An alarming proportion of women are engaging in unprotected sex while many are not fully aware of their reproductive health.
Released in time for World Contraception Day this Saturday, a survey commissioned by Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SHFPA) and Bayer Schering revealed that two out of three women admitted to having unprotected sex.
The survey also revealed severe knowledge gaps by Australian women in areas as basic as their menstrual cycle and contraception.
Only half the women aged 20 to 34 years (53 per cent) knew the date of their next period, which fell to 45 per cent in women aged between 30 and 34 years.
"Australian women are not aware of how much they don't actually know about sexual and reproductive health, and unfortunately don't realise this until a crisis occurs," said SHFPA's Dr Christine Read, who is also the chair of the inaugural Australian Women's Health Panel Meeting, held in June.
"It's worrying that young women continue to engage in unprotected sex, but it is equally concerning that many women don't have basic knowledge of their menstrual cycle. For example, many women don't realise they can get pregnant even if they have unprotected sex outside the time they're ovulating."
According to Marie Stopes International (MSI), more than half of Australian women experience an unwanted pregnancy and, says MSI national clinical advisor Jill Michelson, women that use the pill need to be made aware of how to use it properly.
"If you're not taking all the hormone pills," said Dr Read, "you might not be protected against pregnancy or receiving the non-contraceptive benefits some pills offer such as improved skin condition and relief from severe menstrual cycle symptoms."