Unprotected Sex Risks Young Lives

Young people are risking their lives by having unprotected sex, according to new research. The Durex Global Sex Survey found that more than a quarter of 16- to 20-year-old Britons are failing to use condoms when having sex with a new partner. And they experience sex for the first time at a younger age than their European counterparts, at an average age of 16.9 years. More than 18,000 people from 28 different countries took part in the survey, which aimed to explore the sexual behavior of people around the world.

Sarah Rose, the condom maker's UK marketing director, said, "Not only are [teenagers] having sex for the first time at an early age, it appears many are taking risks with their health by not using protection. They are risking unplanned pregnancies and also increasing the potential of contracting HIV/AIDS."

The survey also found that it is not just younger people who take risks -- 43 percent of Britons take no protective measures at all. It was also revealed that the average Briton has sex 107 times a year and has 8.8 partners during a lifetime. This compared to Americans, who have sex 124 times a year, and to Japanese, who make love just 36 times a year. Americans had the most partners -- 14.3, compared with the French, who had an average of 13.2 partners, and the Australians, who have been with 11 different partners.

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