The rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's) soar in the early months of the year as a result of Christmas parties.
On Moncrieff, Sexual Health Consultant at St James's Hospital Dr Aisling Loy said that people often contract STD’s during the holiday season, only to find out months later.
“January is usually really busy because of all the parties that happen over Christmas time,” she said.
“Inhibitions go down with some drink – and sometimes drugs – and [people] don't make the decisions that they would normally make with their full sobriety in check.
“So, they they'll often not get symptoms for a few weeks, and sometimes a few months and sometimes not at all.
“They might only find out when they get a text in January going ‘look I’ve got chlamydia, would you mind getting checked out?’”
Man holding condom package - USADr Loy said many people can be hesitant to get checked due to ‘old fashioned’ attitudes.
“There's definitely still a stigma and an element of ‘sure, I'd only test if I had symptoms’, or ‘that's for other people’ - but if you’re having any unprotected sex, you should get tested,” she said.
“Definitely in Ireland we still have a bit of an old-fashioned attitude to it.
“I'd see, being in Dublin and quite international, you'll see a lot of people from other countries who just regularly get checked maybe once a year as part of their health routine.”
Infection rates rising
Rates of STD’s are up 150% from pre-pandemic levels, according to Dr Loy.
“We've gone steadily up from 2019 onwards year on year,” she said.
“This year we're seeing a tiny dip – but that's yet to be reported fully.”
At home testing
Dr Loy encouraged people to make use of home testing kits.
“There's free HSE home test kits you can get on sh24.ie,” she said.
“They're discreetly delivered to your house, you do the sampling at home with either swabs or urine sample and a pinprick of the finger to give blood.
“That will test you for things like HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea – and you get the results sent discreetly to your phone with the text a couple of days later
“So, it's a really effective way to screen.”
Dr Loy said those with symptoms should ideally come for testing in person.
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