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Community: Polls & Surveys

Sexual Health Survey

In winter 2004 we asked you about your sexual health and sex education. This is what you had to say about having sex, staying healthy and how you want to be taught about it.


The basics

  • Nearly 400 people took part in the survey
  • 18 - 19 year olds were the best represented age group
  • Two-thirds of the respondents were women
  • About 10% of those taking part were under 16 and another 10% were over 25
  • The largest percentage of people responding lived in the South East

Virginity

Virginity was one of the first areas we looked at. 13% of respondents had never had sex. Of those that had, 47% first had sex below the legal age of 16.  5% of users felt they were pressured into it while 22% thought they had chosen the "right time" but it ended up being with the wrong person.


Top 10 best know STIs

  • 1. Herpes
  • 2. Genital warts
  • 3. Chlamydia
  • 4. Public lice
  • 5. Thrush
  • 6. Gonorrhoea
  • 7. Hepatitis B
  • 8. Syphilis
  • 9. Hepatitis C
  • 10. HIV / Aids

Safe sex

As to being safe, nearly 40% sought out advice before having sex for the first time, and when it came to the night itself over 85% of people used some form of contraceptive. The most popular forms of contraception were condoms (over 60%) and the pill (23%).

The most popular place to ask about contraception was through friends (24%). Next came online advice, with a 1 in 5 respondents looking on the internet for advice. Schools and Doctors were sought for advice by 15% of you respectively and only 9% talked to a family member. 


Best for sex info

  • 1. Online
  • 2. Magazines / books
  • 3. Sexual health or family planning clinic
  • 4. Sex education at school
  • 5. GP

Unprotected Sex

75% of users have had unprotected sex at some time in their lives. Far and away the most common reason was being in a stable relationship (50%), though being drunk was next with 15% of respondents waking up to a morning after they might have regretted. Around 5% of people said they had unprotected sex becaue they were pressured into it.

7% of you said you would never use a condom, because you don't like them, though 80% would never refuse to use a condom under any circumstances. The vast majority of respondents were happy to buy condoms (42%), though a small number felt very embarrassed by that walk to the chemist counter (7%). 


In emergency

  • 25% I've used emergency contraception when my usual contraception failed
  • 55% I've never used it
  • 20% I've used it when I've been careless


Pregnant, what now?

  • 42% Have an abortion
  • 25% Keep the baby because I couldn't bear to have an abortion or have it adopted
  • 16% Have the baby, I feel I can support a child
  • 4% Adoption
  • 13% Other

Sex education

Most people felt they had learnt a lot about sex somewhere other than school (45%) and another third felt that sex education was too biological. 20% of respondents hadn't received any sex education and only 2% felt they received good sex education.

The most popular option to improve sex education was the idea of an open discussion about different situations that can arise: over half of everyone involved in the survey felt this would help. Just behind was the idea that sex education should be about relationships as well as biology, and in third place was the idea that sex education should include specific discussion of sexual activities (e.g. oral sex, anal sex).

The remaining choices (in order of popularity) were: the lessons taught by professionals (e.g. a family planning nurse); discussions of gay and lesbian issues; better learning materials; mixed gender classes; and single gender classes.


Worst sex worry

  • 55% Getting pregnant
  • 49% Getting an STI
  • 6% Parents finding out

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