The Top 7 Health Rules for Young Women

1. ALWAYS HAVE SAFE SEX - Unless you know for sure (and we mean really know for sure) that your guy is free of any sexually transmitted diseases, use protection every time. Condoms aren’t foolproof, but they can drastically lower your odds of contracting bacterial STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as those transmitted via skin contact like herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV).

2. BE SCREENED REGULARLY FOR CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA - Caught early, these STDs can be cured quickly with antibiotics. Problem is, they often have no symptoms, and either one can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease — which can cause infertility. So get tested for these at your annual exam (or after any unsafe sex).

3. GET ENOUGH FOLIC ACID (folate) - Even if you’re not ready to have kids, it’s crucial that you take in 400 micrograms of this B vitamin daily because it can prevent birth defects when you do conceive. It’s available in most fortified cereals and bread products, but taking a multivitamin is the surest route.

4. PRACTICE SAFE SUN - Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, is the second most common cancer for women in their 20s, and other skin-cancer types are rising too. So slather on sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of 15, and avoid indoor tanning at all costs.

5. SCHEDULE REGULAR PAP TEST - This quick, simple test, routinely given at your annual gyno exam, detects cervical changes brought on by the human papillomavirus (HPV), an STD with more than 100 types. A yearly Pap will reveal any suspicious changes, which can be treated before they become cancerous.

6. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR CHOLESTEROL - Heart disease is usually associated with older men, not young women. But all adults over 20 are advised to have their cholesterol checked at least once every five years, since too-high cholesterol is linked to cardiovascular problems.

7. GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE - A sleep deficit doesn’t just leave you tired — research shows that it can make you gain weight, feel stressed and depressed, and lower your immune system. Aim for between seven and eight hours a night.