The organisation which runs seven Australian clinics said research had shown that sexually transmitted infections were on the increase and Chlamydia was now the most frequently reported infection in Australia.

There were 36 cases notified in 2004 a rise of 20 per cent over 2003 due in part to more streamlined testing processes said Marie Stopes International Australia spokeswoman Amanda Ralph.

The high incidence of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea showed people particularly in the 15-29 year age group were not taking the necessary precautions Ms Ralph said.

"We know from our research that a lot of younger people do get drunk and engage in sexual activity during the New Year celebrations she said.

"Certainly at Marie Stopes we see an increase in the number of young people coming to us in the post-New Year period either with an unplanned pregnancy or with an STI.

"Some of the research I was reading shows that whilst a lot of people had the intention of practising safe sex once they got into the heat of the moment and with the addition of alcohol a lot of people ended up having unprotected sex.”

"They really need to plan it before they find themselves in that situation.”