Frank talk about sex life key to lasting relationship

An open discussion about sexual health is a key to a lasting relationship, "says the young respondents in a UK government-funded study. The survey was conducted on behalf of the government's "Sex. Nice to talk about" campaign that encourages sexually active adults aged under 25 to get tested for chlamydia, wrote the Press Association.

1200 interviewed young

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,200 young people aged from 15-24 years and found that honesty about sexual health is more important that young couples than meeting partners' friends and family.

The survey showed that 70 percent of the youth ranks discuss sexually transmitted diseases as most crucial to a lasting relationship.

Open conversations about STDs even surpassed other traditional milestones in a long term relationship such as meeting parents and friends by 66 percent and 40 percent respectively.

The study also showed that while young people prefer to be honest about the sexual life with their partners, many were embarrassed to discuss openly about sexually transmitted infections (Sties) with new partners.

About three-quarters (73 percent) of young people confessed that they never talked about sexually transmitted infections, before making off with a new partner.

Additional 30 percent of them admitted feeling uncomfortable discussing safe sex with a new partner or ask him / her to use a contraceptive.

Findings "encouraging," but not surprising '

Paula Hall, from the relationship charity Relate, was quoted by BBC as saying that the findings are both encouraging 'and' depressing.

She said that she was not surprised that young people believed openness about sexual health is important for a lasting relationship.

"If people are not intimate enough to be open about what the relationship is unlikely to go far. The fact that discussion of sexual infection is so high up the agenda of young people are really good," she said.

But she said it was "disturbing that this is still a painful topic, even among today's generation of children who expect a high degree of openness in their relationships."

Dr Catherine Hood, spokesman for "Sex. Nice to talk about" campaign, was quoted by BBC as saying, "These findings reveal much about the modern relationship game.

"While many young couples realize the importance of being able to talk openly about the acceptance of testing for sexually transmitted infections, is sheer embarrassment prevents them from doing it, and potentially risking their sexual health as well as the future of their relationship."