A promiscuous male partner places any future female partner at a greater risk of cervical cancer. Other risks Sexually active teenagers are more likely to be involved in other risk-taking behaviour than those who remain virgins. The increasing use of drugs and alcohol is particularly worrying. Intercourse under their influence is much more likely to result in unplanned pregnancy or transmission of STIs. The emotional costs of early intercourse can also be high, especially for girls.
Most sex educators see contra-ception as the solution to sexual health problems.
Certainly if adolescents are going to have sex, then using appropriate contra-ception is better than unprotected sex. However contraception does not solve all the problems. The condom, for example, has a 15 per cent failure rate for protecting against pregnancy even among experienced users. For the prevention of STIs the failure rate is likely to be higher particularly if being used by inexperienced people. If it feels good do it' is the short-term view on adolescent sexuality that appeals to the condom culture.