Chris Kidd

Condom makers Durex have announced results of a survey of 26,000 people in 26 countries regarding sex. The survey says that 26% of people in the UK do not use contraception when they lose their virginity, in comparison with the most responsible people being in Greece where 88% of first timers using contraception.

Other points included:

• 14% of people in the UK were under the influence of either drugs or alcohol when they first had sex.
• Teenagers were more likely to use contraception than those in their 20s, suggesting safe sex messages were working. Nearly 80% of the 16 to 19-year-olds surveyed used contraception the first time they had sex, the figure dropped to 60% for those aged 20 to 24 and just above 50% for 25 to 34-year-olds.
• The study indicated women were 25% more likely than men to take precautions but are more likely to feel pressured - with 28% saying they felt under pressure, compared with 15% of men.
• Almost half of women also regret their first sexual experience, compared with 32% of men, according to the survey.
• The global average age to first have sex is 19.25 years. In the UK it is 18.3 years, compared with Malaysia, which had the highest average age at 23, and Austria, with the lowest at 17.3.
  

Some interesting statistics. Most importantly, it shows that we should not forget about older age groups when it comes to safe sex messages, the 20s are in as much need of hearing the message about safe sex as teenagers. It is sad, though, with something as special and intimate as sex that near on 50% of women and 32% of men regret their first sexual experience. As I have said before on the blog, the education and way in which young people are informed about sex needs to improve, but most importantly the media need to take responsibility for the image they portray to young people.