Experts are calling for better sexual education, in light of recent figures that show that the number of people who have been diagnosed with an STD, has risen from 244,282 in 1998 to over 40,000. The factors behind the increase are somewhat of a grey area and experts are often perplexed as to why it has occurred. One obvious explanation is a shift in cultures amongst the younger generations. Sex is increasingly been seen as a recreational past time. On top of a growing binge drinking culture, casual attitudes toward sex are undoubtedly contributing to the STD figures.
With reports of teens using erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra as recreational drugs to enhance their sex lives. This is extremely dangerous. Although these medications are effective in combating sexual problems, they are only intended for people who require them. The abuse of such medication and the subsequent promiscuous behavior is certainly one explanation for STD figures.
Tabloid glamorization
The papers are beginning to run a number of stories that arguably paint casual sex and promiscuity to be fine, and something to almost aspire to. Just this week we saw a story involving a 23 year office worker from Manchester who currently has 25 men on the go, all of whom she meets regularly for ‘no strings sex’. The men are dotted around the country.
Celebrity sex stories are also splashed across the papers, with the likes of Russell Brand having admitted having an addiction to sex.
Is education the answer?
This is something which has been debated in the media and even in government. We have seen reports that school children aged 4 upwards are set to be given sex education classes. This is also a grey area. Many critics feel that giving children ideas so to speak, from a very young age, is only going to add to the problem as they are simply too young to digest the information properly.
Others feel it is a good idea, given that a better education is surely the key to any form of success in reducing the number of people diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease.
| 
