Young People

This guidance provides evidence-based recommendations and good practice points for health professionals providing contraceptive services to young people in the UK. This guidance is most relevant to young people under 18 years of age but may also apply to young people up to the age of 25 years.

The recent article in the Telegraph newspaper has highlighted the complex issues surrounding sexual activity in young women in the UK. Whilst it is true that the legal age of consent to sexual activity in the UK is 16 years, surveys suggest that almost one in three young people will have had sexual intercourse by this age.