In 2009, Durex launched the Great British Sex Survey to gather information about the sexual lifestyle of the nation. As part of this, Health Care Professionals were given the opportunity to ask specific questions that Durex then put to the public.

The results reveal key information about the sexual activity of the nation and may shed light on key issues and questions that arise from working closely with the public in the clinical setting.

Over 11,000 people across the UK completed the survey and the results provide a unique insight into the sexual habits of the nation and how the efforts of HCPs are making a difference. Over the next few weeks, the results for the top ten questions will be displayed on DurexHCP. For now, this article will summarise the key points of interest from the survey.

Sex - how often and how many...

Nearly one quarter of respondents who are dating or cohabiting are happy to report they have sex 3-4 times a week. People are not shy when it comes to having varied sexual partners throughout their lifetime either:

• Nearly 35% of respondents have had sex with 2-5 partners

• 20% have had sex with 6-10 partners

• 15% report having sex with up to 20 partners

• 14% claim to have had sexual encounters with between 20 to 100 partners

Although interesting, these findings also pose questions as to how people protect their sexual health throughout their active years.

When do people start having sex?

The survey confirms that a staggering percentage of respondents start engaging in sexual activity early with many reporting they lost their virginity at age 16 or under. Regional differences were noted with teenagers being particularly active in the south east where only a third of teenagers still claim to be virgins.

Is sex education working?

With a high proportion of sexually active teenagers in the UK, widespread concerns for the growing problems of Chlamydia and HIV within this population are well founded. The survey suggests however, that sexual education in school is a good place to start. Nearly a third of respondents cited sex education in school as the first place they learned about how to use condoms and prevent STIs although the survey also identified a need to supplement school education.

• Just over 2% of respondents say that they have learned something from reading a sexual health or family planning leaflet but, more people do use the instruction leaflets supplied with condoms.

• Many of the respondents use the internet for information about sex

These results bring into question which online sources are being used for information and the factual merit of the content. It has also potentially identified a new need for engaging take-home literature that can re-address key issues from a sexual health consultation.

Do people realise that STIs pose a risk to them?

The survey revealed a lot about people's attitudes towards STIs and pregnancy:

• a staggering 70% of respondents were not concerned about STIs or unplanned pregnancy at all

• 60% of respondents had not been tested for STIs in the last 12 months

• only 15% of respondents were concerned about STIs

Although these results included of those single, dating, cohabiting or married, it is clear that 'trust' in their partner is key when considering their exposure to STIs. That said, 20% of respondents continue to use condoms even in longer-term relationships which suggests some would rather place their trust in effective barrier protection.

Interestingly, of those respondents who had been tested for STIs in the past 12 months:

• 3.5% (360) had tested positive for Chlamydia

• 0.75% (81) had tested positive for HIV

Given the contagious nature of these diseases, infidelity or cheating could carry risks when condoms are bypassed as safeguards. This may signify a need to sensitively encourage those in longer-term relationships to continue with health screening.

Are people listening to health advice about wearing condoms?

The survey suggests that some people do listen to the advice of HCPs, particularly those in the 21-26 age bracket who appeared to be most concerned and aware about the risks of STIs. The survey also suggests that young people between the ages of 17-30 are concerned about unplanned pregnancy. People do make the link between condoms, STIs and pregnancy prevention:

• 35.5% of respondents use condoms all of the time and will not have sex without one

• 42% report using condoms sometimes, making a subjective call on whether they perceive their partner to be a risk or not

• Of those who never use condoms, two thirds of these were cohabiting or married

• There clearly remains work to be done on educating those who are sexually active but not using condoms.

HCPs often feel overwhelmed by the task of providing adequate care and information to empower the public in protecting their sexual health. While there still remains work to be done, the survey suggest that health promotion and advice does not necessarily fall on deaf ears, but people do assess their need for barrier protection in terms of their relationship and exposure. People are therefore starting to make educated choices about protecting their sexual health which means that the efforts by HCPs have not been in vain.

Article release date: 29th March 2010