Sexual health lessons still to be learned in UK

Levels of condom use and awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK remain worryingly low, according to the Family Planning Association (fpa) based in London.

The results of a survey of 1,245 males and females aged 16-50 were released to coincide with this year's Sexual Health Week. Almost three-quarters of those questioned were currently in a sexual relationship or had been in one during the past 12 months. Four out of five of these had had just one sexual partner in the last year but one in ten had had two or three partners (this figure rose to more than a quarter (27%) in the 16-24 year old age group). Despite this high level of sexual activity, 58% had never used a condom in the past year and a further 20% had only used one 'sometimes'.

Only a small proportion of those questioned appeared to be aware of the risk of contracting STIs and were taking active precautions to prevent them. Just one in ten used a condom specifically to prevent STIs and the same proportion said they would be tested for STIs when they changed sexual partners. A quarter said they would stop using a condom eight weeks into a relationship and 42% would do so before they had been tested for STIs.

On a more encouraging note, almost 60% of people said they discuss their partner's sexual history before starting a sexual relationship. However, one in three admitted that they either leave it until afterwards or fail to broach the subject at all.

These findings are echoed in a survey of 1,000 women published in Company, a magazine for young women. It appears that women starting sexual relationships are initially cautious: 87% would not sleep with a man in the early stages of a relationship unless he used a condom. However, this degree of vigilance soon wanes: 25% would agree to have unprotected sex after a month. More than half of the women interviewed by Company magazine would discuss their sexual histories with new partners but only 25% of women would wait until both partners were tested for STIs before starting a sexual relationship.

Sources
Family Planning Association
Company Freedom Years annual poll