title: Sexual and contraceptive behavior among female university students in Sweden - repeated surveys over a 25-year period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study female students' sexual and contraceptive behavior and compare these results with earlier surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative, repeated cross-sectional surveys, started in 1989 and repeated every fifth year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contraceptive counseling delivered at a Student Health Center in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female university students (n = 359).
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple-choice waiting-room questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexual and contraceptive behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1989, age at first intercourse was 17.6 years vs. 16.7 years in 2014, number of lifetime sexual partners was 4.0 vs. 12.1 in 2014, and number of sexual partners during the previous 12 months was 1.0 vs. 2.8 in 2014. Condom use during first intercourse with the latest partner decreased from 49% to 41% (n = 172 in 2009 vs. n = 148 in 2014: p < 0.001), and experience of anal sex increased from 39% to 46% (n = 136 in 2009 vs. n = 165 in 2014: p = 0.038), and 25% (n = 41 in 2014) always used a condom during anal sex. A total of 70% (n = 251) made use of pornography, and 48% (n = 121) considered their sexual behavior affected by pornography. Eighty-nine percent (n = 291) wanted two to three children and 9% (n = 33) had thought about freezing eggs for the future. The female students' knowledge about increasing age being correlated with decreased fertility varied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual behavior among female university students has gradually changed during the last 25 years and behavior appears more risky today. As this may have consequences on future reproductive health, it is vital to inform women about consistent and correct condom use and about the limitations of the fertile window.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stenhammar
authors.forename: Ylva Tiblom
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ehrsson
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Åkerud
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tydén
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004882:Erotica; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012945:Social Values; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contraception; female; sexual behavior; sexually transmitted diseases; sexually transmitted infection; unsafe sex