Campaigners call for sex education to be given priority

The figure prompted health campaigners to call on the Government to give sex and relationships education in all schools a higher priority.

Personal hygiene was rated as the most important consideration – ahead of contraception – when preparing for a date that could lead to sex, the survey found.

The worldwide survey, which included British youngsters, was carried out by Marie Stopes International for World Contraception Day on September 26.

The UK results revealed 16 per cent of young people who admitted to unprotected sex said they did not use contraception with a new partner because they forgot, 13 per cent said their partner preferred not to use contraception and 19 per cent said they had been drunk.

Tracey McNeill, vice-president of UK and Europe at Marie Stopes International, said: “We are calling on the coalition Government to put sex and relationships education back on the agenda and ensure that all schools, including faith schools, teach a standardised curriculum to all 15-year-olds.

“This survey shows that more than half of the respondents had already had sex by their 18th birthday and the Government’s own data shows 83 per cent are sexually active by the same age. This highlights that schools are the best way to deliver quality information to young people before they become sexually active.

“The research is clear, where sex and relationships education is taught in conjunction with contraceptive information, more young people delay having sex and more practice safe sex. Only when all young people have access to quality and comprehensive sex and relationships education will we see a real reduction in unplanned pregnancies, abortions and STI transmission.”

The research was part of a worldwide survey of 5,223 respondents and was funded by Bayer Healthcare. A total of 206 Britons under 24 took part.