Watching explicit films may lead to unsafe sex

A new study by Dartmouth College, an Ivy League University in the USA, has found that letting your children watch films with a high sexual content means that they start to have sex earlier and have more partners. The study found this was linked to increased promiscuity and not using condoms. Over 1,200 teenagers were asked to respond to questions when they were aged 12 to 14 and then this was repeated six years later. The study concentrates on cinema and films, but some argue this could also apply to on line pornography.

The increase in availability of sexual images online in excess over what is available at the cinema is increasing theses effects, with many website having age verification process.

The Leading Researcher Dr O’Hara said: “Adolescents who are exposed to more sexual content in movies start having sex at younger ages, have more sexual partners, and are less likely to use condoms with casual sexual partner”

Better2Know is the UK’s leading private provider of STD and STI testing services. If you have had unsafe sex you should be tested to protect your fertility and long term health.