Doctors issue warning as Ireland is hit by a Gonorrhoea outbreak

Festive revellers are being reminded to practice safe sex over the holidays as Ireland is hit by a Gonorrhoea outbreak.

St. James Hospital in Dublin (Ireland's largest free STI clinic) issued the warning yesterday as January to March is when most Irish people detect a sexual health problem. In the statement, Dr Dominic Rowley said:

"All STIs are on the rise in Ireland. There is currently an outbreak of gonorrhoea both in Ireland and worldwide, with 78 million people infected every year." “The number of Irish people diagnosed with HIV has also increased by an alarming amount with a rise of between 35-50 per cent last year. “Despite this, there has been very little discussion around the issue, or calls to increase the funding for treatment. This could be due in part to the stigma that still surrounds the issue of STIs.”

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat and is a very common infection, especially amongst younger adults. And now, statistics show that 2,168 people have contracted the disease so far this year – up a staggering 935 people since two years ago. With people drinking over the festive period, it is often the case that people get careless when it comes to sex and forget to take precautionary steps. Dr Rowley said:

“If the proper precautions are not taken, and if you don’t seek treatment after risky behaviour, the consequences can be serious. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility if left untreated and diseases like HPV can lead to painful genital warts that can be slow to cure.”

For full details on symptoms and treatments as well as general guidelines and advice, you can check out St. James guide here.