Thursday 7 January, 2010Two-Thirds Of Women 'Have Unprotected Sex'

More than two-thirds of young women have had unprotected sex with a new partner, according to a survey.
 
Half of those questioned said they had caught a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) following unprotected sex, or knew someone who had.

The admission comes as rates of STIs increase across the country.

Young people suffer most cases of the most common STI, chlamydia.

Figures also show an alarming rise in genital herpes among girls aged 16 to 19 - up 16% between 2005 and 2006.

The latest poll for Company magazine was of 286 young women.

The magazine, together with condom manufacturer, Durex, has recruited celebrities, including singer Dannii Minogue, to design condom tins.

Currently, as many as 97% of young women do not carry condoms, the survey for the magazine said.

One in 10 said they were too embarrassed to carry them while the same number thought it was the man's job.

Claire Irvin, acting editor of the magazine, said: "At Company we were shocked by the results of our survey."