We’ve given them time, we’ve possibly had a private area to speak, we are in a situation where we are actively listening and using empathy to guide us.

However, we need to ask a question and we are unsure how to do so.

As a health professional, you probably handle this in a day-to-day setting.

How can we get the information we need, without offending the person?

Asking, plainly, in a respectful tone and supporting your statement with qualifying information can help this person get the correct treatment/ support they need.

This is important when it comes to things like, a person’s gender identity and expression, and who they are sexually active with.

i.e. if there is a young woman who is lesbian, explain that asking about chances of being pregnant are due to possible medical interactions, and not judgements about their relationships.

BREAKING DOWN SOME WOES AND WORRIES:

Helping parents lessen the stress:

Starting your period can be a very stressful time for most young girls but also for those around them. On average they tend to start around 12-13 years of age, however for some people they can start as early as 8 years old. For those kids it’s often a big shock for them as well as their parents who may feel unprepared to be crossing that bridge at that age with their child. Sometimes parents may reach out for advice and support.

https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/ for-parents/ is a fantastic resource that can help inform and support parents through this.

Talking about products:

A key thing is knowing what options are available for period products, how to use them and what may be an age appropriate product (and feeling comfortable talking about them!)

Many young people feel more at ease starting out with pads before moving onto tampons and much later exploring reusable methods such as menstrual cups.

For some young people periods can bring along cramps which can be debilitating, being able to

advise on what painkillers to take either alone or in combination can be vital information as a lot of people still believe you can only take one type at a time.

Young people and parents alike may have questions around hormonal contraceptives and the pros and cons of starting these as well as all the different varieties available as often doctors may prescribe them without explaining all that goes with them.

https://www.sexualwellbeing. ie/for-professionals/ can offer training for professionals to increase their knowledge and understanding, but perhaps also their comfort levels in being able to discuss these items!

Challenging misconceptions:

Speaking of hormonal contraceptives, a lot of young people have questions around the side effects that come with them. Often questions around the likelihood of weight gain, depression or blood clots as a result of the pill come up, as do questions around skipping periods or what to do if they miss a pill. Being able to inform these young people in a kind and caring way will go a long way in ensuring that they are making an informed decision around what contraception will work for them and that they will use them correctly.

Often most young girls are prescribed the combined pill as a starting point for contraception, because of the professionals familiarity with it- but a lot of young people aren’t aware of the varieties out there, both with

different pills but also options such as the implant, vaginal ring, patch or IUD. It is worth knowing that if a client is complaining of side effects from their current hormonal contraceptive that you can advocate for them to explore their options as a lot of people don’t realise it can be trial and error when it comes to finding the correct method for themselves.

Making sure we are reducing stigma and increasing access:

When it comes to other forms of contraception the use of condoms is incredibly important due to their dual purpose of protecting against both pregnancy and STI’s.

Our work as RSE educators means we are well used to hearing the rumbling giggle when we even mention condoms, because they are still seen as a covert item.

Buying condoms can be a tricky and embarrassing act for a lot of young people, there can be a lot of confusion in regards to what kind to buy, how to put them on or what size to buy.

As professionals, we have the ability to change this, and encourage conversation about them, and addressing questions that may come up!

For the most part, so long as condoms have the CE mark or Kite mark and are in date that is enough indication to ensure they’re up to the job. When it comes to sizing this is actually in reference to width rather than length which is news to a lot of people. If a condom is too tight or too loose it will not stay on, so it’s important to get the correct size.

In regards to putting a condom on, if a young person is looking for advice, two key pieces of information are 1) that condoms have an inside and an outside, it’s okay to take some time to make sure you have it the right way around and 2) you have to pinch the tip of the condom while putting it on to ensure that there’s no air and that there’s enough space left for ejaculation to collect because if not there’s a risk the condom could burst. Providing this kind of information in an open and practical way can make all the difference as to whether a young person is comfortable purchasing contraception.

Relevant Services:

Sexual/ Relationship Health Services in Ireland Links:

sexualhealthwest.ie/stisand-testing-options/

https://www.copegalway.ie/ domestic-abuse-service/

https://www. domesticviolenceresponse. com/

www.womensaid.ie

https://www.mensaid.ie/www.sh24.iewww.myoptions.ie

Promoting at home Sexual Health Checks:

SH24.ie

Changing the game of understanding sexual health and testing, is the HSE service.

An at home test, discreetly delivered to your home within days of ordering online (FOR FREE!). The swabs are easy to use, come with great descriptive infographs and instructions.

Arriving in discreet packaging, a follow up text to say the lab has received your samples and a text of results (with links and numbers to use *if* you test positive for anything).

Reliable, Free, Easy to use, Trustworthy- Thumbs up from Sexual Health West