Fewer young people are having sex, but the teens and young adults who are sexually active aren’t using condoms as regularly, if at all. And people ages 15 to 24 made up half of new chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases in 2022.

The downward trend in condom usage is due to a few things: medical advancements like long-term birth control options and drugs that prevent sexually transmitted infections; a fading fear of contracting HIV; and widely varying degrees of sex education in high schools.

Is this the end of condoms? Not exactly. But it does have some public health experts thinking about how to help younger generations have safe sex, be aware of their options — condoms included — and get tested for STIs regularly.

  • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    If only there were a publicly funded US institution that helps children plan and prepare for sex and parenthood.

    Hmmmmmm…

      • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
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        44 minutes ago

        They were actually more opposed to teaching anything other than abstinance when religious conservatives constantly attacked and shut down Planned Parenthood centers.