“Everyone loves a party on New Year’s Eve and, more so than any other time of year, it is traditionally associated with the “midnight kiss” and sexual activity,” said Jill Michelson, National Clinical Adviser for Marie Stopes International.
“However excessive alcohol consumption may make the night memorable for all the wrong reasons.
‘Being heavily intoxicated can lead to unprotected sex and result in a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or an unplanned pregnancy – outcomes which I’m sure aren’t on anyone’s ‘to do list’ for 2010.”
The organisation’s calls came following research which found that over half of all sexually active adults have never had an STI check-up and 9 in 10 have had sex without a condom.[1] Other key findings from the research include:
- 6 out of 10 sexually active adults have not had an STI check-up since they last had unprotected sex.
- Almost half (47.5%) of sexually active adults who were not in a monogamous relationship when they last had unprotected sex were between the ages of 35 and 40.
- People aged between 18-24 (65%) and 35-40 (57%) were the age groups most likely to never have had an STI check-up.
- Females are much more likely to have had an STI check up, with 51% saying they have, whilst only 36% of men answered yes to having had an STI check up.
“The majority of safe sex campaigns are targeted at youth these days, yet this research shows that 35-40 year olds are just as exposed to unsafe sex practices and more needs to be done to get the message to them to stop,” said Ms Michelson.
“So this New Year’s Eve, we’re calling on sexually active Australians of all ages to make an early New Year’s resolution and wear a condom at all times.”
About Marie Stopes International: Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, with centres in the ACT, VIC, NSW, QLD and WA. MSI offers a range of services, including abortion, vasectomy, sexually transmitted infection check-ups, contraception and community-based health promotion and education. The organisation is part of a global international partnership that delivers vital health services to over five million people in 42 countries worldwide. Surplus funds support Marie Stopes International Australia, our charity partner, which works to save lives and improve sexual and reproductive health in Indigenous Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
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[1]Australian's safe sex habits was commissioned by Marie Stopes International and conducted online by Pureprofile on 1,002 sexually active males and females nationally aged 18-40.
