“Many people regard condoms only as a protection from pregnancy and if a woman is taking the pill or has another form of protection then it is considered sufficient,” Maria Bergström of the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (Riksförbundet för Sexuell Upplysning – RFSU) told the Dagens Nyheter daily.

Bergström said that many run the risk of a sexually transmitted disease instead of the perceived embarrassment of raising the issue of a condom.

“Not everyone thinks that it is a big deal to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease.”

RFSU’s survey, published on Tuesday, indicates that attitudes to sexually transmitted diseases have changed in recent years.

Bergström expressed concern that many young Swedes have not fully considered the consequences of having unprotected sex, such as that women can become infertile from chlamydia.

The survey also indicates that around 25 percent of 20-35 women have never tested themselves for STD infection and every fifth man stated that they didn’t know where to go for a test.

RFSU is running a prominent campaign to encourage the use of condoms with detailed information over the most commonly contracted diseases and other tips and advice for enjoying a healthy sex life.