Sexual health of teenagers in England and Wales: analysis of national data

Sexual health is an essential component of general health and includes the avoidance of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Unintended pregnancies are associated with increased risk of poor social, economic, and health outcomes for mother and child,1 and important sequelae of sexually transmitted infections include pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, cervical cancer, and increased susceptibility to HIV infection. For some of these factors teenagers are at greater risk than older women. 1 2 We reviewed all national routine data pertaining to sexual ill health among teenagers in England and Wales; birth and termination statistics from the Office for National Statistics; and reports from sexually transmitted disease clinics.3 We analysed data for 1996 and made comparisons with 1995. View this table: Sexual health indices among teenagers in England and Wales, 1995-6 In 1996 there were 86 174 conceptions in females under age 20 years, of which 30 296 were terminated …