Mums & Dads Missing Out On Quality Sex Life

Teenagers Know More Than Mums About Contraception

Contraception - almost half (45%) of mothers admit that a 16 year old is likely to know as much, if not more about contraception than they do, while 64% of mothers also admit that they aren't entirely comfortable talking to their children about the subject, unsurprisingly therefore more than nine out of ten  parents want their children to receive sex education in schools[2].

One in five (21%) mothers questioned say they haven't had thorough contraceptive advice since school1. Only a fifth (21%) regularly discuss the subject with their doctor and 39% of fathers questioned openly admitted they don't ever think about contraception before having sex1. With sexually transmitted diseases showing a worryingly sharp rise in older age groups [3] and 28% of abortions in England and Wales in 2007 being in the over thirties[4] this information gap may be a cause for concern.

Dr Caroline Cooper, Sexual Health and Contraception Expert comments:
"It seems that British mothers need sex education as much as children. There's a definite lack of solid knowledge on contraception choice, benefits and availability. Mothers don't prioritise time for themselves and as such may be unaware of the contraceptive options available to them. For example, despite the potential benefits of long acting 'fit and forget' contraceptive methods, only 35% of women know about the IUS (the hormonal coil) and only 40% are aware of the vaginal ring1.  Women just aren't aware of the benefits that long acting devices can have on their lifestyle and indeed, sex lives."

And it seems mothers could do with some help in the bedroom too: surprisingly only 1% of mums questioned said they would prioritise sex over other things during the day, so it's little wonder contraception knowledge is low on the list of priorities. Busy mums place a higher emphasis on going to work (27)%, pampering themselves (11%) and doing housework (9%) over having sex and over three quarters (79%) of busy parents admit they are unsatisfied with their sex lives. Interestingly, more men (59%) than women (50%) feel their frequency of sex has reduced after having children1.

Jo Hemmings, Sex and Relationship Expert comments:
"Sex is the first thing to slip down the to-do list but it's one of the most important aspects of a relationship so it's essential to make time for it, even if you're worrying about cooking for the family! Having children does alter a couple's sex life but it needn't be for the worse - it's about adapting to new circumstances and making the most of the time you have together. Lots of things can have a positive effect on your sex life, including contraception so it's worth doing your research and setting aside a slot in your hectic schedule for some quality bedroom time - and I don't mean sleeping!"

Results at a Glance:

Women and Contraception

* Almost half of mothers of all ages (45%) admit that a sixteen year old has as much, if not more, knowledge about contraception than them
* 64% of mothers admit that they aren't entirely comfortable talking to their children about contraception
* A fifth (21%) of mothers haven't had thorough contraceptive advice since school
* Of all the mothers who admitted that they had not been educated about contraception since school, 64% of them were over 35
* 45% of women don't know what the hormonal coil looks like, with some thinking it looks like a spring (8%)
Sex1

* Busy mums would prioritise working (27%), looking after their appearance (11%) and doing housework (9%) over having sex (1%)
* 79% of busy parents admit that they're unsatisfied with their sex lives
* 'I've got my period' (33%) and 'I've got a headache' (32%) are two of the most frequently used excuses men hear from women who want to avoid having sex
* 48% of women have used the excuse that they're on their period to avoid having sex whilst 44% have pretended to be asleep
* More fathers (59%) than mothers (50%) are having sex less frequently after having children Men and Contraception1
* 39% of fathers don't ever think about contraception before having sex