Why September Should Remind Us All to Rethink Sexual Health

September often brings that familiar back-to-school feeling — even for those long out of the classroom. But for students returning to college life or attending freshers’ week, it’s also a critical time to revisit sexual health. With sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rising sharply across Europe, refreshing our approach to protection, testing, and education is more urgent than ever.

In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) urged students to use condoms and get tested regularly to avoid interrupting their studies due to an infection. But this advice extends far beyond students — it’s a call to action for everyone.

📈 STIs on the Rise Across Europe

Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show a steep increase in STI cases across the continent between 2021 and 2022:

• Syphilis: +34%

• Chlamydia: +16%

• Gonorrhoea: +48%

📊 Source: ECDC Annual Epidemiological Report 2023

Ireland reflects this broader trend. According to Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) data (2019–2022):

• Chlamydia cases rose 20%

• Gonorrhoea increased 45%

• Syphilis climbed 14%

👉 Ireland STI Surveillance Reports

Young adults under 30 remain the most affected group. In particular:

• Women aged 20–24 recorded the highest notification rate: 3,088 per 100,000

• Between 2022 and 2023, gonorrhoea cases rose 133% in women aged 20–24

• Among men aged 15–19, cases increased 55%

🌍 Migrants and MSM Face Greater Risks

In Ireland, men who have sex with men (MSM) represent a significant portion of STI cases:

• 84% of gonorrhoea

• 71% of syphilis infections in 2022

Source: HPSC MSM STI Report

STI data for migrants in Ireland is limited, but insights from HIV Ireland and the EMIS (European MSM Internet Survey) indicate:

• 17% of new HIV diagnoses in Ireland had bacterial STI co-infections; this rose to 26% among MSM

• 24% of new HIV diagnoses were from Latin America, 20% from sub-Saharan Africa

• Refugees and asylum seekers reported higher rates of condomless sex compared to native-born populations

📌 EMIS 2017 Key Findings

Additional challenges for migrant and refugee populations include:

• Inadequate knowledge of sexual health

• Language and financial barriers

• Stigma, discrimination, and trauma from sexual violence

UNHCR estimates that 1 in 5 refugees has experienced sexual violence, though underreporting likely means the actual number is higher.
Source: UNHCR – Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

⬇️ What’s Behind the Decline in Condom Use?

One of the clearest contributors to the STI surge is the decline in condom use. But what’s driving this trend?

Research shows that sexual health is influenced by a range of individual, social, and structural factors — a model known as the socio-ecological framework. These include:

• The rise of dating apps has been linked to higher STI rates, particularly gonorrhoea and chlamydia (source).

• Increased porn consumption may correlate with higher likelihood of engaging in condomless sex (source).

• Use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has lowered HIV risk among MSM but is often accompanied by increased STI diagnoses (source).

• In Ireland, MSM diagnosed with an STI were 53% more likely to report recreational drug use.

Wider social issues also impact sexual health:

• Youth homelessness in Ireland increased 57% between 2017–2022 (source)

• Inward migration rose by 31% in 2023 (source)

Advocacy groups like Nasc have highlighted challenges migrants face in accessing sexual health services, including condoms.

🛠 Addressing the Challenge: Action and Equity

To reverse the rise in STI cases, governments must take a multi-pronged approach:

• Invest in sexual health education, housing, and public awareness

• Ensure access to affordable, culturally sensitive care for all, including migrants and LGBTQ+ communities

• Expand at-home testing tools like SH:24, now offering free STI testing across Ireland

• Support peer-led community testing programs, which have succeeded in Dublin but are missing elsewhere

Everyone deserves a safe, healthy, and fulfilling sex life. Upholding this right means ensuring universal access to appropriate services, information, and legal protections that affirm dignity and equality.

With the right investment in education, access, and structural reform, we can stop the spread of STIs — and support healthier communities across Europe.