Research Highlights Need for Inclusive Puberty Health and Sex Education for GIaNT Youth

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Centennial College in Toronto, Canada, have highlighted the need for tailored puberty health and sex education for Gender-Independent, Intersex, Non-Binary, and Transgender (GIaNT) youth. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique needs of GIaNT youth, who often face negative outcomes due to the exclusion of their experiences from traditional sex education curricula.

GIaNT youth are particularly vulnerable to seeking online resources for education on puberty health and sex education, as they are often unable to access adequate information in schools and their family/friend networks. The research team is developing an online educational resource (OER) that caters to the unique needs of GIaNT youth. This OER aims to provide age-appropriate and affirming resources for GIaNT youth to navigate puberty and sex education.

Key Takeaways:

  • GIaNT youth have distinct puberty health and sex education needs that differ from those of cisgender youth.
  • Traditional sex education curricula often fail to address the experiences of GIaNT youth, leading to negative outcomes.
  • GIaNT youth predominantly turn to the internet to seek out resources for education on puberty health and sex education due to the lack of accessible information in schools and their social networks.
  • The development of online educational resources (OERs) tailored to GIaNT youth's unique needs is crucial in addressing their informational and educational requirements.
  • The research highlights the necessity of creating inclusive sex education curricula that incorporate the perspectives and experiences of GIaNT youth.
  • Kat Newman-Seymour and Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, researchers at Centennial College, have been at the forefront of this initiative, emphasizing the importance of addressing the educational disparities faced by GIaNT youth.

Statistics:

  • 62% of GIaNT youth reported referring to the internet for education on puberty health and sex education.
  • CIaNT youth have historically been excluded from sex education curricula in schools, resulting in a 76% reliance on online resources.
  • Sex education programs are limited for all youth, affecting 7.1 million adolescents in the United States alone.
  • GIaNT youth face higher rates of mental health issues and lower rates of access to medical care compared to their cisgender peers.

Sources:

  • Puberty Health and Sex Education Content for Online Educational Resources for Gender-Independent, Intersex, Non-Binary, and Transgender (GIaNT) Youth. Sexes, 2025, 6(3):36. (DOI: https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/sexes6030036)
  • Health & Medicine Week. Reports on Psychiatry Findings from Centennial College Provide New Insights [Puberty Health and Sex Education Content for Online Educational Resources for Gender-Independent, Intersex, Non-Binary, and Transgender (GIaNT) Youth]. October 17, 2025; p 5273.