Young people accessing untrustworthy websites for sexual health advice
Results of a recent survey show that many young people are using unofficial websites to gain information on sexual health, rather than visiting the doctor.
According to the Information Standard, which is a government backed scheme, 8 out of 10 young people are using the internet as a source of obtaining information on sexual health, without having any concept as to whether the websites are reliable. The survey looked at information from 1,200 18-24 year olds. It also found that 2 out of 3 of those surveyed had never had a sexual health screening.
Experts on sexual health state that it is essential for young people to use the appropriate official sites to gain advice, such as the NHS, local authorities and charities. Many of those surveyed gave reasons such as lack of awareness and embarrassment as to why they accessed other websites in favour of visiting the doctor or looking at official websites.
The number of sexually transmitted diseases in young people is currently at a very high level. In 2010, this age group made up more than half of the new diagnoses in England. In order for this figure to drop, there has to be an increase in awareness and education on sexual health. Young people need to become more aware that many websites have inaccurate information, which can lead to the wrong diagnoses. If young people are not educated on sexual health, this figure will only increase over the next 10 years.
View the original BBC News article.
If you are concerned about any sexual health issues you should always consult a doctor first. In addition, you may want to look into hypnotherapy as a method to treat your sexual health issues. To find out more about how it could help you, please visit our fact sheet for more information.