Lifting the lid on Sexual Heath With the Curely Campaign

Recently the House of Commons Committee reported on the rise of sexually transmitted infections in the UK and that this is due to stigma and a lack of education around the topic. Sobia Qasim, Superintendent Pharmacist at Curely stated in response to the report, that there is an 'urgent need for improved sexual health education and better access to services, particularly for young people'. She goes on to state that 'the rise in STIs is alarming, and the report's recommendations, including those aimed at enhancing the role of online providers in delivering accurate information, are crucial steps toward addressing this public health issue'. It's clear that one way of addressing the issue is to talk about sexual health openly and start conversations around it. This then helps to reduce the stigma around it and to promote safe sex. Recently Curely conducted a survey of 600 adults to find out more about the general public's thoughts on sex education, perception of sexual health, sexual health conditions, STIs and contraception. You can read all about their campaign here. Let's take a closer look at some of the findings from the survey. 

Thoughts on Sex Education

When surveyed, 46.30% of individuals felt that school only covered the basics of sex education. Almost 20% of individuals felt that the education didn't help to prepare them at all. This clearly suggests that many people feel that more information and education should be given in schools around this topic.

57.2% of people felt that the internet had made it easier to access accurate information around sexual health, yet 57% of people agreed that the internet can spread misinformation.  27% of people said the internet offers more reliable information then non-digital formats. It is important to note however, that much of the information isn't regulated for accuracy or quality. 

Thoughts on perception and stigma
The topic of sexual health can still seem taboo for many people. The survey showed that 27.83% have never discussed sexual health with a healthcare provider and 29.96% of people surveyed have been too embarrassed to discuss the topic with a doctor. It's important that healthcare providers and schools work to reduce stigma around sexual health by creating environments where people feel comfortable to talk and to share.

Thoughts on STIs

At the moment STIs are on the rise particularly with young people aged 15 to 24. 83% of people surveyed felt that there was stigma around STIs which clearly demonstrates that people may be then unwilling or embarrassed to seek help or education on the topic. 52.19% of people shared that they had slept with someone without knowing their STI status which suggests they find it difficult to broach the subject with their sexual partner or perhaps are unaware of the need to have these types of discussions. 

To find out more about Curely's campaign and to see more results from their survey, visit Curely. 

*In collaboration with Curely