This might be a touchy subject.
Cases of chlamydia in Ireland increased by a whopping 32% between 2013 and 2014, according to figures released by the Dublin Well Woman Centre.
The recorded increase is likely as a result of an increase in the number of people presenting themselves for testing, which has risen by 20%.
The increase itself, however, is most likely due to a lack of knowledge around sexual health.
The condition of sexual health in Ireland is deteriorating, says Alison Begas, chief executive of the Dublin Well Woman Centre. According to Begas, sexually transmitted diseases are becoming more widespread in Ireland and the HSE needs to do more to address the problem.
Awareness of sexual health is particularly important for young people in Ireland at this time of year, as people engage in tent-bound trysts at music festivals and head back to college.
HSE public STI screening services are almost exclusively based in hospitals and and special community clinic settings around Ireland and are free. More information on sexual health testing can be found here.
Hat-tip to The Independent.
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