A WHO study has highlighted early sexual activity among Luxembourg's youth and a worrying decline in protective measures, raising alarms over rising STD rates and unintended pregnancies.

A recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation revealed that one-quarter of boys and 22% of girls in Luxembourg are sexually active by the age of 15. In an international comparison, this means that Luxembourg ranks among the top countries for early sexual activity, surpassed only by Greenland, Finland, Bulgaria, Iceland, and Hungary.

However, the World Health Organisation warns that young people are increasingly neglecting to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. This trend is also observed in Luxembourg, according to officials at "Planning Familial," a local sexual health organisation.

The study found that over one-third of girls and one-quarter of boys in Luxembourg did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter. Ainhoa Achutegui, president of Planning Familial, highlighted the consequences of this behaviour, noting a rise in STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, as well as a significant increase in unwanted pregnancies in recent years.

Additionally, two-thirds of sexually active girls in Luxembourg did not use birth control pills during their last sexual encounter, while nearly half of the boys reported that no birth control pill was involved.

The decline in protective measures among young people may be partly due to a reduced awareness of the risks associated with unprotected sex. Achutegui explained that young people today are less sensitised to the dangers of AIDS compared to past generations. She noted that HIV is no longer perceived as "a death sentence" as it was in the 1990s, which has led to a decrease in public health campaigns focused on the virus.

Achutegui also pointed out a growing global opposition to sexual and emotional education. Meanwhile, the information young people find online about protecting themselves is often inaccurate or misleading.

She further noted that, in Luxembourg, not all adolescents have access to proper sexual and emotional education from professionals in schools, describing the situation as "problematic."

In addition, Achutegui highlighted disparities in the availability and treatment of contraceptive methods in Luxembourg. She specifically criticised the Grand Duchy's law on contraception reimbursement, which notably excludes condoms from coverage.

In response to this issue, Planning Familial launched the "Plan P" campaign in 2023, aimed at encouraging young people to use condoms. The campaign is set to be repeated in 2024 to reinforce the message and promote safer sexual practices among youth.