Brook' s position on young people' s sexual activity
Young people should be enabled to make informed choices about their personal and sexual relationships. Brook supports young people in making safe choices about whether and when to become sexually active.
It is vitally important to provide effective sex and relationships education at school before sexual activity begins. Research shows that this can delay the onset of sexual activity and increase the use of contraception when young people do become sexually active.
As a society we need to encourage open attitudes towards teenage sexuality to enable young people to communicate effectively about sex and relationships.
The provision of confidential, easily accessible advice centres is key in helping young people make safe, informed choices about their sexual activity.
Key Data
The first National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles found that women have their first sexual experience (as opposed to sexual intercourse) at the age of 14 and men aged 13. [1] The second National Survey found that the majority of 16-19 year olds report their first heterosexual intercourse aged 16. [2]
Nationally 26% of women and 30% of men (aged 16-19) report having sexual intercourse before the age of 16. [3]
5% of men and 2% women aged 16-24 report some homosexual experience. Under 3% of men aged 16-24 and under 2% women reported homosexual experience below the age of 16. [4]
The age at which young people experience their first sexual intercourse has fallen from 21 fifty years ago. The largest fall (to 19) occurred during the 1950s refuting the idea that the pill was responsible for sexual activity occurring at an earlier age. [5]
The younger the age at which first intercourse occurs the less likely it is that contraception will be used. 18% of men and 22% of women who had first intercourse at 13 or 14 used no contraception compared to 8% of men and 9% of women who had first intercourse aged 16. [6]
A Brook survey found that 70% of young people do not visit a clinic for advice or contraception until after becoming sexually active. 55% had unprotected sex at least once.[7]
25% of women under 16 at the time of their first intercourse reported they did not attend a service for contraception because they were worried about confidentiality and 40% because of worries about their age compared with 12% and 6% respectively of over 16s. [8]
Research shows that young people who are able to fully discuss contraception with their partner before first sex are 50 times more likely to use an effective method. Talking even a little increases the chances five fold. [9]
Factors associated with early sexual activity
The National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles identified several factors that were associated with earlier sexual intercourse.
The earlier the age at which young people have their first sexual experience the younger the age at which they have first intercourse. The time interval between first sexual experience and intercourse is also declining.
Women who first menstruate at 13 or older are much less likely to have sex under 16 than those who start their periods under 13.
The age of first intercourse increases with educational attainment. Young people reaching at lease GCSE standard education are less likely to have intercourse before the age of 16.
Young people who cite friends and the media as their main source of information about sex were found to have sexual intercourse earlier than those who report school sex education as their main source.
Research shows that if effective sex and relationships education is provided before young people become sexually active it can delay the onset of sexual activity and increase the use of contraception when young people do become sexually active.[10]
[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, ibid, 1994
[6]K Wellings et al, op cit, 2001
[7]Brook, Young people
[8]Brook, op cit, 2000
[9]Brook, ibid, 2000
[10]NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD). Effective Healthcare Bulletin 3 (1) Preventing and reducing the adverse effects of unintended teenage pregnancies,
