Why condom use in the UK has hit an all time low

Marie-Claire Dorking
A woman holds a new condom in her hands.
Experts have warned that declining condom use has resulted in a steep rise in STIs. (Getty Images) (Boy_Anupong via Getty Images)

Condom use in the UK has hit a worrying new low, according to a new study released to mark Sexual Health Awareness Week (9 - 15 September).

We're constantly reminded of the importance of using protection during sex, with condoms providing an essential tool for preventing unplanned pregnancy and lowering the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but new research has revealed Brits are jilting the johnnies.

Durex’s 2024 Global Sex Survey, which polled 29,500 people across 36 countries between January and April 2024, found that just 15% of the nation have purchased condoms in the past year – almost half the global average (28%).

Out of 36 countries surveyed, the UK ranked as low as 33rd on condom purchases within the last 12 months.

Even when condoms are purchased in the UK, they are not always used, with UK specific research of 2,000 sexually active adults, finding of those who still buy in condoms, only 11% of people said they always use them.

The stats echo further findings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe revealing that condom use among sexually active adolescents has declined significantly since 2014.

The data, published as part of the multi-part Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed over 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries and regions in 2014–2022, found that the proportion of sexually active adolescents who used a condom during the last time they had sex fell from 70% to 61% among boys and 63% to 57% among girls between 2014 and 2022.

Worryingly, the drop in condom use coincides with a rise in STIs. According to government research, the number of sexually transmitted infections in the UK increased by 4.7% between 2022 and 2023.

Over the same period while chlamydia diagnoses remained stable, with around 194,000 diagnoses a year, gonorrhoea diagnoses increased 7.5%, infectious syphilis diagnoses increased 9.4% and genital warts cases also saw a rise.

Mother putting condom into daughter's jeans pocket at home, closeup. Sex education concept
Out of 36 countries surveyed, the UK ranked as low as 33rd on condom purchases within the last 12 months, according to data from Durex. (Getty Images) (Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images)

Advancements in sexual health services

Although it isn't known exactly what is driving the decline in condom usage, experts have some theories, including the fact that the UK has access to comparatively decent sexual health services in contrast to certain other countries.

"Within the NHS, there has been a push in recent years to encourage women to consider having a type of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) fitted, such as the IUD (IntraUterine Device, aka the coil) or IUS (IntraUterine System, which also release hormones), which can work to help prevent unplanned pregnancy for 3-10 years," explains Alix Fox, sex expert and spokesperson for Durex.

"That’s fabulous in terms of family planning, but it doesn’t do anything at all to protect against STI transmission."

'Doxy by proxy'

Another issue is the opinion that you can use ‘Doxy by proxy’, for example relying upon taking an antibiotic like doxycycline after unprotected sex to treat STIs you may have contracted, rather than protecting yourself from transmission with a condom in the first place.

"Again, it’s great that we have easy access to effective meds, but given that rates of antibiotic resistant STIs are on the rise, I’d advise that it’s better to avoid picking up an infection in the first place rather than wind up with something that may be a lot harder to treat and clear than you ever imagined," Fox says.

Of course it is also much easier to get diagnosed and therefore treat an STI, too, with the NHS and other services offering discreet home testing.

Advances in preventative tools and treatments of HIV

The advancement of preventative tools for HIV is another potential reason.

"We have excellent access to PrEP in the UK," explains Fox. "This is a very effective drug that can be taken by people who are HIV negative, and means that if they are exposed to the virus (for example via condomless sex), it will prevent them from becoming infected with it."

But while these drugs have been crucial in reducing HIV rates and are an essential preventative tool, PrEP use is also associated with higher rates of STI diagnoses.

"Because people are now able to be more relaxed about HIV, some of them aren’t using condoms, and are exposing themselves to other STIs as a result," Fox adds.

Over 50s are enjoying their best sex ever! (Getty Images)
Data shows that the largest proportional increase in gonorrhoea and chlamydia cases was seen in people over the age of 65. (Getty Images) (Getty)

Lack of awareness amongst the older generation

The need for greater condom uptake isn’t just a matter for teens and young people.

"Access to pharmaceutical products like HRT, vaginal moisturisers and Viagra means it’s much easier for people to enjoy comfortable, satisfying intercourse later in life," explains Fox.

"Divorce has become cheaper, easier and more socially acceptable, so more people are dating and taking new sexual partners at older ages. However, many of these people aren’t using condoms."

Fox says this is likely due to a combination of a lack of good sex education in their younger years; the incorrect assumption that because they don’t need to worry about pregnancy post-menopause, they don’t need to use protection at all; and in some cases, the grossly mistaken belief that STIs “only happen to young’uns”.

Data from Public Health England shows that from 2017-2019, the largest proportional increase in gonorrhoea and chlamydia cases was seen in people over the age of 65.

The pleasure myth

For many Brits the decision to can the condoms lies in pleasure. Around 16% of sexually active UK adults told Durex that they were put off of purchasing due to the perceived lack of sensation that occurs when wearing a condom during sex.

Additionally, 13% of Brits said that condoms kill the mood, with 14% opting to shun the sheath due to the lack of spontaneity they assume comes with putting one on.

"One major influence on why people fail to use condoms is because they have outdated, old-fashioned ideas about how thick prophylactics are, and their capacity to dull, smother and spoil how much partners can feel during sex," explains Fox.

"But the truth is that modern manufacturing methods and materials technologies mean that condoms can now be made that are extraordinarily fine, and specifically designed to maximise pleasure and sensation without compromising on protection."

A woman putting in a strawberry condom in her handbag
Experts are urging people to use condoms to protect against STIs, particularly as some diseases are becoming resistant to antibiotics. (Getty Images) (Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

The government has recently launched a new Blueprint for sexual and reproductive health, in which condom use was cited as a key intervention in achieving good sexual health and reproductive outcomes.

"At a time of increasing STI rates it's vital we try to turn around this trend of falling condom use," Lisa Hallgarten, head of policy and public affairs at Brook tells Yahoo Life UK.

"In the immediate term we really need to ensure that relationships and sex education, public health campaigns and media are working together to normalise and promote condom use. We need to ensure that local authorities and sexual health services are funded adequately to provide free condoms to those who need them.

"The massive cuts to sexual health funding at a time of rising need have been an appalling false economy which has got us where we are today."

You can find STI testing and treatment services in the UK here, and you can search for free condom services in England here.

Advertisement