An adolescent health specialist says growing rates of sexually transmitted disease among young people show the safe sex message is failing to get through.
Some sexual health educators warn that the Jadelle contraceptive implant, which became fully-funded last month, could increase sexually transmitted infections by making people lax about condom use.
However, Dr Sue Bagshaw from the Christchurch Youth Health Centre, says trying to get young people to use condoms as well as other contraceptives has always been a problem.
Dr Bagshaw says the implants are a good option for young women because they don't need to remember to take a pill.
