Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of young women have had unprotected sex after drinking too much alcohol, a poll out yesterday suggests.

The survey of 16 to 24-year-olds also found 39 per cent had taken the morning-after pill and 35 per cent have failed to use contraception in the “heat of the moment”.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) of those who have ever taken the oral contraceptive pill admitted they had sometimes forgotten to take it within the recommended timeframe.

A total of 503 women were questioned for the survey, commissioned by Marie Stopes International.

The charity said the poll showed the need to increase awareness of longer term contraceptive methods such as implants, intrauterine devices (IUD or coil) and injections, all of which should be used with a condom to prevent sexually-transmitted infections.

More than three quarters of those surveyed (77 per cent) said they wanted a contraceptive they did not have to think about or plan for during sex.

However, just one per cent of young women were aware of all four of these contraceptive methods: Injection, IUD, intrauterine system and implant.

Tracey McNeill, vice president of Marie Stopes International, said: “The research is very clear that most women want a contraceptive method that they can simply forget about – but many simply are unaware of the alternatives to the pill.

“We want women to be considering their contraceptive options ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.