Entre o tabu e a informação

This work aimed to analyse the experiences arising from the lack or presence of Sexual Education among Biological Sciences Degree students from the Federal Institute of Paraíba, Cabedelo, Brazil, throughout their lives. This is survey research that draws on a qualitative-quantitative approach. An online questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument, which was applied between March and September 2023 to a sample of 32 students. The results revealed that the majority of those surveyed received little information about Sexual Education during their childhood and adolescence. Regarding the benefits of having received some extent of Sexual Education, the students highlighted the prevention of health risks, the possibility of self-knowledge and the ability to identify situations of sexual harassment and/or abuse. Regarding the harm arising from the lack of Sexual Education, the following stood out: difficulty in identifying/ dealing with harassment situations and difficulty/ embarrassment talking about topics related to sexuality. Given the results presented, it is concluded that Sexual Education is essential to ensure that future Biology teachers can play their role as educators completely and effectively, contributing to the health, well-being and integral development of students, as well as the schooling of well-informed and critical citizens.