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FORT MYERS - A sex survey sent to thousands of Florida women by the state health department is generating controversy.

The "contraception survey," mailed out to women aged 18-24, asks 46 personal questions. If women respond they could get a $10 CVS gift card.

But some women say they'd rather not even though state health officials say it's just to help them better understand how women are using family planning services.

The questions ask your age, weight, when you lost your virginity, how many partners you've had sex with in the last year and if you did anything to prevent pregnancy.

It also asks when you last had unprotected sex were you in the "heat of the moment and just went with the flow?" or if your partner "put holes in the condom" so you would get pregnant?

"Poking holes in condoms? No I don't think so," said Lori Marino, who said the questions would make her uncomfortable. "That's just asking too much detail. That's not even questions that would help us."

But others see how it could help the state better respond to women's health issues.

"I think it would be OK, I wouldn't mind," said Eileen Colon. "How would they know the way we feel if they don't ask any questions?"

Dr. Krista Zivcovic, D.O., calls the questions "very personal" and "very intimate" and says they go beyond  what she would ask her own patients.

"Even if you're best friends with someone," said Zivcovic, "I don't think you would ask these types of questions."
 
Still, she says the survey could be a good thing if the goal is to better educate women.

"If patients could get more information about safe sex, protecting them against STD's," said Zivcovic, "if we could get information out to the public, if that's the greater good, than I do think it's worth it."

The survey could Florida taxpayers $45,000, according to published reports.

State officials object to the survey being called a "sex survey."

"Questions were all taken from...other surveys nationally," said Florida Department of Health spokeswoman Jessica Hammonds. "It was used as a tool in collaboration with FAMU (Florida A&M University) to identify additional needs in family planning for women 18-24 in Florida."

The latest batch of surveys did not go out because it was found some of the surveys were sent to girls under 18, according to published reports.

The reports will be used to help with services like education pamphlets, counseling and finding out why some women aren't taking advantage of planning services, according to reports.

Hammonds said she didn't have time for a phone interview.

Fox 4's calls to Gov. Rick Scott's office for comment were not returned.

Click on the link above to see the survey for yourself.

Read more: Florida surveying young women about their sex lives

Matt Grant
mgrant@fox4now.com