Give 13-25s free condoms, says health watchdog
- Published
Under 16s should be able to get free condoms, according to the health watchdog.
It wants to help stop the spread of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).
The draft guidelines, external from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says councils in England should make condoms available to 13 to 25-year-olds.
It is also recommending giving condoms to gay men, who are at higher risk of infection.
There were around 435,000 new diagnoses of STIs in England last year.
Most were among people aged 16 to 24, and gay men.
Cases of syphilis increased by 76% between 2012 and 2015, while gonorrhoea rose by 53%.
Condoms are 98% effective in protecting against STIs and unwanted pregnancy if used correctly
Condoms can protect against STIs including HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
But Nice says the cost is putting people off buying them, leading to unprotected sex.
The legal age of consent is 16 in the UK.
Many councils already run schemes like C-Card, external that entitle teenagers to free supplies.
Nice says all councils should fund similar services, as well as providing easy to access information on sexual health services.
A brief history of condoms...
The first record of a condom dates from 3000 BC, made from a goat bladder
Ancient Romans made condoms from the intestines of sheep
Linen sheaths were commonly used until the 1800s, when rubber condoms were invented
The invention of latex in the 1920s led to the condoms we still commonly use today
You can find more information about sexual health and relationships on these BBC Advice pages.
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