MILLS & BOON ROMANCE novels are bad for your sexual health, a leading UK psychologist has claimed.

The Guardian reports that Susan Quilliam has published a report in an academic journal that says such novels result in unwanted pregnancies and unrealistic sexual expectations, as well as relationship breakdowns.

In the Journal of Family Plannning and Reproductive Health Care, she said that some Mills & Boon novels are unrealistic and show women being rescued by heroes before living a lifestyle that counter what she wants to promote.

She also noted that the novels can lead to women being swept up in the moment, just like the heroines in their novels, and ending up in difficult situations.

She did say though that more recent novels in the series are truer to life in their depiction of women – giving them jobs and addressing situations like domestic violence.

Mills & Boon told the paper that they felt their readers “are intelligent enough to understand the difference” between romantic fiction and everyday life.

For more information read this story in today’s Guardian>