More than half of Irish adults learned about sex from friends while only 35 per cent did so in the classroom, according to a survey published this morning.
The study carried out by independent researchers on behalf of Bayer Schering Pharma found that in Finland 70 per cent of respondants learned about sex in school.
The survey of 12 European countries found that 56 per cent of Irish respondents said that they had sex for the first time without using contraception.
Of those that used contraception their first time, condoms are the contraceptive of choice for 73 per cent of Irish respondents, higher than the country average of 62 per cent.
The survey explored the experience level, sexual behaviour and general attitudes regarding sex and contraception in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Malta and Greece.
In Ireland, respondents were aged 18-44 years and had a least one sexual partner. Irish respondents had an average of eight sexual partners in their lifetime (9 for men and 7 for women) compared to an average of 7 across Europe.
Despite common perceptions that teenagers are engaging in sexual activity earlier in their teens, the survey found that on average Irish men and women wait until they are over 18 before they have sex.