Over half of women feel they were not given an adequate education when it comes to different types of birth control methods, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 women aged 18–50 found 56 percent felt they were lacking education about birth control — while one in two felt they were improperly taught about sexual health.

Forty-six percent revealed they never had a “sex talk” with either of their parents — but of those who did (38 percent), the average respondent was 12 years old.

The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Paragard IUD, found 54 percent of those who had a parental sex talk were given a book about bodily functions.

A third (34 percent) of women who had a sex talk with their parents were shown an “awkward” video, while 46 percent said their parents used euphemisms to explain sex.

When it came to talk content, it varied. Three in five (61 percent) said their parents told them what sex was, but less than half (47 percent) were taught about birth control.

Results also found sexual education in school was uneven, seeing as 40 percent said a lack of education in school was a top contributor to their lack of sexual education.

The average respondent had a sexual education class in ninth grade. Forty-four percent of respondents said they felt the awkward topic contributed to inadequacies in their education.

Other elements that played a role in sexual education gaps included religious reasons (42 percent), shame (36 percent) and not knowing all the available options (34 percent).

The knowledge rift in sexual education only seems to widen around birth control. Women 41–50 were 33 percent more likely to be taught about birth control by their parents than respondents 18–25.

Nearly one in five (19 percent) said they never learned about birth control at all, while only 16 percent said they were taught by their parents and 14 percent learned in school.

But even though many weren’t taught about birth control, many still use it and results revealed the average respondent has changed birth control three times.

Forty-one percent admitted they changed methods after receiving a recommendation from a friend, whereas 38 percent took a recommendation from their doctor. A third even did their own research about available birth control forms.

In spite of women starting to take charge of their sexual health, 69 percent did not know there is such a thing as hormone-free prescription birth control.

Hormone-free birth control is something women seem open to exploring though, seeing as 58 percent would like to learn more.

Top topics in sex ed

Sex talk topics (of those who had one)

First taught birth control