STI cases are on the rise in Ireland as some people “view sex as a sport,” according to a leading urologist.
On Moncrieff today, Dr Derek Friedman said there has been a societal change in how we view sex and its associated risks which has led to a lack of condom use.
It comes as 6,700 cases of Gonorrhea were recorded in Ireland over the last 12 months, up 70% from the year previous.
Dr Friedman said STIs are up across the board.
“It’s not just Gonorrhea; syphilis is up and chlamydia is up too,” he said.
“We’re also identifying another pathogen which people might not know about – mycoplasma genitalium.
“It causes very similar symptoms and problems to chlamydia and like chlamydia is very often silent.
“There are about 28 different conditions and infections out there now that can be transmitted sexually.”
Advancements
Despite this, medical advancements mean the risks of most sexually transmitted diseases and infections have been dramatically reduced.
“Some have very significant consequences if they are not diagnosed and treated like HIV and syphilis,” Dr Friedman said.
“Syphilis was the great killer before antibiotics came along.
“People with HIV today have a life expectancy the same as everybody else.
“They’ve lost the fear of HIV because HIV is so treatable, particularly if it’s an early diagnosis.”
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) notifications are increasing in Ireland.
➡️Almost 18,000 STIs were notified in Ireland in 2022.Order your free home STI test today: https://t.co/7NPwFgatNU #SexualWellbeing #GetTested #Testing |@hpscireland pic.twitter.com/bvOMQAPX2n
— HSE Sexual Wellbeing (@_respectprotect) December 18, 2023
Dr Friedman said a lack of fear and an increase in sex, in general, is contributing to record levels of STIs.
“I’ve had people into their late 80s coming in with STIs,” he said.
“Obviously younger people are more frequent and we do get some now who just view sex as a sport.
“What’s happening is thinking has changed and people are singletons for longer.
“Men often don’t settle down to their 40s, women often don’t settle down until their 30s – that’s why fertility clinics are so busy.”
New partners
Dr Freidman suggests using a condom with any new sexual partners, in the beginning at least.
“It’s definitely a good idea to use a condom,” he said.
“What we suggest to people is to use condoms for the first couple months of a relationship until they know there is a relationship of value there.
“People can’t spend their lives in a condom and obviously they are going to get checked and it’s a good idea to get screened before they go bare.”
Dr Friedman added that there was a lack of “quality sex” happening in Ireland and advised people to think about what they are doing.
Over 10,000 home-testing STI kits are being ordered from the HSE every month.
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Main image: Woman talking to doctor (Westend61 GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)
