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Condom 'rivals pill's popularity' | Condom 'rivals pill's popularity' |
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The condom has now caught up with the pill as women's preferred method of contraception, latest figures suggest. | The condom has now caught up with the pill as women's preferred method of contraception, latest figures suggest. |
A quarter of the 1,093 women under 50 surveyed opted for condoms, which is identical to the proportion who plumped for the oral contraceptive pill. | |
Experts said the Office for National Statistics figures were good news since condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy. | Experts said the Office for National Statistics figures were good news since condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy. |
Almost half of the condom users cited STIs as their motive for using them. | Almost half of the condom users cited STIs as their motive for using them. |
And half of the 2,557 people surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales said TV programmes and adverts had been their main source of information about STIs. | And half of the 2,557 people surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales said TV programmes and adverts had been their main source of information about STIs. |
Sexual behaviour | Sexual behaviour |
However, more than half the men interviewed who said they were not in a long-term exclusive relationship, but had had a sexual relationship in the last year, said information on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections had no effect on their behaviour. | However, more than half the men interviewed who said they were not in a long-term exclusive relationship, but had had a sexual relationship in the last year, said information on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections had no effect on their behaviour. |
The majority of women under 50 (75%) were using contraception, with younger women preferring the pill or male condom, and older women often relying on sterilisation or their partner's vasectomy. | The majority of women under 50 (75%) were using contraception, with younger women preferring the pill or male condom, and older women often relying on sterilisation or their partner's vasectomy. |
Almost all of the women surveyed said they had heard of the emergency contraception pill, or "morning after pill". | |
But awareness of the emergency intrauterine device (IUD), which can be inserted up to five days after intercourse, had fallen from 49% eight years ago to 40%. | But awareness of the emergency intrauterine device (IUD), which can be inserted up to five days after intercourse, had fallen from 49% eight years ago to 40%. |
Natika Halil of the Family Planning Association said: "It is encouraging to see that access to information about contraception and contraceptive services is improving. | Natika Halil of the Family Planning Association said: "It is encouraging to see that access to information about contraception and contraceptive services is improving. |
"Whilst women are using very safe and reliable methods of contraception such as the condom and the pill, there are 15 methods of contraception available. | "Whilst women are using very safe and reliable methods of contraception such as the condom and the pill, there are 15 methods of contraception available. |
"Women should be able to access all of them in equal measure." | "Women should be able to access all of them in equal measure." |
Meanwhile, the NHS Information Centre has found the number of people using NHS community contraception clinics rose by 7% to 1.3 million in the year to March 2009. | |
The biggest rise was among men with 13%, or 17,000, more attending in 2008/09 compared to the previous year, bringing the total to 140,000 - approximately one in 10 of all those attending. | |
Among women, the number of those attending increased by 6%, or 67,000, to 1.2 million. |