Nicky Wagner MP
National Party Youth Affairs Spokeswoman

20 May 2007

Survey - young women putting themselves at risk

Shocking new figures showing a high level of early and frequent sexual encounters among young women should be a wake up call for all New Zealanders, says National’s Youth Affairs spokeswoman, Nicky Wagner.

The Youth and Condoms survey by Durex and Family Planning asked 554 16 to 25-year olds about their sex lives.

“The number of young New Zealanders with sexually transmitted diseases is spiralling with gonorrhoea cases up by 52% and Chlamydia up almost 28%.

“And now this survey has given us an explicit and damning explanation of why that is.

“Young women are having sex earlier than boys – 25% say they had sex at age 15 or younger.

“Almost twice as many young women as men claim to have had more than 10 sexual partners and are less likely to use a condom.

“Young women in particular must understand that sexually transmitted diseases don’t just deliver chronic pain, they are running the terrible risk of never becoming mothers.

“Between 10% and 40% of women with untreated Chlamydia develop pelvic inflammatory disease, and up to one in five of these women will become infertile.

“This survey is further proof that the ‘Hubba Bubba’ campaign is no longer working. The Government must renew its emphasis on education and personal responsibility and young New Zealanders, particularly women, need an attitude change.

“They are playing Russian roulette with their fertility and need strong and effective public health messages.

“The Government has a duty to act.”

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