ellaOne’s Sex Education Survey Results Revealed!

ellaOne has partnered with Brook, the UK’s leading charity for sexual health for young people, to close the growing gap in young people’s contraceptive knowledge. Brook’s new contraception education module is designed to give teachers across the UK the tools to deliver accurate, inclusive, and engaging lessons on contraception.

We recently ran a survey on 2001 16-24 year olds, which reveals how young people across the UK are navigating a contraception knowledge crisis.

A key driver of this confusion is access to adequate sex education. Just 23% of respondents first learned about the morning after pill during sex education, while 54% said they picked up information about sex and contraception from social media instead. Platforms like TikTok are now filling the void left by formal education – but not always with facts. Over a third (35%) admitted to learning something about contraception on social media that later turned out to be wrong.

The survey of 2001 sexually active 16-24 year olds (male, female, trans, non-binary), revealed: 

• 91% of the 16-24 year olds surveyed have had unprotected sex. 
• 82% of those surveyed did so on more than one occasion. 
• 73% are likely to have unprotected sex in the next 3 months (either deliberately or by accident), with 46% extremely likely. 
• 73% have experienced a contraceptive failure of some kind. 
• 50% of those surveyed whose gender identity is not male have taken the morning after pill, yet the majority of people surveyed do not understand how the morning after pill works. 
• Only 32% correctly said that the morning after pill works by delaying ovulation. 48% believe emergency contraception works by preventing implantation. 26% believe it causes a mini abortion. 
• Only 23% first learned about the morning after pill during sex education. 
• 61% were sexually active during their school years, whilst almost 13% were sexually active before they even received sex education.  
• Almost 50% of respondents were below the age of 13 when they first received sex education. 
• 54% of respondents said they have learned things about sex and contraception from social media. 
• 35% have learnt something about contraception on TikTok or social media that turned out to be wrong. 
• 41% felt let down by their sex education. 
• 19% wouldn’t know what to do if their contraception failed. 
• 50% felt confused by the contraception options available. 
• 47% have used a contraception method without fully understanding how it works. 
• 46% have delayed or avoided getting contraception because they felt awkward asking for it.
• 68% agree there is a stigma around the morning after pill.

With condom use declining among adolescents and STIs at record highs in the UK, young people are navigating a sexual health landscape that’s more complex and confusing than ever before. The percentage of conceptions leading to legal abortions in England and Wales has also reached a record high, according to official statistics. The explosion of online misinformation has made it harder to access clear, trustworthy guidance, and ellaOne’s new research has also revealed that relationships and sex education isn’t always filling the gap. 

Contraceptive options have never been more varied, yet many teenagers leave school unsure how different methods work or which is right for them. Some are turning away from hormonal contraception in favour of fertility tracking apps and often without fully understanding the risks or effectiveness. While some young people receive comprehensive, inclusive sex education, others are left with outdated lessons that don’t reflect the realities of modern relationships, identity, and contraception⁷.

It’s against this backdrop that Brook, the UK’s leading charity for sexual health and wellbeing for young people, and ellaOne have partnered to highlight the need for better sex education, specifically about contraception. 

Brook has launched its updated, independently developed teaching module for UK sex educators – the first update since 2016 – designed to provide clear, inclusive, and practical guidance on modern contraception for young people. The new module has been developed by Brook’s education team and is designed to equip their 44,000 registered users, including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) teachers and other faculty across the UK, with resources that reflect the lived realities of young people’s contraceptive choices today. 

The partnership comes at a pivotal moment for relationships and sex education in the UK. The government’s newly updated RSHE guidance, published in July 2025, calls for young people to be taught how to take a critical approach to what they see and read online, including social media, all of which is covered in the new contraception course. 

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet for emergency contraception. Contains ulipristal acetate. Always read the label.⁣