Women self-graded experiences of giving and receiving oral sex and having anal sex (on a scale from 1 = very negative to 7 = very positive. Results are percentage)

Sexual & Contraceptive Behavior among Female University Students in Sweden – Repeated Surveys Over A 25-Year Period

Objective

To study female students’ sexual and contraceptive behavior and compare these results with earlier surveys.

Design

Comparative, repeated cross-sectional surveys, started in 1989 and repeated every fifth year.

Setting

Contraceptive counseling delivered at a Student Health Center in Sweden.

Population

Female university students (n = 359).

Methods

Multiple-choice waiting-room questionnaire.

Main outcome measures

Sexual and contraceptive behavior.

Results

In 1989, age at first intercourse was 17.6 years vs. 16.7 years in 2014, number of lifetime sexual partners was 4.0 vs. 12.1 in 2014, and number of sexual partners during the previous 12 months was 1.0 vs. 2.8 in 2014. Condom use during first intercourse with the latest partner decreased from 49% to 41% (n = 172 in 2009 vs.n = 148 in 2014: p < 0.001), and experience of anal sex increased from 39% to 46% (n = 136 in 2009 vs.n = 165 in 2014: p = 0.038), and 25% (n = 41 in 2014) always used a condom during anal sex. A total of 70% (n = 251) made use of pornography, and 48% (n = 121) considered their sexual behavior affected by pornography. Eighty-nine percent (n = 291) wanted two to three children and 9% (n = 33) had thought about freezing eggs for the future. The female students’ knowledge about increasing age being correlated with decreased fertility varied.

Conclusions

Sexual behavior among female university students has gradually changed during the last 25 years and behavior appears more risky today. As this may have consequences on future reproductive health, it is vital to inform women about consistent and correct condom use and about the limitations of the fertile window.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/OrFlCc

By:   Christina Stenhammar,1,* Ylva Tiblom Ehrsson,1,2,* Helena Åkerud,3 Margareta Larsson,3 and Tanja Tydén1

¹Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

²Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

³Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Correspondence Christina Stenhammar, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, SE-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden., E-mail: es.alasppu@rammahnets.anitsirhc

 

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