Underage teens should get free condoms to curb STI spread, NICE says
by Sophie Borland, Mailonline:
Children as young as 13 should be handed free condoms on the NHS to prevent an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, according to the health watchdog.
NICE is urging youth clubs, sexual health clinics and GPs to offer an unlimited supply of the contraception to boys and girls in a variety of styles.
The watchdog wants to make free condoms available far more widely across England – including to underage teenagers – in the hope of curbing soaring rates of STIs.
Cases of syphilis have increased by 76 per cent in three years while gonorrhoea has risen by 53 per cent – and a drug-resistant virus is now spreading across the UK.
But campaigners fear the schemes will encourage casual, underage sex with young girls being ‘harassed’ by teenage boys.
The controversial advice comes days after the NHS was urged to provide an HIV prevention drug to thousands of gay men having unprotected sex.
A High Court ruling on Tuesday instructed health bosses to offer the treatment at a cost of up to £20million a year – although they are now appealing the decision.
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