Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that among the 16- to 19-year-old age group 57 per cent use at least one method of contraception.
This represents a slight increase on 2007/08 when the figure stood at 56 per cent.
Jules Hillier, director of communications at sexual health charity Brook, said: "We would encourage all young people, if they are going to have sex, to protect themselves against both sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy."
The Office for National Statistics figures also showed that in 2008/09, TV programmes and adverts were acknowledged as the main source of information about sexually transmitted infections by 55 per cent of those surveyed across all ages.
Newspapers, magazines and books were mentioned as the main source by 16 per cent and government information leaflets by three per cent.
Sex information in schools or colleges, which is set to become part of the National Curriculum by 2011, accounted for 11 per cent.
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