One in five young people view period-tracking technology as an effective method of contraception, a survey has found, raising concerns among health officials about an increased risk of unplanned pregnancies.
A HSE survey of 1,134 adults aged 18 to 30 found a significant minority believed the contraception methods such as the Pill could prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
It also found more than half had never undertaken a test for STIs.
Of those who had tested, the most common reasons were: to know their STI status and for peace of mind (46 per cent); because they had had sex without a condom (29 per cent); and because they had met a new partner and wanted to test before having sex (22 per cent).
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Seventy-nine per cent of all respondents said they had engaged in sexual intercourse at some stage without a condom while 21 per cent had not.
The most common reasons for non-use of condoms were: not having one to hand (37 per cent); finding sex less enjoyable with a condom (30 per cent); perceived allergies to latex for themselves or their partner (22 per cent); and being under the influence of drugs or alcohol (15 per cent).
In response to the findings, the HSE said there was a need to normalise having an STI test – just as people regularly got dental check-ups or eye tests.
The report highlighted a number of what public health officials said were “concerning” trends relating to sexual health in younger people.
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“Of considerable concern is evidence that a significant minority believe certain pregnancy prevention methods, such as the oral contraceptive pill or the emergency contraceptive pill, can prevent STIs, a belief more common in men than women,” the report said.
“Similarly, a fifth of respondents viewed period or cycle-tracking technology as effective in preventing pregnancy.
“This is a concern as the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill is 91 per cent with typical use and over 99 per cent with perfect use, compared to natural family planning (of which period tracking technology is one) where success with typical use is only 76 per cent and perfect use can be anywhere between 91 and 99 per cent effective.”
Prof Fiona Lyons, national clinical lead of the HSE sexual health programme, said there were online influencers who were advocating a desire to be hormone-free and using natural planning.
“We need to be careful about the impact that can have on people’s ability to prevent pregnancies they don’t want,” she said.
“An unwanted or unplanned pregnancy can be very challenging or very traumatising for people. And unfortunately cycle-tracking [and] withdrawal, they’re not the best methods.”
Prof Lyons said the research also found knowledge around pregnancy prevention was not as great among the men surveyed as it was among the women.
The HSE published the survey on Wednesday about young people’s sexual health in Ireland.
