Over 12,000 STI cases have been recorded in Ireland in 2022 so far - an average of over 300 a week - as the HSE have launched free home testing kits.
People aged 17 and older can order a free STI test kit on the online platform, which is delivered to their home by post.
Users complete the tests at home and post the samples to the laboratory in the pre-paid envelope provided.
READ MORE: HSE announce new service that lets Irish people get home STI kits for free
And it seems like the HSE are hoping that people will respond well to the move, as there has been a huge jump in the statistics since 2021 in terms of sexually transmitted infections.
So far this year, 12,175* STIs have been recorded by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), a jump of over 50% on this time last year (7,916).
A lot of people will point to the lifting of every major COVID-19 restriction as a key factor, with people free to attend pubs, nightclubs and other social points nowadays compared to last October.
There are three infections which dominate the statistics.
Chlamydia
Known officially as Chlamydia trachomatis infection, it can infect the cervix (neck of the womb), urethra (the tube through which you pass urine), the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, ovaries, testicles, rectum (back passage), pharynx (throat) and sometimes the eyes.
There have been a massive 7,005 cases of chlamydia recorded by the HSPC so far this year, including 173 in the past week.
In most cases, chlamydia is passed from one person to another from:
- unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal)
- using unwashed sex toys
Most people with chlamydia don't experience any symptoms - only half of men who are infected show symptoms, and only 3 in 10 women will see symptoms if infected.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea can cause pain in your genitals and it remains the second most common STI in Ireland, with 2022 seeing 2,605 cases so far, a 90% increase on this time last year.
Men will usually notice a discharge from the tip of the penis but women are less likely to have any symptoms.
Genital Herpes (HSV)
The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) can cause two types of herpes infection. Type 1 is usually associated more with the mouth as cold sores.
Type 2 is the more worrying one if you're concerned about your sexual activity, as it can cause blisters or ulcers in your genitals.
1,177 cases of herpes have been reported to the HPSC so far this year.
Many people who have and pass on the virus do not know they have herpes. It is possible to carry the virus without having any symptoms.
Other data
- HIV cases have gone up 139% since last year, doubling from 264 to 632
- HSE East (Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare) is the most prevalent for STIs, with 7,417 of the total being recorded across the three counties
- 24 children aged between 0-14 have caught an STI in 2022
*data correct as of September 24, 2022
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