Unprotected Sex Research Paper

Could there be loopholes in your lifestyle that are putting your health at risk in the long term? Joanna Hall explains how to steer clear of them.

For many people, a healthy lifestyle equals eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. As women, however, there are a number of other things many of us do, or don't, do which can put a dent in our efforts to be the healthiest we can be.

Unprotected sex

The risks: It's easy to get caught up in a moment of passion, but unprotected sex can lead to an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and some of the latter can have serious consequences.

"Some STIs, such as genital herpes and HIV, have no known cure," says Jill Michelson, national clinical adviser at Marie

"Also, if you are having casual sex, it's important to have regular sexual health check-ups because some STIs, such as chlamydia, don't always have symptoms. The only way to find out if you have one is to take a test."

Skipping Pap tests

The risks: A visit to the gynaecologist or GP isn't something most women look forward to, but delaying your Pap smear test can have serious consequences. The test is designed to pick up changes in the cervix, some of which can be due to infections or inflammation, but it can also pick up changes which could lead to cervical cancer the second most common cancer experienced by women.

What to do: In addition to having a Pap test every two years, according to gynaecologist Dr Elizabeth Farrell, you can also self-examine your genitals so you know what's normal and what isn't. "Examining your vulva and vaginal entrance is important in case of any changes such as the appearance of lumps, lesions, rashes or anything else out of the ordinary," she

Not making time for you

The risks: The pressure to "do it all" still pervades many areas of life, and leaves many women with very little free time, resulting in overstress. This phenomenon prompted Time magazine to run a feature article in 1983 called "The Epidemic of the Eighties", and since then countless studies have linked stress with ill health.

"Anybody with too much stress needs to rein that in," says cross-cultural corporate psychologist Jasmine Sliger. "The body produces stress hormones that make you more alert and raise your blood pressure temporarily, but over time this causes minor damage to the blood vessels, which can cause health problems down the track."

What to do: Simple tactics you can use during the day to claim back some "me" time and relieve pressure include switching off your mobile, putting your answering machine on, or logging out of e-mail for half an hour. You can also take a short walk or, if you have time, treat yourself to an indulgence such as seeing a movie by