Facts / Myths

Facts about Sex

The age of first sex has fallen in Ireland: for 18-24 year olds, the median age of first sex is 17 for both men and women (ISSHR, 2006)

Facts about Pregnancy: A woman can still get pregnant:

If a man pulls out of her vagina before he ‘comes’
If she has sex when she has a period
If breastfeeding
If it is the first time someone has sex
If she does not have an orgasm
If she washes after sex
In whatever position the couple has sex

Facts about Contraception

Most participants (71%) said they had always used a method of contraception or precaution in the past year (ISSHR, 2006)
Individuals who had sex before the age of 17 are more likely to display lower levels of contraceptive use later in life (ISSHR, 2006)
Most participants (79%) disagreed that it is mainly the man’s responsibility to ensure that contraception is used regularly (ICCP, 2004)
Condoms and the contraceptive pill were the most common methods of contraception used at most recent sexual intercourse. (ISSHR, 2006)

The most common reasons for not using contraception were not being prepared or unplanned sex. (ICCP, 2004)
Condoms are the most frequently used method of contraception by 18 to 24 year olds. 78% reported using condoms on the most recent sexual encounter (ISSHR, 2006)
The contraceptive pill is the second most popular form of contraception with 38% of 18 to 24 year olds or their partners were on the pill (ISSHR, 2006)
Regarding consistency of condom use, ISSHR reported that 42% of men and 49% of women aged 18-24 reported inconsistent condom use in the past year (ISSHR, 2006)
Almost half of men (45%) and a quarter (26%) of women agreed that drinking alcohol had contributed to them having sex without using contraception (ICCP, 2004)
20 % of men and women under the age of 25 said that alcohol/taking drugs had contributed to them having unprotected sex in the past. (ISSHR, 2006)
16% of 18 to 24 year olds did not use contraception on the most recent sexual encounter because sex ‘had not been planned’. 15% reported that they ‘did not think to use’ contraception (ISSHR, 2006)
32% of women said the cost of the pill would discourage its use (ISSHR, 2006)
The cost of condoms discouraged use according to 19% of 18 to 24 year old men and with 17% of 18 -24 year old women (ISSHR, 2006)
30.5% of men and 26.2% of women reported embarrassment as a barrier to contraceptive services. Men were significantly more likely than women to agree that embarrassment was a barrier (31.3%) (ISSHR, 2006)

Facts about STIs

Female and male respondents aged 18-24 years who experienced early intercourse were over two and a half times more likely to have had an STI compared to those whose first intercourse occurred at or after 17 years (ISSHR, 2006)
At least 70% of women and 50% of men with Chlamydia have no symptoms (HPSC, 2008)
Up to 86% of women and 50% of men with gonorrhoea have no symptoms (HPSC, 2008)
Two out of three people who have unprotected sex with a partner with genital warts will develop the disease (HPSC, 2008).
In the space of ten years, there has been a 700% increase in cases of Chlamydia in Ireland (HPSC, 2008).
Young people aged 20-29 have the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections (HPSC, 2008).
Between 1998 and 2003 the number of reported HIV infections rose by 243% (HPSC, 2008).
18-24 year old women were more likely to have heard of Chlamydia than their male counterparts (89% vs 67%) (HPSV, 2008).

Facts about Emergency Contraception

ICCP found from a sample of 46 participants who had taken the emergency contraceptive pill on the most recent occasion, 19% said it was because no contraception had been used. (ICCP, 2004)
ICCP reported that 5% of 18 to 25 year olds had used emergency contraception in the past year. Knowledge of the time limit for taking the pill was better amongst women with 64% of women and only one quarter of men correctly identifying the 72-hour time limit for emergency contraception. (ICCP, 2004)
96% of respondents had heard of emergency contraception (‘the morning-after pill’) in one study but only 21% of men and 42% of women knew the correct time limit for its use. (ICCP and ISSHR reports)
90% of adults in Ireland believe that emergency contraception should be available (ISSHR, 2006).
In a survey of women requesting emergency contraception, 64% said they used contraception when having sex but their contraception failed. In 76% of these cases condoms were used. (HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme Report No. 14)

Facts about Fertility

Lots of people do not know when a woman’s most fertile time in her cycle is. Only 31% of men and 56% of women knew a woman’s most fertile time. (ISSHR, 2006)
35% of females could not identify when they were most likely to become pregnant during the menstrual cycle (ICCP, 2004)

Talking about Sex/Contraception

92% of men and women disagreed that they would find it difficult to talk to a sexual partner about contraception (ICCP, 2004)

Myths about the Pill

Myth: The pill makes you fat.

In fact, some women may experience weight gain, some weight loss. Weight gain is normally due to an increased appetite and lack of exercise. If you are concerned about weight gain discuss this with your doctor and she/he can help suggest a pill or alternative contraceptive that is right for you.

Myth: The pill causes cancer.

In fact, the pill reduces the risk of certain cancers

Myth: The pill causes acne or more spots.

In fact, certain oral contraceptives have favorable effects on acne.

Myth: The pill delays fertility.

In fact, most women can get pregnant immediately after stopping the pill.

Myth: All women aged 35 and over must stop taking the pill.

In fact you can take the pill until menopause. You have to stop taking the pill at age 35 only if you are a smoker.

Myth: Women should take a break from the pill.

The fact is that it is not necessary for any woman who is free from side effects to take a break from the pill. Once your system is used to the pill you should keep taking it to avoid irregular cycles and to keep protected against an unwanted pregnancy.