The Facts... without the Lecture
B4uDecide.ie is closing down at the end of May 2024.
Alternative sources of relationships and sexuality information and resources:
- For 16-25 year olds: SpunOut.ie is an information provision website, including relationships and sexuality issues.
- For 17+ year olds: Sexualwellbeing.ie is the HSE website that provides information and resources on a wide range of information such as consent, contraception, sexual transmitted infections, vaccinations and unplanned pregnancy
- For parents: The HSE’s ‘Making the ‘Big Talk’ many small talks’ series of booklets to help parents and children talk about relationships and sexuality is available online, and to order free of charge from healthpromotion.ie. HSE funded RSE workshops are available at npc.ie and ifpa.ie
- For teachers: Junior Cycle SPHE Resources are available to support the new 2023 SPHE specification , including the Relationship and Sexuality strand.
- For youthworkers: HSE funded training on relationship and sexuality issues is available at REAL U | Foroige and Tailored Training Courses – National Youth Council of Ireland
STIs
What are STIs?
STIs stands for sexually transmitted infections. They are passed from person to person through sexual contact or skin to skin contact.
What are the most common STIs?
The most common STIs in Ireland are Chlamydia and Genital Warts.
How does someone get an STI?
Someone can get an STI from having sexual contact or skin to skin contact with a person who is already infected with an STI.
How does someone know if they have an STI?
The only way a person knows for sure that they have an STI is if they go to the doctor or to a special STI clinic to get checked out.
How do you know if someone has an STI?
You cannot tell just by looking at someone if they have an STI. Some STIs have no symptoms at all and some may lie dormant for many weeks or months before becoming visible.
Is there a cure for STIs?
Some STIs can be cured and some STIs, such as HIV, cannot be cured. All STIs can be treated with medication.
Can someone get an STI the first time they have sex?
Yes, a person can get an STI any time they have sex and their chances are greatly increased if they have unprotected sex (if they don’t use a condom).
If someone uses a condom every time they have sex are they likely to catch an STI?
Condoms will dramatically decrease the chances of someone getting an STI such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and HIV, however they do not offer complete protection from infections that are spread through skin to skin contact, such as herpes, syphilis and genital warts.
Can someone catch an STI from a toilet seats?
No, you cannot catch STIs from toilet seats.
If I had an STI could I get checked without my parents finding out?
If you are aged 18 years of age or under you can attend the Young Persons Clinic at St. James’s Hospital. To make an appointment call 01-4162315. You will be seen and treated confidentially. However if the clinic staff feel that you or another person is at risk they may need to discuss the matter with other professionals. The clinic staff do not inform parents of young people aged 17 years and over. However all young people aged under 17 years are encouraged to bring a parent or guardian with them when they attend the clinic. Get a list of STI Clinics around the country.
These questions were asked by teenagers during the consultation. The answers are provided by Sandra Delamere, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Young Person’s Clinic, St. James’s Hospital.
Abstinence from sex and intimate sexual contact is the only way to give yourself 100% protection against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Further information on the different types of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are available on www.thinkcontraception.ie however please be aware that this site is targetted at sexually active 18-24 year olds.