Teens Have Low Condom IQ

[Angel]

Just because teens are using protection during sex it doesn't mean they're doing it correctly. A recent study reveals even those who use a condom often do it wrong.

Researchers surveyed 1,400 teens throughout England between ages 14 and 18 and found two-thirds of those who said they had had penetrative vaginal sex -- which was roughly half of the survey group -- had used a condom the last time.

However, within the group who claimed to have used a condom, 6 percent said they put it on after penetrating and another 6 percent said they continued to have sex after taking the condom off.

A group of slightly more than 100 survey responders also kept a sexual diary for six months. Those who said they used a condom claimed to do so primarily to prevent pregnancy, avoid a mess, and to attempt to lengthen sex.

However, of those who claimed to put on a condom, about one-third said they put it on too late, and about one-tenth said they took it off too soon at least once.

Nearly half of the entries acknowledged not using a condom at all. Various reasons accounted for the non-use, such as increasing intimacy, better sensation, other forms of protection, or simply getting too carried away.

"If we are to see a reduction in [sexually transmitted infection] prevalence, it is essential that young people understand the importance of using condoms consistently and correctly and are also equipped with the skills and knowledge to do so," write the study authors.