Get your good sexual health on with regular testing

You may not want to give much thought of problems ‘down there’ when you’re young, free and having fun.

But if you’re sexually active, you’ve probably heard the following advice many times: Use protection and make sure you get tested.

This is really important to get regularly tested, because you could have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) without knowing it.

In many cases, no signs or symptoms occur, such as chlamydia, which is the most common STI amongst Irish young people.

What type of STD you’re testing for and how often you should be screened all depends on your age, your sex life and other factors, so ask your doctor or do some research online.

Don’t assume that you’re receiving STI testing every time you have a gynaecologic exam or Pap test. If you think you need testing, request it from your doctor.

If you notice any weird feelings ‘down there,’ or any unusual discharge or discomfort when peeing, you should see your doctor straight away as these may be signs of an STI.