Over the last century in the UK, there has been a relaxation in sexual behaviour and social attitudes towards sex, the age at first intercourse has reduced, and the numbers of young people having sexual intercourse before the age of consent are increasing. At the same time new concerns have become paramount such as the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, in particular AIDS, as well as the high number of teenage pregnancies.

Statistics and research on sex and relationships, gender differences in the experience of sex, public attitudes, sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy and sex education are provided in the following pages, including One Plus One’s information sheet on sexual infidelity.

Changing sexual behaviour in the UK More+

Sexuality: psychoanalytic perspectives More+

Sex for the adult: Health, self-esteem and countering ageist stereotypes More+

Sex at the millennium More+

More research

Relationship support

Interactive information, advice, exercises and social networking for couples and parents from One Plus One. The site includes a section on sex, intimacy and romance.
thecoupleconnection.net

Relate
Relate offers advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face.
www.relate.org.uk

Sexual behaviour in Britain More+

Sources of sex education for young people and impact on their sexual behaviour More+

Public attitudes to sex education, contraception and teenage pregnancy More+

Number of people who use condoms and the emergency pill More+

More statistics

Sexual attitudes and lifestyles

The National Centre for Social Research and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have led the 1990 and 2000 National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) and the 2010 survey which is currently interviewing. For more information on the NATSAL and details of publications available click here.

Information sheet

One Plus One’s information sheet on Sexual Infidelity can be found here.