Fewer than 1 in 10 sexually active high schoolers use recommended protection

Fewer than 10% of high school students use the recommended protection when having sex, according to the latest survey of youth behaviors. Nearly 14,000 high schoolers across the U.S. were surveyed last year about a range of behaviors — including the use of tobacco products, mental health, and safe sex practices — and a quarter said they were sexually active. Of this group, only 9% said they used a condom along with an IUD or other contraceptive, which is the CDC's recommendation for protecting against STDs and unplanned pregnancy. Only about 1 in 2 said they used a condom, which was the most common method of contraception, the last time they had sex. Black and Hispanic students were less likely than their white peers to report using contraception.