Young people 'need better relationship advice'

Young people need better education on sex and relationships to help them make informed decisions about their sexual health experts have claimed.

According to the Family Planning Association (fpa), sex education in schools does not currently focus enough on the emotional aspects of relationships, meaning that youngsters are less likely to delay having sex for the first time.

A spokesman for the association said: "At the moment there is insufficient information and support for young people in schools.

"It's only compulsory for schools to teach the basic biological aspects of sex and this is inadequate," he claimed.

Recent figures from the Health Protection Agency showed that the sexual health of Britain's young adults worsened in 2006, with increases in herpes and genital warts.

In addition, the agency revealed that one in ten young adults screened through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme that year tested positive for the sexually transmitted infection.

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