Brook's position on boys and young men
Boys and young men are welcomed at Brook Centres and many run special services for them.
Brook believes that as a society we need to acknowledge that boys and young men have information needs and anxieties about sex and relationships. Sex and relationships education and sexual health services must address the needs of boys and young men.
It is crucial to address young men's uncertainties about where to obtain services by including information about services in sex and relationships education lessons, and by ensuring that services are publicised in venues where young people meet.
Background information
The first National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles found that boys have their first sexual experience (as opposed to sexual intercourse) aged 13. [1]
The second National Survey found that the majority of 16-19 year old young men reported their first heterosexual intercourse aged 16. [2] 30% of men in the same age group reported having sexual intercourse before the age of 16. [3]
5% of men aged 16-24 report some homosexual experience. Under 3% of men aged 16-24 reported homosexual experience below the age of 16. [4]
Boys were more likely to give their reasons for first sex as ‘peer pressure, opportunity and curiosity’ compared to girls who were more likely to cite being in love, but the difference between the sexes is becoming less pronounced.[5]
1% of young men are fathers before the age of 18. [6]
Men are poor users of health services generally, leaving symptoms longer than necessary and can be reluctant to ask for or accept help.[7] Young men tend to view sexual health services as being for girls/women and worry that they will be met with disapproval and judgmental attitudes at clinics.
Young men
They are also much less likely than young women to know how or where to access services. The Schools Health Education Unit Survey in 2004 found that only 34% of 14-15 year old boys knew where their local young people’s services were and 38% of boys in the same age band did not know where to get free condoms. [9]
However, the number of young men using Brook Centres has risen from less than 0.5% of clients in 1989/90 to 17% of all clients in 2004/05. This compares to 8% at NHS family planning clinics. Young men formed 23% of all new clients at Brook in 2004/05 and constitute an even greater percentage of younger clients at 28% of under 16 year olds.
16% of calls and 17% of online enquiries to Brook’s Young People’s Information Service are from young men. *
Young people generally say that sex education is too little too late but boys can feel particularly excluded by the focus on contraception and pregnancy which they often perceive as girls
There is conflicting evidence about young men
Boys are less likely than girls to discuss sex and relationships with their parents. Fewer than 10% of 16-19 year old young men described parents as their main source of information compared to over 20% of women in the same age group. [10]
* Based on the number of enquires during 2004/05 where information about gender was given.
[1]K Wellings et al, Sexual Behaviour in
[2]K Wellings et al, Sexual behaviour in
[3]K Wellings et al, ibid, 2001
[4]K Wellings et al, op cit, 1994
[5]K Wellings et al, op cit, 1994
[6]K Wellings et al, op cit, 2001
[7]T
[8]R Ingham et al, More than just a pill: young people
[9]J Balding, Young People in 2004, Schools Health Education Unit, 2005
[10]K Wellings et al, ibid, 2001
