Why are young people no longer using condoms?

Yes, according to the latest international data. In 2024, the World Health Organization reported that among sexually active 15 year olds in Europe, central Asia and Canada:

• condom use at last sex fell from 70% to 61% in boys between 2014 and 2022
• it fell from 63% to 57% in girls
• almost a third (30%) used neither a condom nor the pill the last time they had sex

In England, 15 year olds were less likely to say they used a condom in 2022 than in 2018, and more likely to say they used the contraceptive pill.

• In Scotland in 2022, 40% of sexually active 15 year olds used a condom the last time they had sex, and 34% used neither a condom nor the pill.
• In a 2023 online survey of 16 to 24 year olds in England and Wales by the sexual health charity Brook, a third didn’t use a condom the last time they had penetrative sex, and a fifth never use condoms.

The main British study of sexual behaviour, the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal), is due to publish its latest results at the end of November 2026.

There isn’t one answer. In Brook’s survey, young people named three main factors:

• stigma around condoms and sex
• not being able to get condoms easily
• pressure from a sexual partner

Some say condoms make sex feel less good. In England, more 15 year olds are using the pill, which helps prevent pregnancy but doesn’t protect against STIs. Read more in “Can condoms fail without breaking?”

HIV is now a treatable condition. Most people with HIV who get treatment live a long and healthy life, and someone with an undetectable viral load can’t pass it on. But it hasn’t gone away: 3,043 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2024, and 42% of new diagnoses in England were made at a late stage.

Most other STIs can be cured, but that isn’t always simple. Gonorrhoea is becoming resistant to antibiotics. In England, cases resistant to the main antibiotic, ceftriaxone, more than doubled from 13 in 2024 to 29 in 2025.

Some medicines can lower the risk of infection after sex, but they don’t replace condoms:

• PEP is HIV medicine you take for 28 days, started within 72 hours of possible exposure. It isn’t guaranteed to work. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, get urgent medical advice.
• DoxyPEP is a single dose of an antibiotic taken after sex to lower the risk of Syphilis. In the UK, it’s recommended for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and trans women, at higher risk of Syphilis, alongside condoms. It isn’t expected to prevent Gonorrhoea.
• Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after sex, but it doesn’t protect against STIs.

Read more in “What is PEP and how does it work?”

Many young people see pornography at a young age. In a 2025 survey for the Children’s Commissioner for England:

• 70% of 16 to 21 year olds had seen pornography online
• the average age a child first sees pornography online is 13
• 82% agreed that viewing pornography affects young people’s expectations around sex

From September 2026, relationships and sex education in England’s secondary schools covers how pornography can influence attitudes to sex, as well as condoms, STIs, PrEP and PEP.

Using a condom every time you have sex is the best way to protect you and your partner from HIV and other STIs. Condoms are also up to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy if you use them correctly every time, and 82% effective if not.

Condoms don’t cover all the skin around the genitals, so they don’t fully protect against infections that spread by skin contact, such as Herpes and Syphilis. Research also suggests that talking about sex in a positive way, including pleasure, helps people use condoms more. Read more in “3 STIs you can catch even if you use a condom”

Not at the moment in England. In 2025, new STI diagnoses among 15 to 24 year olds fell by 12.5%, with a 12.8% fall in Chlamydia and a 21.5% fall in Gonorrhoea.

But UKHSA says STI diagnosis rates are still disproportionately high in young people. STIs often have no symptoms, so you can have one without knowing. Chlamydia tests among young women fell by 9.4% in 2025. Read more in “First time sex: a guide to staying safe”

Better2Know offers:

• Full Screen: tests for 7 infections, including HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days (5 days for the home test). You can book it at one of our clinics or order a Full Screen home test.
• Peace of Mind: tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days.
• Chlamydia home test: a urine test for Chlamydia from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days.

If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Does the pill protect against STIs?

No. The pill helps prevent pregnancy, but it doesn’t protect against STIs. Using a condom as well protects against both.

Do condoms protect against all STIs?

Not completely. They’re the best protection against HIV and most STIs, but infections such as Herpes and Syphilis can be passed on through skin a condom doesn’t cover.

How often should young people get tested?

UK guidelines suggest testing at least once a year if you’re sexually active, and whenever you have a new partner.

Fewer young people are using condoms, but they’re still the best protection against STIs for anyone who’s having sex. If you’ve had sex without a condom, getting tested is the best way to know where you stand.

Book a Full Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 18 October 2024 and was last updated on 1 October 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 3 December 2024. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, A focus on adolescent sexual health in Europe, central Asia and Canada: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children international report from the 2021/2022 survey, 29 August 2024. https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289061155
2. HBSC, Data browser: sexual health (2021/22 survey). https://data-browser.hbsc.org/topics/sexual-health/
3. HBSC England, National report: findings from the 2021 to 2022 HBSC study for England, November 2023. https://hbscengland.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022_FULL_REPORT_final_21.11.23-1.pdf
4. HBSC Scotland, Findings from the HBSC 2022 survey in Scotland: executive summary. https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_976057_smxx.pdf
5. Brook, Education, Access, Stigma and Young People (EASY): attitudes to contraception, condoms and sexual health, May 2024. https://www.brook.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EASY-REPORT-1.pdf
6. Natsal, Natsal-4. https://www.natsal.ac.uk/researchers/natsal-4/
7. UK Health Security Agency, HIV testing, PrEP, new HIV diagnoses and care outcomes for people accessing HIV services: 2025 report, updated 15 April 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data/hiv-testing-prep-new-hiv-diagnoses-and-care-outcomes-for-people-accessing-hiv-services-2025-report
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17. World Health Organization, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 10 September 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
18. UK Health Security Agency, Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England: 2025 report, 2 June 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-annual-data-tables/sexually-transmitted-infections-and-screening-for-chlamydia-in-england-2025-report
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