Don�t put your sexual health at risk this summer
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) and the Family Planning Association (fpa) are advising young holiday-makers to look after their sexual health this summer.
Research has shown that young people (under 25) are more likely to have a new sexual partner while on holiday than those aged over 25 and that just 12% of this age group carry condoms when going out or on holiday.1,2
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “With the summer holidays coming up, many young people will be away from home and may socialise and experiment more than they normally would. The link between risky sexual behaviour and drug and alcohol misuse is well known and people who take risks in one kind of behaviour tend to be more likely to do so in other areas.
“Our advice is simple: don�t take risks, and look after your sexual health whether you are at home or abroad. Just as you would use sunscreen to protect your skin against the sun while on holiday, you can reduce the spread of most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by using a condom, as well as limiting your number of sexual partners and having regular check ups.”
The most recent figures for Northern Ireland show that all infections, including HIV and AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital herpes and genital warts are increasing year on year. In 2005 there were 12,847 diagnoses of an STI made by the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics, an increase of 12% in the last year and an almost 100% increase in the last 10 years. The highest rates of infection in both men and women were diagnosed in the 20 to 24 age group.3
Dr Gaffney continued: “There has been a dramatic increase in the number of STIs among young people in Northern Ireland over the last decade and more public awareness is needed to tackle this growing problem.”
Audrey Simpson, Director of fpa, said: “Don�t come home with more than you bargained for. Being on holiday means that we relax, eat, drink and have sex more and sometimes take risks that we normally wouldn�t. This includes risking unwanted pregnancy and STIs. There may not be access to condoms where you�re going so don�t forget to pack some and take fpa�s helpline number with you in case you need advice.”
If people
are worried about their sexual health they should visit
their GP, contact one of the GUM clinics to make an appointment
or phone the fpa helpline on Tel: 028 9032 5488.
END
Notes to the Editor:
The HPA facilitates the Sexual Health Information Exchange Group (SHIEG) which includes representatives from each of the Health and Social Services Boards, the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital and a range of voluntary and community organisations.
Telephone numbers for the GUM clinics are:
Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast 028 9063 4050
Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry 028 7161 1269
Causeway Hospital, Coleraine 028 7034 6028
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry 028 3083 5050
For media enquiries contact:
Jenny Dougan at the HPA on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
1 Rogstad, KE. Sex, sun, sea and STIs: sexually transmitted infections acquired on holiday. BMJ 2004; 329; 214-217.
2 Schubotz D, Simpson A. and Roslton, B. Towards better sexual health. A survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles of young people in Northern Ireland. Fpa, 2002.
3 Health Protection Agency and Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NI). HIV and STI surveillance in Northern Ireland: 2006. |
