What sex education? say British teens as STI's continue to rise

Aug 20 2006

According to a new survey of Britain's youth, more than two-thirds of young people still wait until at least the age of consent before losing their virginity.

In one of Britain's largest sex surveys carried out by the Department of Health, it has been revealed that teenagers may be more cautious than previously suspected, as 7 out of 10 (69%), 16- to 24-year-olds said they waited until 16 or over before having sex.

Although almost a quarter (23%) first had sex at 16, nearly half (46%) waited until they were older.

The survey, BareAll06, an online poll was answered by nearly 20,000 young people, and shows that 60% of young people aged 22 to 24 had had more than five sexual partners, compared with 23% of 16- to 18-year-olds.

1 in 5 (18%) said they had slept with 10 partners or more and more than half, 57%, claimed to have had a one-night stand, with only a fifth saying they would never do so.

Britain has the highest incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in western Europe, but 38% of 16- to 24-year-olds did not always use a condom with a new partner and a quarter (24%) used no contraception the first time they had sex; 1 in 10 routinely used nothing or relied on withdrawal.

Being on the pill was the main reason given for not using condoms, but 17% cited being "too drunk", the second most common reason.

The survey was jointly conducted by Radio 1, the BBC's black music station 1Xtra, MTV and Durex, and has indicated alarming gaps in sex education.

1 in 10 claimed to have had no sex education in school, while the vast majority (79%) learned only the basics.

The government requires secondary schools to teach only basic reproduction and school governors make the decisions about any further sex education.

Parents who disapprove can opt for their children to miss lessons while pupils in private schools often receive no sex education at all.

Campaigners say the findings show young people need compulsory sex education so they know the health risks associated with having multiple partners.

Attempts are being made to improve sex education through the government's RUThinking campaign, which aims to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies but they remain the highest in western Europe.

According to the Department for Education the teaching of Sex and Relationship Education is compulsory in secondary schools.

A positive finding from the survey was that pressure to have sex appears to be declining among women but only 4% of those aged 24 or under were virgins, with Welsh girls and the girls in the south-west losing their virginity earliest.

Almost 10,000 24- to 34-year-olds also took part in the survey.

The findings will inevitably be seen as a serious setback for ministers who have claimed that tackling sexually transmitted infections is a priority.

Figures show, however, that the number of STIs continues to rocket. Chlamydia - which if untreated can lead to infertility - remains the most commonly diagnosed infection, affecting one in ten sexually active young men and women.

This month, a Government advisory group warned that sexual health services are being starved of cash because health authorities are using the money to pay off debts.