British are 'ignorant about sex'

By Lucy Halfhead  on Monday 23 November 2009

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More than one in ten British people don't realise that a woman can still get pregnant if she has sex standing up, according to a new poll.

Nineteen per cent are also unaware that a woman can get pregnant during her period, according to the survey commissioned by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

While 11 percent believe that sex standing up is an effective contraceptive method, 37 percent never talk about contraception with their partners at all.

Other findings from the poll of 2,000 people aged 16-50 include that 31 percent never discuss sexual health with partners, while 17 percent don't know that infections like herpes and genital warts are resistant to antibiotics.

'In spite of our love of talking about sex and relationships, the survey suggests it's our lack of knowledge that is causing confusion,' commented sex and relationship expert Dr. Pam Spurr.

'I'm encouraged to see that we've overcome a long-held aversion to talking about sex,' said Spurr. 'But we've still got some way to go before we swap jokes and banter for the open, honest and informed conversations about sexual health and relationships that most of us would like.'

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Monday 23 November 2009

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