Australia: Poor Sex Education Creates a Generation of Vulnerable Women

In an online survey of more than 500 Australian women ages 20-34, two-thirds reported having unprotected sex, putting them at risk for unplanned pregnancy and STDs. The findings of the survey by Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SHFPA) were released on Sept. 26 to mark World Contraception Day.

Among all participants, only 53 percent could estimate when their next menstrual cycle was due, including 45 percent of women ages 30-34. Dr. Christine Read, an SHFPA spokesperson, said a generation of Australian women does not understand the basics of sexual health, and she blames inconsistent sex education.

"It's worrying that young women continue to engage in unprotected sex, but it is equally concerning that many women don't have a basic knowledge of their menstrual cycle," Read said. "Many women don't realize they can get pregnant even if they have unprotected sex outside the time they're ovulating."

"We're a pretty sophisticated society, but there are some areas where people are a little scared," Read said. "Parents like to be the ones to educate their children, yet we have an awful lot of parents who say to us, 'Gee, I'm scared of approaching this topic and how do you do it?'"

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